Nurseries

Thank goodness for the local nurseries.  They're indispensable when you suddenly discover that you have some insect you're not equipped to spray for, when your roll of expandable tape runs out and you have a huge branch to tie up, or when a bush needs a particular kind of food that you don't have on hand.  I frequent nurseries for all these reasons and more, but I don't buy my roses from them.  First, nurseries rarely stock bareroot bushes, and I prefer avoiding all containers.  Moreover, the selection isn't wide enough.  Nurseries tend to deal with only one supplier, usually a grower who limits varieties to those his staff has hybridized.  You might get something wonderful, but chances are you will miss out on some great roses if you depend on a single source.