It's not really a question of whether or not the Senk varieties are 'pretty'. The very fact that they are so very different means there are lots of genes in each plant that other hybridizers can utilize and create other varieties. In 1954, the double pink came out for the first time. Since then, hybridizers have gone all out on just that one color. Now Senk has, not different colors, but different forms, different leaves and just simply different varieties. His varities add so much to the gene pool that hybridizers can go for a long time just trying out different things. Senks varities are new and exciting; they may not be what you would call beautiful but everything can add to new and different varities. He has gone all out to produce these very different plants. It has been a very long time since so different plants have come out. Tommie Lou was an example. Nancy in Montreal

Most hybrid teas grow and bloom better if they are grafted on an appropriate rootstock such as multiflora for acid soil or Dr. Huey for neutral or alkaline soil. This is because the rootstocks have more vigorous root growth than the hybrid teas can produce. More vigorous types of roses may grow vigorously on their own roots. Canadian-grown roses on multiflora are much less likely to be infected with mosaic virus than western-grown roses on Dr. Huey. Some own-root producers are careful to avoid propagating from virused stock, others not. Virus is a bigger concern for growers in zone 7a and colder than those in warmer climates. As pointed out above, Dr. Huey fairly often produces rootstock suckers, which are a nuisance. Multiflora does so much less often. Some old roses produce lots of suckers from the named variety and develop into thickets. With these, grafting to multiflora reduces the nuisance of suckers, compared to own-root plants. In Florida, most roses are grafted to Fortuniana rootstock because it is highly resistant to southern root-knot nematode, which kills most roses in warm sandy soils. Own-root roses can live essentially forever. Grafted roses can have the named variety killed by zone 4-6 winters, or, after decades, the graft can wear out and become incapable of producing new basal shoots. These dangers can be avoided by planting the graft below grade, allowing the named variety to form its own roots. However, then you can lose the advantage of vigorous rootstock. I have dug up roses where the rootstock has atrophied because it was planted much deeper than it wanted to be. Finally, grafted roses are large, two-year-old plants, while most own-roots from boutique nurseries are way behind them in development.

Linda, welcome back, hope things improve for you :) You arent alone... i have had my share of disasters! sometimes i feel as if i cant keep up with al the plants that need transplanting and some plants died on me (not cannas thanks god). Some seeds that i recieved like brugs seeds only a few grew and some died because of the heat. Its a learning process. Best wishes, Siam.

oh cannot wait to see some pics.I have twin grandbabies as well.Amanda and Justin are now 2 1/2. They have quite different personalities.Justin is very outgoing and Amanda is laid back..just as you described your two little ones.Just so darn precious...love them. June