As in the last few years there continue to be many new miniature and mini-flora varieties coming on the market each year.  I still grow my new plants in pots for a year or so until such time as I can fairly evaluate them and decide if they are worthy of a permanent spot in the garden.  Here are my comments on some of the newer varieties we have in our garden. 

MINIATURES     

Able was new for me this year.  The bush grew well and the bloom was a beautiful yellow blend, but they open quickly in our heat.  

Best of 04 is a striking blend of yellow and red.  Bush grows well and the blooms have great form.  I have three on Fortuniana rootstock.  The only drawback is that it will get mildew.  Another good true mini from Whit Wells.    

Brighton Cardinals has color similar to Sweet Caroline but it is short on petal count.  My 2^nd year bush stayed small again this year so it will be discarded.  

Elegant Pink is still in question.  Bush produces light pink blooms but is not very vigorous and bloom form is inconsistent.  

Emma Grace was new for me this past year.  Bush is growing good and blooms look good (similar to Abby’s Angel with more petals).  Yet another great one from Whit Wells.   

Erin Alonso is a sport of Bee’s Knees found by Peter Alonso from California .  It is a medium yellow with the same high-centered form of Bee’s Knees.  I love the bloom but bush is not very vigorous.  I’ve had this rose on various rootstocks but have not found it vigorous on any of them.  

Heather Sproul is a pretty baby-girl pink hybridized by Jim Sproul.  This was its third year in our garden and plant would not grow.  Jeff has put it on another rootstock and the bush looks very promising.  I hope that I can get it to grow because I love the bloom.  

Piña Colada was new for me in 2006.  Hybridized by Peter Alonso, the blooms are classified as a light yellow (more white to me) with great exhibition potential.  Bush is excellent grower – tall and upright.  Only drawback is that this will blackspot and mildew.  

Pink-n-Pretty has beautiful medium pink blooms.  I have two on Fortuniana rootstock and they are growing great.  

Saluda was a new orange blend for 2007.  I have not been impressed as the bush lacks vigor and the stems are short.  This one will not be around next year.     

Tennessee Waltz is a vigorous pink blend for the garden only.

Ty is a bright yellow from hybridizer Robbie Tucker with exhibition potential.  This is truly a miniature bloom and a yellow that does not fade.  Could use a few more petals but does have good disease resistance.

Willing looks to be a good yellow blend rose with good form.  Will keep watching for now.  

MINI-FLORAS  

Abby’s Angel was probably my favorite new rose for 2007.  Blooms are bright yellow with red edges.  I have this on Fortuniana and Multiflora rootstock and it is great.  Thank you Whit for a great rose!  

Aberlady was new for me this year and I really liked it.  It is a beautiful yellow, about the same color as Ty.  I had this in a pot and the plant is vigorous.  

Ashton is a pink blend from Whit Wells that can be the size of a floribunda (both bloom and foliage).   I have two of these on Fortuniana rootstock that gave me some beautiful blooms this past year.  

Bonnie Sky was new this year.  Robbie Tucker warned me that it was not for exhibition.  I bought this one because it smells like a rose and is a beautiful dainty pink color.  I have enjoyed this one in a pot.   

Caledonia was new this year.  Bush was extremely vigorous and the blooms enjoyed cooler temperatures.  

Dr Troy Garrett is another great rose from Whit Wells.  Blooms are a dark pink with great form and the bush is very vigorous.  I have three of these all on different rootstocks.  

Edisto was another new rose for this year.  Blooms have stunning red blend color but bloom size is more like a miniature than mini-flora.  Bush is vigorous.  Another great rose from Michael Williams  

Equinox is a beautiful orange blend with good form from hybridizer Robbie Tucker.  Jeff put this rose on Fortuniana rootstock and I really enjoyed it this year.  I had some great exhibition blooms.  

First Choice was new to our garden this year.  Bush sprawls like Soroptimist International but white blooms look good. 

Fitzhugh’s Diamond has large dark pink and yellow blooms.  This Whit Wells variety has stunning coloration but can open quickly.  I have two of these on Fortuniana rootstock and they are very vigorous.  

High Ambition is yet another Whit Wells variety that is creamy white to light apricot with good exhibition form.  Our bush is weak and the bloom can look washed out in the heat.

Ingrid was a disappointment for me this year.  This was supposed to be a large Glowing Amber (red/gold color).  I like Glowing Amber better.  Ingrid is super sized but does not have enough petals.  This one will not be back for 09.  

Jupiter was a new Dennis Bridges rose.  Blooms have same beautiful coloring as Dr. John Dickman, but seemed to enjoy cooler temperatures.  

Leading Lady was new for 2007.  This variety has floribunda size blooms that resemble the hybrid tea Moonstone.  Plants are very vigorous.  Blooms can be good or have balled centers  

Madeline is a floribunda to hybrid tea size bloom.  This yellow/orange blend had better form this past year but still not great.    

Memphis Blues is a mauve color similar to Dr. John Dickman that may need more petals.  Blooms open quickly.   

Memphis Cajun is the most unusual pink/mauve bicolor with good form.  Plant is sprawling.  

Memphis Music is the most unusual rose that I have ever seen.  This Whit Wells variety has blooms that are burgundy red with yellow specks.  It is not for exhibition but will receive attention in the garden.  

Moonbeam was new for me this past year.  Bush grew well and bloom is a pretty pink with good form.  

Mr Lenard is a medium pink with decent petal count.  I will not add more.  

My Inspiration is a beautiful pink/white bicolor with form similar to Soroptimist International.  Bush has not been very vigorous. 

Ready was a 2^nd year bush that grew vigorously with some pretty bright blooms. Not sure if it will exhibit. 

Regina Lee is yet another great rose from Whit Wells.  It has stunning red/white blend blooms with exhibition form on a vigorous bush.  I have five of these on different rootstocks and they are great. 

Remembering Dee was a new plant for 2007 that will be gone in 2009.    

Ricky Hendrick was yet another new rose for me this year.  Looks to be a dependable non-fading red with exhibition form and a good growth habit.

Robin Alonso is a vigorous bush with beautiful red exhibition blooms that do not fade in the heat.  This may be the best red miniflora on the market.  

Sassy Cindy is a beautiful eye-catching red and white reverse (very large star shaped bloom) from Dennis Bridges.  Blooms open quickly.  

Shameless was another new rose with a beautiful raspberry/white bloom with good form.  Plant grows well.  

Shenandoah was a new plant for me that has beautiful red blooms.  Blooms have exhibition form and plant is vigorous.      

Top Contender was another new rose that looked very promising.  Beautiful deep yellow exhibition blooms on a vigorous bush.  

Vice Versa is a red blend that was new for 2007 and continues to be a slow grower.  

Whirlaway is the best white mini-flora to date.  It has excellent form and substance.  The blooms will hold forever but it is very very slow to repeat.  The only drawback is that blooms will spot.