There continue to be so many new miniature and mini-flora varieties coming on the market each year that it’s hard to keep up.  Since the introduction of the mini-flora class we have seen some really nice varieties introduced.  I believe this is the most popular class with more introductions to it than any other.  It’s also my feeling that Whit Wells has some of the best mini/mini-floras on the market.   

I still try to focus primarily on the exhibition type varieties because they generally have the most beautiful blooms and make the best cut flowers.  I like to 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.  I will not waste my time growing a rose if I do not see it worthy of going in a bouquet.      

MINIATURES     

Best of 04 is a striking blend of yellow and red.  Bush grows well and the blooms have good form.  Another good true mini from Whit Wells.    

Bonfire was new variety for me this year.  Jury is still out for this rose. Stems were short on this first year plant.  

Brighton Cardinals was another new one for 2007.  Color is similar to Sweet Caroline but it is short on petal count.

Caliente is a true deep red miniature rose hybridized by Frank Benardella.  This was my second and last year for this rose.  This rose might be okay as a garden variety, but the stems are not long enough to cut.  

Chattooga is a deep pink with good form that is good for cutting (just like its parent Pierrine).  This 2005 AOE winner was hybridized by Michael Williams.  

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 have two – one on Fortuniana rootstock and one on Multiflora rootstock.  I love the bloom but neither bush is very vigorous.  

Heather Sproul is a pretty baby-girl pink hybridized by Jim Sproul.  This was its second year in our garden and stems were still short.    

Iced Raspberry is a 2006 AOE winner and was new for me in 2006.  This is a weak stemmed bush that will be shovel pruned this spring. 

Party Girl’s Daughter is a light pink from Whit Wells.  I like Party Girl better!  

Piña 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.  

Pink-n-Pretty is a medium pink and vigorous grower.  

Saluda was a new orange blend for 2007.  I have not been impressed as the bush lacks vigor and the stems are short.   

Salute is a dark red true miniature rose that is good for the garden only.  I do love the dark red color.  

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.  

Willing looks to be a good yellow blend rose with good form.  

MINI-FLORAS  

Abby’s Angel was probably my favorite new rose for 2007.  Blooms are bright yellow with red edges.  I only had one last year but will be adding several more this year.  Thank you Whit for a great rose!  

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.  

Class of ‘73 has been a disappointment for me.  This rose is terrible to get water spots and will be shovel pruned this spring.  

Dr Troy Garrett  is another great rose from Whit Wells.  Depending on the weather, the blooms are sometimes a dark pink and other times more red.  It has good exhibition form.    

Equinox is a beautiful orange blend with good form from hybridizer Robbie Tucker.  

Fitzhugh’s Diamond has large dark pink and yellow blooms.  This Whit Wells rose has stunning coloration but can open quickly.  

High Ambition is another great Whit Wells rose that is creamy white to light apricot with exhibition form.  

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.  

Kismet has orange/yellow blooms that have a hole in the center.  Shovel pruned.  

Leading Lady was new for 2007.  This variety has floribunda size blooms with good form that resemble the hybrid tea Moonstone.

Luscious Lucy is a pink and yellow blend on a bush that is slow to grow.  Will probably be shovel pruned this spring.  

Madeline is a floribunda to hybrid tea size bloom.  This yellow/orange blend had no form but did improve later in the season.     

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

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

Memphis Magic is another great rose from Whit Wells.  It is a beautiful dark deep red (almost black) with exhibition potential.   

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.  

Mr Lenard is a medium pink with decent petal count  

My Inspiration is a beautiful pink/white bicolor with form similar to Soroptimist International. 

Nature’s Wonder is a pink blend.  Jury is still out on the bloom.  

Nemesis is an orange/red with yellow base.  Love the color of this Robbie Tucker rose, but not sure about exhibition potential.   

Peter Cottontail is a white sister seedling to Butter Cream but not as good.  Has a hint of pink even in the summer heat.  

Picture Perfect is a vigorous bush with pink and yellow blooms. Have not seen exhibition form yet.  

Rachel is dark pink (color same as the HT Rina Hugo) with lots of petals and excellent form.  Hybridized by Vern Rickard.     

Ready was a first year bush that grew vigorously but did not bloom much. Will keep for another year.   

Regina Lee is yet another great rose from Whit Wells.  It has stunning red blend blooms with exhibition form on a vigorous bush. 

Remembering Dee was a new plant for 2007.  Not impressed so far.   

Robin Alonso is a vigorous bush with beautiful red blooms that do not fade in the heat  

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

Sleeping Beauty has not shown me anything for two years so it will be shovel pruned this spring.  

Solar Flair is a beautiful pink/yellow blend with exhibition form hybridized by Frank Benardella.  Everyone is having trouble getting this rose to grow but the bloom is outstanding.  

Summer Night, hybridized by Whit Wells, this variety is a lot like Conundrum.   

Vice Versa is a red blend that was new for 2007 and very slow to grow.  I will give it another year.