On the one hand, I can make the Heritage Rose Foundation
meeting in November, and it's only a couple hours away
from where I live...and I really want to get some of the
uncommon roses likely to be at their fund-raising sale.

On the other hand, $160 is a bit much. I'm interested in
the discussion on the Bermuda roses, and probably the
propagation workshop would be worth sitting in on, but
mostly it's the sale I'm interested in. I've been to the Bok
Tower Gardens a couple times on my own, I don't wanna
go to Epcot even for a horticultural tour (and Disney is
milking it -- $170 more even for a full-day tour is pretty
gauche of The Mouse, by damn: they're not gonna sacrifice
one penny, it seems, for the goodwill of plant fans and
mavens; the press seems to be the only entity with members
who are likely to get in free -- read Carl Hiassen on the
subject). I can do without the banquet, as I'm driving home
every evening anyhow.

What would you do? I don't know whether the public
will be invited to the plant sale, and I wouldn't want to
barge in...

Mark., eternal cheapskate