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Why grow a rose?

June 2, 2009 by Andrea Bellamy 6 Comments

Rosa 'Bonica' in my mother's garden

A month or so ago, I asked readers to tell me why roses deserve a place in the modern garden. Under the (d)elusion that roses were finicky, spindly, high-maintenance wusses that didn’t belong in a  environmentally-conscious garden, I couldn’t imagine why on earth I’d plant one.

Then I heard from you. 71 of you – 69 of whom passionately defended the rose (the other two, well, they agreed with me!). There were so many great arguments. Several people called upon history and literature, saying that the rose is the “quintessential plant,” one that is necessary in a garden if it is to be truly called a garden. The practical among you told me, rightly so, that it’s all about finding the right variety. Some people actually argued – and I’m not at all convinced I agree! – that the appeal of roses is their difficulty (surely those are the varieties I’d want to avoid, being a somewhat “relaxed” gardener). Many of you reminded me of the scent of roses, truly a sweet perfume, and the romance it adds to a garden. And a few readers, knowing how to hit me where it counts – argued for the rose as an edible plant (I hadn’t considered that!).

But Nancy (commenter #10) said all of that and more, so I’m happy to award her with the grand prize – two tickets to the World Rose Festival, held in Vancouver from June 19-21, 2009, as well as $100 in rose shrubs from Select Roses. Congratulations, Nancy!

As a bonus, I’m able to offer a runner-up prize of two tickets to the event to Brian Cole (commenter #62), who had me feeling a bit sentimental with his entry. Any man who writes, “Roses remind me of the love of my life, my wife of nearly 50 years, whose beauty never fades” deserves a prize in my book! Enjoy the show, Brian!

Thanks to everyone who shared their love of roses. I must say, I’m actually convinced and looking forward to finding the right rose for my garden.

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: roses, World Rose Festival

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ryan says

    June 3, 2009 at 1:30 pm

    I just bought my first rose this year. I always felt they required too much work, pruning and were risky in a cold winter area. I decided that I wanted a climbing rose on one of the original trellises on my house and bought one from a nursery in my area that only sells roses grown on their own root stock (not grafted). So I can cut it back to the ground with out worrying that it will come back wild and it doesn’t need to be mulched in the winter. Easy maintenance rose.

  2. nancy says

    June 3, 2009 at 5:42 pm

    awwwwww, thank you again and again andrea…!!!
    i’m glad i convinced you – roses can be very misunderstood, but times change and plants are very adaptable to modern needs.

    i can’t wait to attend the rose show and i am absolutely ecstatic about picking out a few new roses for my patio! they will replace the ones that last winter killed and i’ve learned my lesson not to ever leave them out uncovered in their containers – they saturate with water and then freeze, like all other things, no matter how hardy. so cover up during the cold months and refrain from watering.

    anyway, you made my day, and then years of blooms to come! heehee! :-D

  3. Jennifer says

    June 4, 2009 at 7:01 am

    I agree that you just need to find the right one.

    Of the four I planted when I moved in only one is the right one. The rest I’m going to replace.

    The right one is a rugosa robusta. Fantasic rose. I do nothing but chop it back a bit in the spring and it grows big and fast and blooms all season. When they were all attacked by aphids only the rugosa laughed them off.

    I’m in love with it.

  4. germi says

    June 8, 2009 at 10:00 pm

    I am excited to see which rose you choose! Maybe you’ll want Rosa ‘Tipsy Imperial Concubine’ – the name ALONE! Or maybe Rosa glauca, with the most amazing bluish gray foliage. There are so many! Let us know which one wins the prize of being included in the Heavy Petal Garden!

    XOXO

  5. Dee/reddirtramblings says

    June 10, 2009 at 3:35 pm

    Andrea, I’m so glad you’ve found it in your heart to consider a rose for your garden. If you want some help, let me know. I’m here and ready. My Mom’s name is Rose by the way . . . .~~~Dee

  6. nancy says

    June 15, 2009 at 9:02 am

    if anyone here lives in bc, you absolutely MUST visit select roses!!! it’s a paradise of cascading rose bushes and clematises, and by far the best rose nursery i’ve ever seen! the roses to chose from are the healthiest, sturdiest, big plants with clean leaves and huge healthy root systems…and brad jalbert is very knowledgeable and a pleasure to talk to. i will never buy another spindly wimpy overpriced rose from a big box garden store again, there is just no comparison. oh and go in the afternoon when the sun doesn’t wash out the colors too much and bring your camera! <3

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