Everything's Coming Up Roses
By Bob McLaughlin, North Haven Gardens Rosarian

Of all the flowers to be found in gardens throughout the world, the rose is the most popular and the most widely grown. It is gorgeous and seductive. It has a reputation for being difficult and demanding; but with a little understanding, the rose will flourish in your garden. There is a rose suited for every place in the garden — from the smallest of miniatures to the tallest of climbers. There are roses for borders and hedges and some will climb trellises or into trees. Some make excellent ground covers. Others will perform wonderfully in patio pots. Blooms will vary in color and size. And the fragrance of the rose … can there be anything better?

Roses are springing up everywhere in neighborhood gardens. They are being used more creatively. Consider installing an arbor or trellis to display them in all their glory. We have plenty to choose from this spring. Add herbs, perennials, shrubs, and vines to accent the roses. The clematis vine is becoming popular with rosarians, allowing it to twine through rose bushes. Gardening is becoming more personal, and today’s gardeners are becoming more creative with roses.

Renown English hybridizer David Austin has combined the fragrance of the old garden rose with the modern rose’s ability to bloom on a continual basis. Graham ThomasTM was introduced in 1983 as a shrub rose, named in honor of British rose expert Graham Stuart Thomas. The bright yellow rose’s fragrance is spicy. HeritageTM was also introduced in 1983. Its cabbagey, soft pink, fragrant flowers repeat throughout the entire blooming season, growing on bluish-green foliage. Both of these David Austin roses are suited to our Texas gardens and available this spring at North Haven Gardens.

Belinda’s Rose was created by Dr. Robert Basye and later renamed Belinda’s Dream in 1992 when the American Rose Society registered it. It is a fast-growing, upright shrub rose with few disease problems and pink, fragrant flowers throughout the growing season. This rose is a Texas Agriculture Extension Service CEMAP (Coordinated Educational & Marketing Assistance Program) selection as an “excellent” plant. It will be promoted in 2002 as one of the best garden roses in Texas. We have it here now.

There are so many different types of roses — antique, English, climbers, floribundas, grandifloras, hybrid teas, miniatures, and shrubs. There are some thornless varieties, too. Surprised? And there are so many colors to choose from — white, pinks, corals, lavenders, reds, yellows, hot oranges and shocking pinks. There is a rose suited to almost every place in your garden or landscape, provided you have approximately 5 to 6 hours of sunshine during the day. Try adding a rose or two to your gardens this spring and reap the enjoyment as the blooms burst forth throughout the growing season.

Consider joining the American Rose Society and/or a local chapter — the Dallas Rose Society, the Dallas Area Historical Rose Society, and the Collin County Rose Society. The members of these groups share their knowledge and rose adventures. Joining a club is one of the best ways to learn more about what’s growing in your garden. Pick up membership information for clubs the next time you are at North Haven Gardens.