I love my roses. Something about them has stirred my imagination for far longer than I have raised them. I am not alone in my passion for these flowering shrubs. They have been in cultivation for thousands of years, and have been objects of fascination and desire for the entire time. The Empress Josephine of … Read more
In Western New York, where I grew up, we did not put away our winter clothes until Memorial Day. Now I live in a gentler climate and when the “official” first day of spring arrives, I expect the garden to be well on its way to mid and late spring glory. We have had a … Read more
I have a desperate situation on my hands. Three roses in my garden stand in dire need of rescue before it is too late. Each one has a different sad story, but if I don’t intervene, they will all suffer the same tragic fate. The first rose has a romantic name—‘Julio Iglesias’. ‘Julio’, is, of … Read more
I grew up in western New York State, where winters were long, snowy and frigid. But even under those conditions, gardeners loved their roses and did their best to safeguard them against winter’s worst. My father, who was a romantic and a rose lover, went through an impressive annual winter rose preparation ritual that required … Read more
For several years, one of the big mail order nurseries has touted a lovely combination of climbing plants: the stalwart, yellow-flowered rose, ‘Golden Showers,’ and the purple clematis, ‘Etoile Violette.’ The two make a lovely color combination when they grow together; the buttery color of the rose contrasting with its color wheel opposite, dark purple. … Read more
