The colors of ‘Westerland’ are those of a sunset – lovely apricot-orange with a touch of pink. The perfumed blooms are generally more than three inches wide, double, ruffled, with 20 petals that are slightly serrated. Officially classified as a shrub rose ‘Westerland’ is often sold as a climber. In our mild climate it grows […]
Good Apricot Roses for Marin – Westerland Read More »
‘Gold Medal’ is one of my favorite roses, being a fan of yellow anyway. Hybridized by Christensen in 1982, it has withstood the test of time. Also known by the name ‘Golden Medal’, it has parents of ‘Yellow Prize’ X ‘Shirley Langhorn’, ‘Granada’ X ‘Garden Party’. It won the New Zealand Gold Star of the
Good Yellow Roses for Marin – Gold Medal Read More »
What happens when you combine spring weather – cool nights and warm days, and a rain that lasts for a day or two? Well, besides the proverbial May flowers, it is the appearance of the BIG THREE fungal diseases of roses – powdery mildew, black spot, and rust. The bad news is that as long
The Big Three Rose Diseases Read More »
This is a wild new rose! The first lavender-mauve blend rose to be awarded the AARS award since 1978. This large grandiflora has flowers that are ruffled and wavy— almost like camellia flowers and up to four and a half inches across. The petals are a deep reddish color and get a lighter lavender in
Good Mauve Roses for Marin – Wild Blue Yonder Read More »
Time – there never seems to be enough of it! I’m always looking for ways to better manage my time. While I love working in my garden, I’d like more time to simply enjoy it. That got me thinking about possible ways to give roses the care they need and conserve time and energy. Here
Simplify your rose care Read More »
‘Altissimo’ was bred in France by Georges Delbard and Andre Chabert in 1966 from a cross of a medium red, semi-double, large-flowered climber called ‘Tenor’ and an unnamed seedling. The team of Delbard and Chabert hybridized many other roses in France – the most famous here besides ‘Altissimo’ are the orange blend floribunda, ‘Gingersnap’, and
Good Red Roses for Marin – Altissimo Read More »
Getting your new rose bush off to a great start takes a little preparation and thought. Remember the old adage about planting your 50-cent plant in a five-dollar hole? Well, adjusted for inflation, that $40 rose should go in a $400 hole! Invest the time and energy in planting your rose now and you’ll reap
Get your plant off to a good start Read More »
‘Rose de Rescht’ was named after an Iranian city near the Caspian Sea, though its hybridizer, true name, and origins remain a mystery. According to the American Rose Society, it was “originally introduced into England about 1880, but was then forgotten about and re-introduced in the 1940s”. The most widely accepted story is that the
Good Pink Roses for Marin – Rose de Rescht Read More »
We’re deep into the winter pruning season. This is the brief period of time when roses in Marin go into semi-dormancy, and the best time to do your annual pruning of repeat flowering roses. If you’re not quite done, or are just getting started, here are some things that may be of help: Get the
Working on your pruning? Read More »
Several years ago, I converted a small storage area outside my office into an enclosed patio. Sloat Nursery had the perfect fountain on sale and Sunnyside offered two oversized clay pots. But with northern exposure and a ten-foot fence, the lack of direct sunlight was a major concern. I chose two ‘Sally Holmes’ and have
Good White Roses for Marin – Sally Holmes Read More »