Types

If we were sitting with David Austin, having a spot of tea, and he remarked that he could not think of any other rose with quite so strong a fragrance as ‘Gertrude Jekyll’, I should rather think we would take note. Indeed, ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ is one of the best and most popular of David Austin’s […]

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

I was a little before the Beatles, but that doesn’t keep me from appreciating a rose named for one of them, ‘The McCartney Rose’. Also found under the names of ‘Paul McCartney’, ‘Sweet Lady’ and ‘The MacCartney Rose’. This is a hybrid tea, in a rich medium clear pink that was hybridized by Meilland and

‘Sombreuil’, sold in Europe as ‘Mlle de Sombreuil’, dates back to 1850. It is sometimes found as ‘Colonial White’ as well. Legend has it that it was named after a heroine of the French Revolution who is reputed to have drunk the blood of an aristocrat to prove her father’s non-aristocratic status. (Wonder why they

Bareroot season is in full swing, and nurseries, big box stores and on-line suppliers have a great selection. It’s also when new varieties are being introduced so be ready to be dazzled by the gorgeous photos and provocative descriptions. Keep in mind that as these varieties are brand new to the gardening public, there’s not

Bareroot roses are dormant plants supplied without soil around the roots.  They have no foliage or flowers that makes transportation easier and much less expensive. This time of year, nurseries are brimming with bareroot plants – roses, trees and vines; it’s a great time to shop for plants as the selection is at its best.