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Good Red Roses for Marin – Sophy’s Rose
I obtained this rose a year ago after seeing Betty Mott’s entry in a rose show. I’m not a big fan of Austin roses, thinking the heads tend to droop too much, but this one is captivating. Mine is more of a stunning magenta color, with a lovely round flat…
Good Apricot Roses for Marin – Westerland
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…
Good Yellow Roses for Marin – Gold Medal
‘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…
The Big Three Rose Diseases
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…
Good Mauve Roses for Marin – Wild Blue Yonder
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…