About roses
Through the centuries poets, herbalists, historians, and garden lovers have been bewitched by the spell
of the rose. The Greek poet Sappho coined it the "queen of flowers" over 2,500 years ago. References
about the rose also appear in Homer's Iliad andOdyssey.The rose's popularity continues today and
despite its high maintenance, it continues to be a favorite of flower gardeners all over the world.

Roses first captured my fancy in 1991 when I helped my brother landscape his yard. We planted
miniatures and tea roses. I learned a lot about roses that year and grew to love them for their fragrance,
beauty, and the fact that I could count on having vases of roses in my house seven months of the year.
My favorites are Double Delight, Just Joey, Peace, and Sunset Celebration.

Varieties and colors
Entire books have been written about roses and the many varieties and colors that are available. Here's a
rundown of the most common types of roses:

Hybrid Tea Roses:
One of the most popular, Tea Roses are the choice if you like single, long-stemmed roses. Teas
are also the favorite of florists and range in height from 3 to 5 feet and the have long, pointed
buds and semi-double to double flowers.
Floribundas:
Bushy plants which grow 2 to 4 feet high. Instead of single roses on a stem, they have flowers in
clusters producing a good mass display.
Grandiflora:
A cross between hybrid teas and floribundas. Grandifloras have the beauty of the tea rose and
the greater bloom production of the floribunda. Medium to large flowers come in small clusters on
tall-growing (5- to 8- foot) plants.
Climber:
Climbing roses can be 8 feet to 20 feet or more. They are usually grown near a trellis, wall, or
some structure they can climb up.
Old Garden Rose:
Includes many classes of roses that came into existence before the hybrid teas emerged on the
scene in 1867. Many of these "old fashioned" roses come in many shapes with notable fragrances.
Miniature Roses:
Derived from miniature China roses, flower size is in the 1- to 2- inch range on plants that are
2 feet or less in height. Miniatures are well-suited to container gardening.

With the right amount of sun, water, fertilizer, and pruning, roses will flower and thrive for most of the
year. They require at least six hours of sun a day: preferably morning sun. They also need more water
than most plants. I have found it is better to water less frequently but deeply so the water gets to the
roots. A good fertilizer applied during the blooming season is recommended. Once a month I use a
concentration of 15-30-15 which I mix with one gallon of water and feed one gallon per rose bush.

Proper pruning is also essential to the health of the rose and to continued flower production. Purchase a
good quality pair of pruners and do some research on how to prune. Some roses are, unfortunately,
victim to pests and diseases. Some common rose diseases and pests include: black spot, rust, aphids,
and leaf curl. Again, find a good book on roses that covers pruning and pest control. There are
several books available.

Uses
Roses can be used in a variety of ways in the yard: as a border, in pots, or as a hedge behind a bench
in your garden. The miniatures and tree roses work great in containers. Floribundas, grandifloras and teas
are nice planted in mass or as a border, and the climbers are beautiful cascading over a trellis or fence.

Roses are also useful in the home. There's nothing that brightens my day more than being in a room
with fresh-cut roses. They are also beautiful when dried and make nice dried floral arrangements and are
used frequently as an ingredient in potpourii. To dry roses, cut them in the morning or late afternoon. Choose
flowers that are open about halfway. After cutting, tie twine around the stems and hang them in a dark closet for
two weeks.

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