WHOEVER DESCRIBED LIFE that way probably had lived a very full life! Now you may think, “Ouch, who would want to lay down on a rose bush?” My first thought, too! But who does not enjoy the lovely blooms that the sometimes ugly, thorny bush creates? Most importantly, who amongst us does not look forward to the amazing scents a rose can produce? Shakespeare wrote, “That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet.”
Through the ages, roses have been a part of man’s garden. They grow wild in many areas, but have also been heavily cultivated for their durability, beauty and scent. There are species roses, heirloom roses and modern roses. The species rose occurs naturally and include many plants you may not even think belong to the rose family—some fruit trees, Hawthorn, strawberries and Spiraea are good examples here. Then, you have the heirloom roses. These were cultivated over time to be the garden queens. They have beautiful blooms and most importantly, beautiful scents. Today, most plant nurseries carry the modern roses.
Okay, now that we know a little about the rose, how do we grow them in our own garden? First and foremost, plant them where they will receive ample sunlight—at least a third of the day. They do not require the best soil, but it is important that the area they grow in drains well. They should receive about one inch of water per week in the summer and be fertilized only during their growing season. Most roses will bloom when the temperatures are cooler, but some of the modern varieties will produce showy blooms all summer long. You will need to do some pruning in the winter months and perhaps watch for disease when the weather is wettest. Do a little research online before you make your rose garden decisions. You will find lots of information, pictures and growing advice there. Be sure to look up hardiness in zone 9 and don’t forget to look for at least one or two varieties that still have the beautiful scents.
As in life, the rose bed will, at times, be beautiful and abundant. However, there will also be times when all you see are thorns and sticks. Without the contrast, how would we ever truly appreciate the beauty and delight a simple bloom has to offer? Experience life, but don’t forget the garden gloves!
Email your gardening questions and comments to Lisa at [email protected].
