ROSE ARTICLES

By Gus Banks, Master Rosarian, West Jersey Rose Society Forced inside by the cold weather and shortened days we have more time away from our gardens. We can use this time to benefit our hobby by reading about roses. Winter is a great time to increase your rose knowledge through reading. With thousands of books available you can choose an area that interests you. Culture, Old Garden Roses, climbers, miniatures, arrangements, rose identification, exhibiting, organic gardening a

by Nanette Londeree, Marin Rose Society, Master Rosarian When you admire the beauty of a rose blossom, marvel at the health and vigor of the plant, or inhale its intoxicating perfume, in most cases, what you’re experiencing is no accident or fluke of nature. The incredible rose is the result of some imaginative, resourceful, and patient person – the hybridizer. The men and women that create these wonders of the plant world are found around the globe and have been busy craftin

by Suzanne M. Horn, Master Rosarian, Pacific Rose Society Article published in The Pacific Rose, April 2020 If have often been asked to name a favorite rose over the 20 years I have been growing and exhibiting roses. That’s always a hard question, but no matter how much I deliberate on the issue, the answer always turns out to be ‘Butter Cream’. This luscious miniflora is the favorite creation of ARS President and amateur hybridizer Bob Martin, and I have been in love with th

by Diane Sommers, ARS Vice President I am enjoying a beautiful sunny morning in August as I write this article on protecting our roses for winter. Living in Wisconsin, I know that fall will be here before we know it. Just as people and critters change their habits and plan for colder temperatures, so do plants. Before we talk about “how” to protect our roses, let’s begin by understanding “why”. Our roses, like many other plants, achieve a degree of “cold hardiness”. In Dr

by Diane Sommers, ARS Vice-President 2018-2021 When Rita first asked me to write about my favorite rose I thought it sounded like a fun idea. Then I realized that this is a tough question! You may recall in 2014 when I wrote an article on my top 10 miniature/minifloras for the ARS Rose Annual that there were really more than 10. So I have pondered this question for a couple of months since Rita first presented it to me. By nature, I have taken a structured, analytical ap

by Dr. Tommy Cairns, ARS past President 2000-2003 All photos by Dr. Tommy Cairns. The number of times that question has been asked of rosarians makes it an all-time record. Before addressing the reasons that surround that choice, the characterizations of some varieties as dogs offends the true connoisseur of roses. This disparaging reference has been historically derived from a very worthy ancestor to modern roses, namely Rosa canina, commonly referred to the dog rose. It

by Marilyn Wellan, ARS past President 2003-2006 Photos submitted by Marilyn Wellan Editor Rita Perwich has given me a tough assignment. Should I choose as my favorite the rose I most often promote and recommend; a rose that is classic in form, with lots of quiet pink petals, and so easy to grow? That rose is Dr. Robert Bayse’s shrub rose, ‘Belinda’s Dream’. Or should I choose the regal rose in my favorite rose color—white—the rose that accidentally introduced me to old garden

by Steve Jones, ARS past President 2006-2009 Asking about my favorite rose is not easy; it is like asking who is your favorite child although we always seem to have one. I believe in what the great rosarian and past president of the ARS Horace McFarland said when he was asked the same question, and he replied “The one I am holding”. I often say “The one I am beholding”. We live in the Sierra Foothills (49er Gold Country) in Northern California, at 1700 feet elevation on top o

by Jolene Adams, ARS past President 2012-2015 A long time ago – while I was still in the 6th grade – my parents bought a new home in Southern California and Mom went to work planting gardens. Her front yard was a large rectangle with a split-rail fence around the side and front. Mom loved flowers of all kinds, so she planted a rose bush at each post of that fence … and filled in the rest of the border with perennials and annuals – cottage garden style. LEFT:'Sheila’s Perfum

by Bob Martin, ARS President 2018-2021 BELOW: 'Butter Cream', photo by Bob Martin Challenged by our Editor to select one rose to write about, I decided at once to pick the best of my own creations – ‘Butter Cream’. A rose “hybridizer” is one who is responsible for the discovery or creation of a new rose. And since there is nothing about roses that does not interest me, there came a time circa 1992 when my thoughts about roses had turned to becoming a hybridizer. My first ste