Usually the first thing to do in the garden in September is to enjoy it. The temperatures normally are back to a reasonable level and your rose bushes should be responding to the break from the heat stress of summer. September usually brings plenty of new growth and deep vibrant colors to the rose blooms. The bloom colors, size and production also start to improve as the temperatures drop. This summer has been an unusually hot...

Dr. Zlesak, Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, has an exemplary history of supporting and promoting rose horticulture in the United States and abroad. His work with roses began when he was 13 years old and he is recognized around the world as one of the top experts on roses. 

It is simply amazing to look at all of Dr. Zlesak’s accomplishments in connection with rosa and consider that he is so young. In ad...

from the American Rose Society Handbook for Selecting Roses

Classification of Roses

The American Rose Society has a classification scheme that reflects both the botanical and evolutionary progress of the rose. There are three main groupings: Species (i.e. wild roses); Old Garden Roses (classes in existence before 1867); and Modern Roses (classes not in existence before 1867). 

Classification Characteristics — No other f...