Rosa "Strawberry Hill"
My roses are blooming this week! Unfortunately, that means next week they’ll all be bare until they can build enough energy to put out another big show—probably about six weeks from now.
Rosa "The Ancient Mariner"
The days of planting roses in a bed by themselves are waning. They are healthier growing with companion plants that attract pollinators and ladybugs. I am growing more native plants among the roses as well.
Rosa "Emily Brontë"
I only plant roses that are disease-resistant. I don’t spray them at all. I depend on the wrens and wasps to take care of rose slugs, and the ladybugs keep the aphids at bay. I try to plant roses facing east as well, so that their leaves dry out early in the day.
Rosa "Knockout Red"
I have never been a fan of knockout roses. This one was inherited from the former homeowners. It was fairly healthy, so I left it in the bed. Last year it put out a few blooms every month. The flowers were such an intense red that they caught the eye from anywhere in the yard. This year it is blooming its heart out, AND it is filling the garden with a wonderful perfume! (Not all knockouts are fragrant—it seems to be a random trait.) This one has earned its place in my garden.