The late storyteller Roald Dahl remodeled his garden to include more than 200 native roses at Whitefield Cottage, Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire. There were also roses budded onto the wild brambles in the hedges around the orchard, noted his biographer Donald Sturrock (2010). Such examples might give you a start.
Our own Canadian developed roses are the world-renown ‘Explorer’ series. Incredibly hardy, disease resistant, low maintenance and easy to grow they flower prolifically most of the season with small clusters of blooms. Technically referred to as shrub roses, perhaps their one drawback is that not all have the scent most gardeners seek from such plants.
But neither for that matter do many other modern roses, especially the
hybrid teas which bear single flowers on long stems – the typical “florist’s rose.” The floribunda roses sport clusters of small flowers, especially attractive in groupings or as hedges. In North America, we recognize yet another class, the
grandiflora roses, a compromise between the
hybrid teas (HTs) and
floribundas. These have clusters of blooms at the end of long stems. One of the most deservedly popular roses, ‘Queen Elizabeth,’ is of this class.
Rose standards or ‘trees’ that Alice discovered are the ultimate in British or French gardening schemes. Alas, in our more vigorous climate they require a great deal more skill, time and attention than most are willing to devote, to say nothing of deep pockets – and perhaps a masochistic frame of mind.
A young lady visitor on the set of
Never Give a Sucker an Even Break asked W. C. Fields if he liked flowers. Fields replied he was very fond of ‘Four Roses.’ He neglected to add that the ‘Four Roses’ in question was a brand of whiskey he particularly endorsed.
The Queen of Flowers demands that her future home be thoroughly prepared prior to her taking up residence. Not that it is likely that any other queen wishes to be installed in a home high in well composted manure, but then roses are different – and as befits royalty somewhat more demanding.
“Sunshine if eternal/Makes the roses fade” observes Angelina in W. S. Gilbert’s
Trial by Jury (1875). And while in while in England roses are recommended planted in full and what passes there for blazing sun, the blasts of brilliance experienced here suggests shade during the afternoon. The soil is where their majesties immerse their feet and they like it slightly on the heavy side, perhaps clay side with composted manure. Lots and lots and lots of composted manure – horse manure if you can find a source, then that of sheep with cattle as an also ran. Roses will also appreciate generous amounts of bone meal plus a moderate addition of lime.
Roses are often sold already potted. Upon arriving home, water heavily. This will make is easier to remove them from the pot. Almost all modern roses have their upper parts, the scion, grafted to their lower parts, the
rootstock. Where these meet there will be a distinct swelling or enlargement. Regardless of what imported instructions recommend, in our Canadian climate this should be buried three inches (7.5 cm) below the surface. Tamp the soil firmly down around each rose with the foot, and then spread a generous mulch of composted manure. This will keep the roots cool and moist and assist is suppressing weeds.
Unless there have been heavy rains, water every few days. Watering early in the day or at very least before noon is preferable from the base, not overhead. This will assist in avoiding disease such as black spot and mildew.
Remove dying and dead blooms promptly. Those whose passion is roses, rosarians, refer to such as deadheading. However, as some one once observed, the path of the rosarian is seldom thornless. Roses often seem to act as magnets for every pest around. Aphids are a particularly obnoxious lot, usually outrunning their predators, of which there are many. As with so many insect enemies, a hand vacuum is modern gardener’s equivalent of a sheriff’s .45 six-shooter. The dust inside will finish the blighters off.
A modicum of investment and care, you too could make you own personal desert blossom like a rose. Perhaps in time you might achieve levels of cultivation to copy the example of Cleopatra. History records that seeking to impress Antony at Tarsus in 41 B.C., she threw a party in which the entire floor was covered with roses to a depth of several feet. They were held in place by nets, explained Ernle Bradford in one of many biographies of the Serpent of the Nile so that guests found themselves walking upon a solid, scented carpet of flowers. They just don’t throw bashes like that any more.
