Rose Garden, Before

I think roses look better when they are mixed with perennials - I like the old English types. I dont have any David Austin roses but I have heard that they can be a problem with the flowers being too heavy and causing the stems to bend over.

Angela, I am going to enjoy reading this story with you. While we all have lots of favouite roses I think performance (disease resistance) varies from region to region. So I suggest you choice what grows well locally and then add a few extras from your worldwide reading. Niels at http://rosesingardens.blogspot.com/ has some good ideas and tips, he hasn't posted very often recently so do dig into his achieves. My favouite is rosa banksiae lutea - it is a climber, thornless, scentless and should only flower once a year. But mine usually has a few flowers in Autumn and this year still has some though they are frosted! Which doesn't explain why I like it so much, I just do.

Good luck with your rose garden. Sylvia (England)

Hi Angela!

I´m sure it will be a fantastic romantic rosegarden! I mix perennials with all kind of oldfashioned roses and it´s lovely!

Hugs Annie

I have so many favorites! I love:

New Dawn- climber
Abraham Darby- David Austin
Madam Isaac Pereire- antique
Frederick Mistral- Romantica Rose

Those are four of my all time favorites. But I have so many more. I want to know what your must haves are!

Two words, Angela. 'Belinda's Dream.'

David Austin English rose "Heritage" has been very hardy and strong growing for me and I love the cupped, pale pink flowers. When in bloom, it perfumes the whole garden. I did a post on roses back in June, and there is a picture of it there, if you care to view it.

Which zone are you in? I am in zone 4 (Minnesota) so I have Knockout Roses which are pretty carefree. I also have the newly developed roses from Bailey Nursery in conjunction with the University of Minnesota. They also are a shrub rose and they are called Ole, Sven & Lena. This is just the first year for them in my garden - I received them as a Mother's Day gift :) so I will have to let you know how they faired over the winter. It will be fun to see how your garden grows. ~ Robyn

I love the David Austin English roses, and used to grow them when I had a little cottage garden in the city. Unfortunately, where we are now, there are too many Japanese beetles, and they are pretty bad on roses, so I don't have a single rose in my entire garden.

Good luck with your rose garden. Just do a bit at a time, to keep it manageable.

Cheers, Yvonne

In Oregon you ought to have no problem with roses :) At least w/Japenese beetles and freeze problems.

David Austin rose I like is "the "Mary" rose. (pink)
Climber Alchemyst is old fashioned and apricot.
Loved "Margaret Merrill" but lost it. Same with French Lace and Angel Face, both floribundas, but I recommend them for someone in a zone 6 or higher.

I grow only super hardy roses now, although I love many roses and have tried many. My country garden is just too harsh for them- the city garden did better (enclosed and warmer, no wind!)

One thing about the old types: they can be spreaders, which, if you are used to growing Hybrid Teas, might surprise you.

Rosa x odorata mutabilis - although it is single, it is beautiful and cottagey and flowers throughout the summer. Even the new red shoots are elegant. Great trained against a wall, or plant three together for a weeping effect as they have done at Coton Manor in Northamptonshire

This is so possible and it looks to me that you are off to the right start. I once lived in town and it took me a good 12 years to finally transform my lot into a wonderful cottage setting. You have inspired me to do a few entries about that undertaking in some of my up coming blog entries. At the present day I have been living out in the country working in a new environment and loving it as well. What made me leave all that work.... I needed more space!

I added you to my 'Gardens I like to visit' on my blog so I can refer back to your work. THANK YOU for sharing.

From my extremely cold garden in the Midwest!

Oh, goodness, I did a post on this awhile back. I think it was last month. Zephirine Droughin is my all time favorite for dripping lusciousness. I also like Cl. Old Blush for early bloom, Cl. Pinkie for a cute climber, Don Juan and Altissimo for red climbers. The list goes on and on. Maybe I'll do a favorites post in a few days. Great idea Angela.~~Dee

As to really productive, tough roses, my great rose triumph in a difficult cold windy spot was a pair of inexpensive "Gold Medal" roses, it's a floribunda and it is rarely out of bloom. Beautiful every day, low to medium height, glossy deep green leaves, and vast quantities of sweet golden blossoms that open with pink-orange edges then fade slowly to cream. By far my best selection. First to bloom, last to stop blooming, etc!!!

I enjoy progression pictures. I was attracted to your blog because of the age of your house. Ours was built in 1949. It's a corner lot, so I can't do the same things you can. Your place is really taking shape!

I love a rose that has great fragrance so I'm very partial to Chrysler Imperial and Mister Lincoln, both of which are red tea roses. I grow them in Eastern Ontario (zone 4-5) so I have to protect them in the winter, but they are well worth the effort. For a no-fuss rose, the Explorer series is great.