GARDENER'S READING ROOM
Trees and Shrubs

Roses for the New Year

After a cold, wet, dreary winter what is better than looking forward to the arrival of the first beautiful, fragrant rosebud? For those of us who love our roses, absolutely nothing! The expectation of a summer full of color and eye-candy, whether you cut your roses to enjoy inside or leave their appeal and structure to your garden, is my (not so secret) joy!

It’s been an interesting evolution watching the rose breeders go from testy, high-maintenance cutting roses to buyer-friendly, disease-resistant, still-beautiful, anyone roses! Sky Nursery makes it a point to purchase roses that respond well to the vagaries of a Northwest summer. Sometimes, however, weather conditions can cause the hardiest rose to have powdery mildew and blackspot (think summer of 2010!). Don’t lose heart when that happens. Strip off the offending leaves, bag them, and put them in the garbage. Get fallen, spotty leaves off of the ground as soon as possible.
Now to my favorite new roses for 2011!

	‘Dick Clark’ 2011 AARS winner – a stunningly fragrant grandiflora rose loaded with black-red buds that open to cream-edged cherry pink with hints of burgundy.
	‘Smiley Face’ This sunny yellow climber will bring smiles to your garden. It’s disease resisant, climbs to 12 feet, and repeat blooms!
	‘Grande Dame’ A big, beautiful hybrid tea with a deep pink, old rose look about her and an intense, old rose fragrance. She’s a perfect addition to any English-style garden with a low thorn count - great for cutting.
	‘Milwaukee’s Calatrava’ A strong, citrus fragrance surrounds pure, white double flowers with slightly ruffled petals set against dark foliage. The flowers start to blush pink as cooler weather sets in.

By Deborah Boyer
Skylights Spring 2011, Vol 26, No. 1

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