Hello and Thank you. I have been a long time reader of your advice and the best things I've done have been thanks to the wisdom of this group. Thank you very much.
Today I joined hoping to request specific advice for my gardens. What rose would do well for me? Is there such a thing as a Carpet Rose with exceptional fragrance?
Location: Hot, Humid summers. zone:6
I don't "spray" or even understand "spraying." I am not an organic gardener for any reason other than it's easier for me to understand. I use very few pesticides and such and therefore, I have more difficulties with roses. I do however, fertilize and prune and water and weed. These things I do very well and my plants seem to do well and get lots of compliments.
I love fragrance in the garden and mostly those from flowers. I particularly like the fresh rose scent. Of course, they are pretty too! For looks, I mostly like annuals, but the perinnial bed is my foundation for fragrance.
My request for help is with a selection that could best suit my garden conditions and my personal specifications:
1. Fragrance
2. well...the thing has to bloom, so whatever it takes to make that happen....
My favorite rose so far is Sunsprite. It's got it all! Is there a red/pink version of this? The yellow rose is not quite right for me.
History:
I began with roses 3 years ago. Only knock-out in containers. Great success!
Spring '06, Bed #1
Sunsprite - doing the best of all. AA11 rating. Not one BS or PM ever. Lots of blooms. Great fragrance. Excellent repeat.
Thornbury Castle - Gonna get the shovel. FB11 rating. Leaves and Blooms killed with BS. Still lots of blooms. Great fragrance. Excellent repeat. Might be nice if sprayed.
Fall '06 Bed #1
Blush Noisette - doing ok. Very little BS. Good Blooming. Good Fragrance. Good repeat.
Desiree (From HR) - Cute, but not much so soon. May be a keeper!
Lyda Rose - Great. Just as described so often.
Madame Alfred Carriere - Doing wonderfully. Great expectations here.
Marie Pavie - Lovely...
Spring '07, Bed #2
Gruss An Aachen (Pink) - Looking very good.
Country Dancer - Might be good.
Rose de Rescht - sweet little rose. LOTS of fragrance flowers. Not good for cutting.
Marchessa Bocella - same as RdR only light pink. Sweet.
Frederic Mistral - Not many blooms yet. Great so far!
Belinda's Dream - is a dream.
Sarah Van Fleet - May be a really great (big) bush.
Spring '07, Bed #3:
Pimpinellifolia Hybrids, Falkland and Burnet Double Pink. My best prizes! I saw the once blooming BDP first spring out and it is the prettiest thing I have ever seen. I may always have this rose in my garden....
Spring '07, Containers:
Peggy Martin - Pink climber that survived Hurricane Katrina. What a soldier this one is!!!
Sweet Chariot - Cutest Mini ever!
Little White Pet - Will NOT stop blooming! Whew!
Adelaide D'Orlean - I hope will grow loose one day. Very vigorous and healthy. She likes everything, needs nothing.
I have a few others, nothing exciting.
I should say that I do have a bit of BS on many of them. It's usually not too bad and it acts more to thin/prune the plant, leaving a space for the next branch/flower. It does change the looks of the plant, but it doesn't seem to effect the performance of blooms. Mostly I don't mind it.
Yes, JBs suck! but the oodles of bananas have kept every other bug away and I don't have insects.
If anyone has a recommendation of a rose that would survive my harsh conditions with great fragrance, please let me know.
Thank you all, again, for the good work you do here. It's too bad someone isn't sorting it and printing a book! It would be the best book on roses yet.
Lisa
Lunula_Moon
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