I've often read members posts and they refer to the heat in their garden. I have often wondered just how much heat these gardens receive???

In Las Vegas, the month of July is the test for a rose's heat tolerance. By mid to late August or so we began to see good overnight lows. We have about 70 days or so of 100+ degree temperatures. Beyond that it is fairly mild, dry heat, so no fungal disease issues. It is 76 degrees today and will be pretty much in that range to the eighties, or 60's in November, until winter hits, which is mild too.

Thus far, my Bishop's Castle bands potted up to one gallon did not seem to be bothered by July. The two I have are very healthy. SDLM is thriving, although I truly believe that two of the three are climbers instead of the three bushes I ordered. Reine Victoria however has the most impressive growth.
Now that Paul Neyron is in the ground, the growth is almost an exponential increase daily. Charles XII is very happy too.

What are your temperatures like? In terms of growing roses what do you like or dislike about where you are and do you have any favorites in terms of class etc?

1. Very extensive hardscape - due to the way this is configured most of the roses are affected by this, thereby stressing them more than roses in a garden without this feature.

2. We're at 1700 feet elevation, backed up against a steep hill in a pie-shaped configuration, with much of the garden close to the hill, which is covered with multiple huge boulders and a rock formation that's approximately 30 yards long running along one side of the house in close proximity. I think the hill also blocks some of the cool breezes that other gardens experience.

3. The highest temperature we've had in the shade this summer was 108 degrees. However, given the above circumstances, I'm sure the plants felt it to be considerably hotter than that. The other day it was 77 degrees in the morning and I could only stay in the sunny areas for about 5 minutes before I became unbearably hot. I've been in other people's garden where the same temperature was quite comfortable.

Ingrid

108 in the shade is very hot, and 77 degrees being uncomfortable.... wow!!. So many things can obviously impact the heat experienced.

You are an experienced gardener and have created beauty in your surroundings despite the challenges. What is the most important thing(s) you have learned about gardening in your environment?