22,153 Garden Web Discussions | Roses
Goodt4me - you can visit the websites for the various rose societies, too. We each have lists or suggestions for roses recommended for this low desert climate. www.roses4az-mevrs.org, www.phoenixrose.org, www.glenroseaz.org. Of course, you can also email me through this website, too:).
A chain link fence is made from galvanized metal and is usually much cooler than a block wall. It also is almost impervious to keeping weed-free but allows excellent airflow. If you're in a newer area of Scottsdale, you may have a solid metal fence of some nature and even a cactus would fry on one of those things. Rose's biggest enemies in this area, besides afternoon-only sun, is lack of water and encroaching roots... especially oleander, eucalyptus, nutsedge, cats claw and hybrid bermuda grass.
My HT's have been pumping out big candelabra's this season also. No complaints on my part. These are what I build my bushs on. I watch as it developes and pay attention to the lower 3/4 canes. As those lower canes start to develope, I cut out the top of the candelabra and let all the energy go to those lower canes. They always produce beautiful blooms and I usually cut half of that cane and let another one or two big canes come of of each one. I call it, building my bush strong. As far as why they show up, I like to call it "happy bushs"
Thanks desertgarden. Today was a bit less severe sun-wise, so the leucophyllum photographed better. This is with nothing other than hose water and the "finally useful cat" planted under it. All kidding aside, the cat is buried under this plant. It will continue flowering like this as long as the temps remain high and it receives SOME water. It's a Texas native, so you know it MUST be tough. Kim
Here is Oklahoma, sitting on the edge of a gravel driveway that gets all day sun, apparently happy as a clam in spite of the 100+ weather we've had here for over a week. That big cluster of flowers in front is a new cane that must have had a dozen flowers at the tip! It's not as red as it usually is, it's a lot more pink, but it's still beautiful!
You're welcome, Clare. Fortunately, the only rejection I've experienced was from Lower Saxony Germany. They feared RRD from California! I've sent pollen and seeds to Canada ($1.30 for the 44 cent First Class envelope) and Australia (notation of contents, Customs forms and $6 minimum postage for a small, light weight Priority envelope). But, they were less costly than $75 worth of Priority postage to The Netherlands, though over a holiday weekend, that box was received IN The Netherlands in two and a half days, even faster than a small envelope sent First Class to Florida! Kim
One thing to think about for a rose newbie is whether these roses will get much care - the big cabbage-type roses like most gallicas look pretty ratty if they don't get deadheaded, and that might deter the "budding" rose enthusiast. If you want to put in one rose of that type for the historical effect, make sure it's fragrant to make her pine for it blooming again. My votes in the fragrant historic category for zone 4/5 would be Madame Isaac Periere, Maggie, Jacques Cartier, or Francis Dubreuil/Barcelona. All of them are highly scented for me, laugh at my winters, and rebloom at least some. MIP and FD would be the biggest contrast to a white like Darlow's Enigma, and for me every one of those roses has a toe-curling wonderful scent (and I have a poor rose "nose"). FD might have the toughest time with a full-sun spot, since he appreciates some mid-day shade.
You could also check out "shrubs" for bright spots of color that need little or no care. Lady Elsie May rarely gets deadheaded in my yard because she doesn't really need it, even though she's right by my front door, and she's a screaming "notice me" neon coral color. She blooms literally nonstop, grows bushy at least 4-5 feet, and is vigorously healthy and hardy in our zone. She would have the relatively wild feel you're looking for without the suckering, and her foliage is always clean. Her color doesn't exactly play nicely with others, so I wouldn't put a dark pink like MIP or Maggie next to her (and this is from someone who likes a bit of chaos), but with FID in front of her or Jacques Cartier bridging the gap between Elsie and Darlow, you'd have an eye-catching display from only 3 roses. There are also plenty of Explorer shrubs that would rebloom at least some, or the hybrid musks (Wilhelm is a dark color), or tough low bloomers like Eutin, all of whom have a certain amount of history behind them.
Just a thought - you have a lot of options!
Cynthia
If it was me, I'd gift two "Darlow's Enigma" (already mentioned) and one 'Basye's Purple Rose' (see link below) to go in the middle. Both are fragrant, rebloom, are cold-hardy, and can be treated as big "flowering shrubs" rather than cared-for as "finicky roses." And I'll bet that both will leave your sister saying "THOSE are roses?"
:-)
~Christopher
Here is a link that might be useful: 'Basye's Purple Rose' on HelpMeFind
Thank you so much for all your suggestions. They have been very helpful. I think it was Ann that mentioned Goodwood Plantation--we previously lived in Tallahassee and bought a few of their old roses. In fact, I brought one with me that didn't have a name on it but it will grow into a little tree with boughs of branches and clusters of little pink roses. It is doing well so far. Thanks for the idea of getting their CD. Sue
Thanks for the Petals from the Past info! I've got 2 daughters at Auburn and I've been thinking it would be worth a little detour to take I-65 north home by way of Montgomery instead of 280 for the return trip after I drop them off at school next month. I can pad my new "empty nest" with more roses!
I figure anything looking good in August in Alabama has a chance to look good here!
Heirloom ships year round but they won't ship until the weather in your area is okay, so there may be a small delay if its way too hot. I have two roses that should be here Fri and two more I just ordered today that should ship next week. I've placed about 4 orders in total with them since the beginning of June. I haven't had to wait long for anything so far and everything has shown up in great condition. I hate that you had a mix up, but they should ship Joey pretty quick :)
Solved the mystery of this rose. It is fragrant plum!! I emailed heirloom roses and they said it looks like the fragrant plum I ordered from them.
I tried to keep everything properly labeled but apparently failed. This does look like the fragrant plum although I thought it was more of a purplish blueish color. My bad! I thanked them for straightening it out for me. So much for trying to stay organized and not mix up my roses ha?
What you can do now is hose off the roses well, and then give them a LOT of water, every day, for a while. That might help.
In future, everyone is correct that anything that will kill poison ivy will kill roses. If this was in my garden, I would clothe myself in long sleeves, gloves, etc., and dig out the poison ivy with a shovel. Then throw everything, and myself, into the wash.
Jackie
One spring my daughter sprayed all my roses with poinson ivy killer when I asked her to spray fungicide...The best thing to do is water throughly every day. I only cut back as it turned brown. Out of 58 roses I only lost 4 and those 4 were the ones that were struggling anyway. Good Luck
If you have typical roses from the garden center, these are usually grafted on Dr. Huey rootstock that is fine at pH 7. If you have roses on their own roots, some varieties will develop iron deficiency at around pH 6.8.. The new leaves will be pale with greener veins. Other varieties will be able to take up enough iron.
To lower pH of heavy soil, add 1/2 cup of plain sulfur per square yard and wait six months for it to work. Use less in light, sandy soil. At pH 7, treatment is optional.
Kim,
I didn't really make myself clear....I was only asking if deadheading in this heat was good for the roses. I'm afraid that I fall into your friend's category. I make goals for myself and generally complete them.
No problem deadheading early in day when it's not so hot. Now, putting up the shade cloth was a chore!
In the middle of this reply, I just ran out and deadheaded the babies. Also, remember that I have only 13 bushes, so it's not really a big deal.
Thanks and have a lovely 4th.
andrea
Thank you, Michael and Tom! I am at a stage that I know RRD exits, but don not know nearly enough to tell what's normal and what's not. Being a newbie to roses does not help either.... Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge here and elsewhere on this forum. I personally have learned a great deal from both of you.
It's really important to be vigilant about RRD. You SHOULD be suspicious. This one was worth asking about because of the multiple shoots.
Generally very vigorous but healthy growth will start looking more normal within a few days, while RRD growth becomes weirder.
Shoots go blind because they run short of water or chemical energy. Chemical energy is sugars and starches stored in the tissues below. Sugars and starches are manufactured by leaves in sunlight. The blind shoot now consists of leaves in sunlight, producing food energy for the plant.
A clump of blind shoots on an established plant usually means something is wrong with the underlying cane (canker or winter damage). These canes should be removed as they will never support strong growth and good flowering. Meanwhile they may be casting shade on healthier foliage.
However, blind shoots on a young or weak plant are normal. They are beneficial and should be left alone. The only thing that can build strength for growth in a plant is leaves in sunlight.
In greenhouse rose production, there is a technique called "bent canopy." They break the blind shoots over and let them hang in the aisle to catch sunlight and feed energy into the plant. This maximizes the amount of photosynthesis and increases cut rose production.
Spores of rust are airborne and can travel a fair distance.
Is there a public rose garden in your area? If there is (and if it is not sprayed) that would be the ideal place for you to learn what rose varieties are remaining clean, in our changing climate.
You might also want to contact a local ARS Rose Society. There's a very very good society which meets in Carlsbad. They should be able to give you very location-specific suggestions. The Society is California Coastal R.S. -- They're the nicest folks in the world, just about.
Tell them that Jeri Jennings suggested you contact them. I really like those folks. :-)
Jeri
Here is a link that might be useful: California Coastal Rose Society