Product Description
Not many gardeners can resist the beauty of a rose-- a flower so divine and graceful in appearance and, in many cases, so wonderfully fragrant that it evokes thoughts of love and romance at first encounter. Many gardeners, however, also see a fussy plant that's hard to grow and needs special attention, as well as a host of chemicals to keep diseases and pests at bay.

In Growing Roses Organically, Barbara Wilde challenges the myth that growing roses has to be a time-consuming task that you can't do effectively without using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In fact, she takes the intimidation out of growing roses by sharing her well-rounded, holistic approach for success. Wilde starts with tips for choosing healthy varieties, including hints for buying the best bareroot and container plants. She guides you through careful soil preparation and proper planting techniques and offers advice on how to gently intervene when it comes to pest and disease problems. Wilde also demystifies pruning-- a task that perplexes many gardeners. Her step-by-step explanation of various techniques makes this task doable for every gardener, including beginners.

You'll also find invaluable information in A Gallery of Roses, an eye-catching identification guide that boasts more than 100 roses best suited for organic gardening techniques. Each entry in the gallery includes a detailed description of the rose and its best uses, as well as ratings for fragrance, disease susceptibility, and shade tolerance.

To round out Growing Roses Organically, you'll discover how to incorporate roses into your garden. Wilde dismisses the notion that you need to grow roses in a formal setting and instead presents four garden designs that incorporate roses with everything from perennials and wildflowers to trees and shrubs. Her design do's and don'ts along with winning plant combinations demonstrate how naturally roses fit into the landscape.

In sharing her wisdom and experience, Barbara Wilde shows that growing roses doesn't have to be labor-intensive or frustrating. By choosing the right varieties and providing proper care, roses really can be a welcome part of every garden-- including yours.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

I'm a rose beginnner and I love it
I have next to no experience with roses (unless you count the half a dozen or so that I've bought and killed :)).I was fed up with that, and wanted to get roses that didn't require chemicals and fertilizers.I know this book received a negative review (and everyone has a right to their opinion), but, personally, I really like it.I didn't find the directions complicated - quite the opposite in fact.I found it well organized, easy to understand, and comprehensive.Basically, it told me what kind of roses to pick, how to plant them, how to care for them, and what to do if something goes wrong (disease, pest, etc).Just what I wanted.I agree that the selection of roses recommended isn't exactly what I was looking for.However, the reality is that information will change annually anyway.What it gave me was the information that I needed to look online and be able to figure out how to choose a hardy, healthy plant that will last a very long time.I don't know if Amazon will let me post this information :), but check out Heirloom Roses online - theyhave a great selection of own root plants that are hardy and disease resistant.If they have to block out that name, just Google Buy Rose Plants for a selection of sites (you want the one that starts with H :).Hope this helps you choose.

Great Book!
This is the most thorough information I've ever seen on growing roses and why diseases happen! A must-have for all gardeners with roses or who want to grow roses.

Not the greatest how-to book for roses
I am a big fan of organic gardening, but I just can't agree with the other posters here who've raved about this book. I'm glad it's not the first one I've read on organic gardening or on roses. If it had been, I think I would have given up! Wilde makes it sound entirely too complicated, especially for the typical home gardener. Also, not that many roses are featured, and information on them (fragrance,etc differs from what I've read elsewhere and/or experienced in my own garden. An OK book, but be sure you read others and go to the excellent site help me find dot com to get some perspective. Visit local gardens to see what does well. And don't be afraid to experiment in your own garden, keeping it simple as much as possible. If you 1.) choose roses known to do well in your area, 2.) plant them properly making sure they have plenty of sun, food and water, and 3.) cultivate them cleanly, keeping their bases free of fallen leaves and debris - the job is mostly done. ENJOY YOUR ROSES!

Growing Roses Organically
This book is an outstanding resource not only for rose gardeners, but also for gardeners in general.I learned all sorts of useful facts about growing plants organically.The book is beautifully written and easy to understand.The illustrations are excellent.
This book is attractive enough to be given as a gift.
Wilde has given us a treasure:
her vast experience and great love of gardening.

Great instructions and info, plus beautiful pictures
This is a practical, pretty, and highly useful book for anyone who wants to smell the roses, especially in climates less temperate than the west coast.

The number of roses included is far from encyclopaedic, but for the roses Ms Wilde does include, she reports thoroughly on on their disease susceptibility, growth habit, hardiness, fragrance, and more. In nearly all cases, a gorgeous color photo accompanies. In fact, stripped of its useful information, this book would still be a fine buy for its large color photos. Before the gallery of roses, you'll find clear and helpful instructions about how to prepare for planting and how to accomplish the actual planting. Although the emphasis obviously centers on organic methods, this is a fine general reference on growing roses.

The book itself seems reasonably well put together. I haven't spent months poring over it yet, but I do not have the early feeling of dread when a poorly glued book seems ready to fall apart in my hands. Probably part of the reason is that the book is large enough to be helpful, but not so large that its very size works to break it apart. The format, in other words, allows for some large and luscious eye candy, but it is not as big as many modern illustrated gardening books which should really come with their own stands.

Photographs, clear drawings, and lucid instructions and descriptions make this book a pleasure to own and and treasure to use. ... Read more

Product Description
Ideal for would-be growers who were always afraid of roses, as well as for gardeners who already grow these beautiful flowers and want to learn more. Over 400 beautiful color photographs and 40 watercolor paintings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

I am SOOOOO Happy!
This is the book that I have been looking forward to for years! It tells me in easy to understand wisdom, all that I have wanted to know about all roses!It's like the book was written just for me!

Now I know that every square inch that remains unplanted in my gardens will be filled with roses!I can't wait for Spring!Sincerely, Judy

the only book about roses one needs
I own several books about roses, and looked at many more. This is the only one I use and go back to. It is well written, well organised, and covers both basics (e.g. planting and care) and advanced techniques that I do not think I will ever aspire to attempt (e.g. propagating by air layering). To me, this is the only book anyone who grows or wants to grow roses needs.

Good information, lovely photographs, attractive layout
As someone who's just getting into gardening, I was pleasantly surprised to see that this book includes sections on topics like soil evaluation and composting in addition to the expected chapters on choosing, planting, and pruning roses.Another nice aspect is that the fertilization and pest control sections emphasize organic methods, but also list others if you need them.The layout is also attractive and makes the book a pleasure to read.

Finally, what I've been looking for!
My friends and family all know I'm crazy about growing roses and collecting rose books.I'm often asked for just one book that a beginner could use easily, yet still not outgrow as his experience and interest expand.I know a number of books that fill part of this need, but not all.Finally I have found one I can recommend without reservation.This book covers the range from modern roses to antiques, why to choose own root or grafted roses, how to handle diseases and pests, and how to prepare the soil.The general orientation is for organic methods, but he presents the information without being judgmental.You won't feel guilty if you spray your roses, but he'll tell you how to avoid it most of the time by choosing easy-care varieties well suited to your own climate.All this, and I haven't yet mentioned the beautiful photographs and helpful instructional drawings.

Excellent photos and sound advice!
What first attracted me to this book was it's gallery of roses, the extensive chapter that describes numerous roses. After reading it, I realized that rose growing is more accessible than I thought, and I am ready to plant. Five stars! ... Read more

Product Description
Combination of two books that have been reflowed and redesigned. Includes bibliographical references an index. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Fantastic Must Read!
I got a very old edition from my local library, which was just the "Carrots Love Tomatoes" book.
This book is FANTASTIC and I'm very glad there are newer publications, which I most certainly will be buying.
Companion planting is something EVERYONE who wants to grow food or flowers should know about.

Personally I'm using the knowledge from this book to help when I make my own container garden (I live in an apartment with no yard). When you're working with little space, you want to put the friendliest plants together for optimum growth and flavor. This book tells you how, as well as helping you see how different plants protect each other from insects and critters (organic pest control with out all the "greenwash"). The book also offers storing techniques (don't put your apples near your potatoes!). It isn't very in depth, but it is a great overview and provides you some nice recipes for plant sprays and insect/critter repellent made from natural sources (and this book was published long before the commercial green movement!).

Can't wait to buy this edition!

a must for gardeners
This book is awesome!!It has both Carrots love tomatoes and roses love garlic in one book rather than having to buy them seperate.It gives great info about what plants like or dislike other and what herbs protect from different pests.It talks about what weeds are beneficial (suprise dandelions aren't as bad as you thought) and how to keep different critters out of your garden.

tomatoes love carrots
The seller of this book was very quick to send it and I received it in less than 10 days.My son and I had decided at the last minute to plant a garden, so by time we received it, we were already moving ahead with the project.However, it did arrive in time for us to get some good use out of it.We found information that we were not aware of, such as planting cucumbers with your corn to help discourage the raccoons, not planting our tomatoes near the potato patch, using herbs and flowers to protect certain other plants, and etc.The garden is in, now all we have to do is to watch, weed, water and wait to see how all this plays out.I am sure that most novice gardeners will find this book as interesting and useful as we have.

Helpful
This book gave me most of what I was looking for, that is, what vegetables should be planted together to get the best growth and prevent pests. I was mainly interested in a vegetable garden and this book covers everything, flowers, shrubs and vegetables.Maybe the additional information will be useful at a later date ... Read more

Product Description
As he did for English Roses in 100 English Roses for the American Garden, the preeminent rosarian Clair G. Martin demystifies the world of Old Roses-those hardy, fragrant, versatile, and historic roses introduced before 1901. The first section presents the different classes of Old Roses-Gallicas and Damasks, Portlands and Bourbons and Albas and more-and describes the essentials of selecting, planting, watering, pruning, training, feeding, and disease control. Following is a field guide to 100 varieties best suited for American gardens. Each rose is stunningly photographed by Saxon Holt, and each entry includes a detailed description of the cultivar, along with its often colorful history ('Autumn Damask' was listed by Virgil; 'Old Blush,' ubiquitous in California gold rush country cemeteries, was influential in creating modern reblooming roses) and information on availability, fragrance, uses, stature and habit, hardiness, and time of bloom.Amazon.com Review
While gardeners often start out with hybrid tea roses, theymost often end up growing the healthier and supremely fragrant oldroses. Who can resist their crumpled petals in soft watercolor shadesand their penetrating fragrance of baby powder and cold cream, letalone their lengthy and flamboyant histories?100 Old Roses forthe American Garden has pulled together a selected hundred of thebest, with stunning color photographs and cultural information.

And the names--who could resist 'Alister Stella Gray' (a goldenrambler), or 'Enfant de France' (a rose-pink hybrid perpetual datingfrom 1860)? You might want to track down 'Sydonie,' a shell-pinkdamask described as having deep, pervasive perfume and generousrebloom. This task will be made easier by the appendices at the backof the book listing mail-order sources for old roses, and publicgardens that display them.

One reason so many gardeners end upenamored with old roses is that they don't need to be grown in a "roseghetto" as do hybrid teas, but rather enjoy being mixed into borderswith other plants. A chapter on companion plantings suggestsperennials that work well as skirting for old roses, enabling thegardener to mix roses seamlessly into the garden picture.--Valerie Easton ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Great Reference Book!
Having the 100 English Roses For the American Garden, I knew that this book would be no slouch with showcasing excellent old roses for our gardens here in the USA. Clair Martin writes well and describes the characteristics of each rose on one page and a beautiful photo of the rose is on the opposite page of the description. I recommend this book for all rose afficionados whether you grow hybrid teas, English roses, floribundas or old garden roses. This book is a must for your reference library and use it as a wish list when you go into various nurseries looking for something new that is old!

Mine wasn't one of them
I purchased this book expecting to find information on one of the best old roses for a beginning grower of old roses to grow...'Marchesa Boccella' (aka 'Jacques Cartier').It was not included.Since it's the rose I had bought for my garden, in that respect, the book was disappointing, but it is a helpful field guide to the 100 old roses that were selected by the author.If I had been able to see the list of the roses, I would not have bought it.

100 Old Roses For the American Garden
This book is fabulous.I am a beginner and it covers each rose in depth.At the front of the book is fascinating history on roses.Especially how roses were such a commodity in the 1600-1700 & 1800's.They even stopped a ship blockade to let the roses in.

I keep grabbing this book
Although this book isn't all-inclusive (after all, the title is 100 old roses), this is the book I reach for first. It's great when I'm trying to find out more information on a rose in a catalog, or looking for an old rose for a specific spot. First of all, I can't resist the pictures (but they may be slightly misleading as in the case of Blanc Double de Coubert which I've never seen growing with the great cutting stem as shown). Second, the text makes for amusing reading. It's oppinionated, and I like that. Third, there's the handy Index of Old Garden Roses by Color in the back. It's actually a little summary: flower style, plant type, and class e.g. Madame Isaac Pereire: cupped, tall, Bourbon. Very handy. The only thing that would make this better is if it had scratch and sniff (unfortunately not realistic)...since scent is such a subjective thing (I was so hot for Louise Odier until I smelled her and was surprised to find that I didn't like the fragrance).

Excellent resource for gardeners
If you are interested in growing roses and want to try some that are not just your basic Hybrid Teas, this is a wonderful book to get.You will drool over the pictures and the text is excellent.The pictures take one page and are a gorgeous shots of the bloom with a long stem and leaves.On the opposite page is text which goes into great detail about the rose characteristics, growth patterns, habits, vigor, etc.It is an invaluable book when trying to decide what old garden roses to introduce to your garden.

This format is so beautful and so useful, that I have purchased all of the gardening books in this "series" by this publisher.It is rare to get such excellent photos in combination with such useful text.

I started growing roses about five years ago and became frustrated with Hybrid Teas because of blackspot and their generally fussy behavior and stiff, formal flowers.This book and Liz Druitt's book were instrumental in getting me to try old garden roses, and am I glad I did!I would highly recommend this to both beginning gardeners and experienced, alike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

so beautiful you can almost smell the roses
I heard about this because of the watercolor illustrations and to me they are a huge part of the charm of this wonderful little book. The descriptions are evocative but they wouldn't be nearly as wonderful if photographs were used. I bought a copy for me and have since bought 2 additional copies for fortunate friends this christmas.

gorgeous water colors
absolutely beautiful paintings.i orginally saw some of this work in a little address book a french friend brought to our house.i liked it so much she sweetly put little pieces of paper over her entries and gave it to me as a parting gift.then i find this book at a friend's house - some of the same paintings but even more.the beauty of a rose is captured, as much as paper and color can do it.enchanting.

A must for rose lovers.
This is a tabletop book in a smaller format. The prose is flowery (of course) the art work sublime. Pages are so beautiful, they could be framed. I originally bought the book for the illustrations as I had seen it at a country house hotel in England (in the original French -- which I do not read). This book is the English translation --philosophical rather than technical -- and rewarding to read. ... Read more

Product Description
• The “everything-you-need-to-know” guide to successfully growing roses.

• Simple techniques show everyone from beginner to enthusiast how to select, pot, stake and care for roses.

• Expert advice includes how to deal with pests and diseases as well as how to ensure healthy plants by controlling light, temperature and humidity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent Beginner's Guide
My husband gave this to me as a gift after I had expressed a desire to plant roses in our new home's sunny front yard. I had zero experience with growing roses, and no knowledge of the types of roses or the awards bestowed by various rose societies around the world. This book was ideal in helping me decide what roses to buy, and from whom, how to plant them, when to water them, how and when to prune them, and how to feed them.

By the way, you'd assume that because Miracle Gro published the book it would promote Miracle Gro for feeding your roses. That is a correct assumption. But honestly, it's not enough of a hard sell to cause annoyance.

The book is well laid-out and comprehensive. Below is the Table of Contents, which you'll note is quite extensive.

Chapter 1 - Understanding roses

Why grow roses?
New developments in roses
Understanding rose anatomy
Understanding rose bloom times
Understanding rose color
Understanding rose plant shapes and sizes
Rose flower sizes, styles, and textures
Understanding rose fragrance
Understanding rose foliage and thorns
Understanding types of roses
Hybrid teas and grandifloras
Floribundas and polyanthas
Shrub and landscape roses
Miniatures and minifloras
Climbers, ramblers, and pillars
Species and old garden roses
Groundcover roses


Chapter 2 - Designing with roses

Designing with rose basics
Planning a garden with roses
Using roses in mixed beds and borders
Roses in mass plantings
Creating rose hedges
Using climbing, rambling, and pillar roses
Designing with groundcover roses
Designing formal rose gardens
Designing roses in containers
Arranging Roses


Chapter 3 - Choosing the right rose for your garden and region

Choosing roses for cold climates
USDA plant hardiness zone map
Choosing roses for hot climates
Understanding heat tolerance in roses
Wet to dry conditions
Clay to sandy soils
Choosing the best rose for your region
Choosing roses for the Pacific Northwest
Choosing roses for northern California
Choosing roses for southern California
Choosing roses for the desert Southwest
Choosing roses for the western mountains
Choosing roses for the Great Plains, the northern Midwest, and the Canadian interior
Choosing roses for the southern Midwest
Choosing roses for Texas and Oklahoma
Choosing roses for Florida and the Gulf Coast
Choosing roses for the South
Choosing roses for New England
Choosing roses for the southern coast
Choosing roses for the northeastern coast


Chapter 4 - Rose growing basics

Buying roses
Understanding sun and shade
Understanding microclimates
providing good circulation
Soil preparation
Providing drainage
planting roses
Planting roses in containers
Watering roses
Mulching roses
Feeding roses
Choosing pest- and disease-resistant roses
Choosing low maintenance
Controlling pests and diseases
Dealing with rose pests and diseases
Coping with deer, rabbits, and more
Understanding pruning
Pruning basics: How to prune climbers
Top tools for pruning roses
Grooming your roses
Spring pruning and cleanup
Fall and winter maintenance
Rose care calendar


Chapter 5 - Gallery of roses

Rose resources
Rose gardens to visit
Glossary
Subject index
Rose index


The information is current, useful, and beautifully illustrated with gorgeous photographs and color diagrams. The gallery of roses at the end of the book is quite extensive and features a beautiful color photo of each rose's bloom(s), as well as the following vital information.

Type
Hybridizer/Year
Growth habits
Foliage
Blooms
Fragrance
Awards
Comments (which includes the American Rose Society's rating, if one has been awarded.)

I really appreciated the information about choosing roses for different regions. This spring after my mother-in-law saw my burgeoning rose garden and expressed a desire to plant some at her house in Florida, I used this book to learn which roses are most suited to her sandy soil and humid climate, which differs from mine in important ways. We ordered a rose said by the book to work well in her climate and with a relatively high ARS rating, as noted in the book's gallery of roses. She was thrilled with the gift and I know that I have a great guide for future Mother's Day and Christmas gifts for her.

Christmas? Yes. Thanks to the book's rose care calendar, I know that my mother-in-law can plant bare root roses in December, which is wonderfully handy!

I highly recommend this book for any novice rose gardener. The more experienced rosarian can probably skip this book, unless you'd like a another beautiful book to add to your collection.

... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Good guide for Cottage Garden with Roses
I was very happy to find that a professional okays the planting of other flowers around roses rather than just having them sitting in lonely positions surrounded by bare dirt in formal rose garden.The author did, however, spend more time talking about individual roses than he did about the mechanics/care needed for success in the garden beds in mixing the plantings.I'm glad I read the book.

A Must for the Rose Gardener's Library
The author's rose experience gives the knowledgeable rosarian broader understanding and the novice rich new territory to discover. Roses become assets for gardens rather than specimens separated from the whole. If I had this book when I first began my rose adventures it would have been a constant source of help and inspiration.

good guide to integrating roses
This is an excellent guide to integrating roses into a garden with other plants instead of keeping them in a separate location in a bare, mulched rose bed. Well written text and good pictures.

Shame on the publisher, though, for such poor copyediting! Next time pay a good copyeditor or proofreader and spare yourself the embarrassment of roses "baring their hips" (bearing, perhaps?) and "while your nose is ravaging the blooms" (really? RAVAGING?) and miscellaneous omitted words. ... Read more

Product Description
The rose is an icon that inspires passionate interest from gardeners and admirers of beauty everywhere. This unique coffee table book reveals the fascinating story of 26 different roses, blending stunning photography, enlightening commentary and practical information for cultivating and appreciating this beloved flower.

Each illuminating page offers much more than the average horticultural book. Readers will discover:

-A remarkable rose alphabet, with chapters featuring a rose named with each letter of the alphabet

-The origin of each rose, how it developed and its unique physical qualities

-Beautiful photographs showing each rose as it grows on the bush and in striking arrangements

-Tips and techniques for harvesting and arranging

Sprinkled throughout the text, readers will also find entertaining anecdotes and personal stories from the author that encourage a new level of adoration for roses of all kinds. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A rose can indeed make a difference
I thought I would post this bit of an email from my sister. It is a lovely tribute to the power of the rose and how well it is caputred in Carolyn Parker's book.

> Aunt Ruth's move to the Nursing and Rehab Center has been very
> difficult for her.She is having a hard time adjusting, and she cries
> a lot.
>
> So, earlier this week, I took in R is for Rose to show her the
> pictures.She stopped her crying, and for more than a few minutes,
> she enjoyed the beauty of the photos.

R Is For Rose
It's a beautiful book of photos on roses with lots of ideas on how to use them.

Salute to a Passionate Rosarian
R is for Rose is Carolyn Parker's unique tribute to her passion for the rose.It is a lovely book with wonderful photography, heartfelt prose and a wealth of information about rose varieties.Rosarians will love the book and those with milder affections will savor the views of gardens and species roses.Her photography is fantastic and her design aesthetic is sharp, inventive and compelling--the floral arrangements and set shots are gorgeous.My favorite element is the rose alphabet--what a fantastic idea and what a clever play on the physical qualities of each species.

Unfolding Beauty
R is For Rose is a feast for the senses, nourishment for the soul and a roadmap for the passionate rose lover. As readers,we are invited and ushered along on Ms. Parkers wonderous andjourney of rose gardens. This remarkable quest of an intimate exploration of roses, leaves the reader satiated with an abundance of knowledge and a wealth of new possibilities. The photography of this volume is sumptuously beautiful. Images combined with clarity of language and inspiration of voice, embrace the reader, while adoring the perfectly formed petals scattered throughout the pages of this book.

Get a Little "Rose" in Your LIfe
Carolyn Parker's book is like a friendly chat over a cup of tea, and at the same time it makes her extensive knowledge of rosesaccessible to a non-gardener. Her magnificent photographs and her care-full description have given me a heightened awareness of plants and flowers I might once have passed by or taken for granted. The stories Carolyn Parker tells are charming and so appreciateve of her fellow human beings, be they rose experts she traveled the world to meet or a friend she grew up with.In addition, she honors and celebrates her own inner growth as she writes.I think this book is actually a self-help book of the highest kind. ... Read more

Product Description
Roses are the "queens of the garden"--glorious, regal, and sometimes a little hard to handle. In A Year in the Life of a Rose, Reddell shares his tips on when and how to plant, prune, feed, grow and cut all kinds of roses throughout the year. In an invaluable season-by-season survey, Reddell discusses rose care in their respective USDA geographic zones, and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Very good book on raising and keeping roses
Do not let this thin little book fool you.Yes, I know, there are any number of books on keeping and growing roses.Most have a lot of pictures and technical advice.

This little book has no pretentions and hand drawn illistrations.It is basic common sense advice and instruction.When ever I read through it I feel like I am out in the garden with the author going over the facts of rose keeping.The author owns Garden Valley Ranch and wrote "The Rose Bible" and "Growing Good Roses".

I have used this book much more than any of the others I have and his no nonsense approach works.From stripping the petals a week before I prune... in January or February, to using Epson salts and alpha meal.The first time I pruned by his methods I found that stripping the leaves a week before did indeed signal the bush to put out new growth.I have kept roses for many years and used this book to do it.You might give it a try.

My first reference for rose growing.
Short sweet and to the point.Reddell covers all of the basics of growingroses from selecting varieties to preparing the planting hole to annualcare.Particularly handy and unique is the appendix which gives rosegrowing tips from master growers in each of the 9 USDA zones--finally abook that helps you grow roses where you live.

Roses in Quebec?We must be mad!
This book is one of the most useful - practical - "how to" rose books I have come across in many years of research.In brief, not particularly technical language, the author takes you through the year giving excellent advice, tips and recipies along the way.The additional advice from experts in most zones enables you to adjust your plans for your own climate.It's pocket size ensures that I carry my copy around with me for regular reference.My roses have never looked better and I include some fairly tender varieties in a zone 4b (the Laurentian mountains).For beginners or experts, this really is a "must have".I also recomment "Tender Roses for Tough Climates" by Douglas Green for any other climate-challenged (as in very, very cold) roseophiles. ... Read more

Product Description
No flower is more popular than the rose, and none can match the color, beauty, and drama that climbing roses bring to a garden. This guide catalogs 65 beautiful rose varieties that thrive in the varied soil and climate conditions of North America. It is full of suggestions on how to cultivate and train the roses. 90 full-color photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

ok
I was looking for a book to help me learn to prune my roses. This book wasn't that helpful. Otherwise, it has good information about climbing roses and general information about caring for them.

Northern Climates Preferred
Stephen Scanniello is a good ole New Yorker, and his reviews of these climbing roses are based on northern climates.I am located in CA.While some of the information was equally as relevant, the general focus is for Northern gardeners.

Good, not Great
Scaniello organizes climbing roses in roughly chronological order and writes two pages of text for each entry.This kind of treatment gives one an excellent understanding of the way climbing roses developed through the ages.The photos are full-page which is necessary for representing the scale and garden effect of climbing roses effectively.It is an approach we hope to see used more in books about roses.

The text is informative, giving historical links between roses and for each rose, suggesting a group of roses that are similar.The book is a strong entry, but it has a significant number of flaws.

The focus seems to be too much on roses bred in America.There's a huge number of climbers in David Austin's Shrub Roses and Climbing Roses that deserve mention here.It was almost as if the authors had made a conscious decision to avoid the roses chosen by Austin.If so, that was a big mistake because their treatment was more thorough, usually, than Austin's.My suspicion is that the book is about Climbing Roses of the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, since that is where Scaniello practices his art. And it would have been more honest to subtitle it that way.

It is true that roses do pink, white and red best.And it is true that one must be judicious in using yellow in a garden: place them badly and you get a color trainwreck.But yellows - whether they are apricot, primrose, gold, or just plain yellow - really draw the eye in a garden.Yellow roses can be the glory of the garden.And my impression is that yellow roses are not well represented here.

I also get the impression that ramblers are not well represented here.A remarkably tiny portion of the roses in this volume manage to scramble up tall structures.Conversely, there are a lot of leggy large-flowered roses.

Most of the photographs are stunning.But a significant portion show flaws.In some cases it appears to be color balance - it is frequently too cool. Some whites show the (almost unavoidable) blown highlights and flares. In a book with thousands of photos these would be quibbles.But there are not even hundreds of roses in this book, so each flaw becomes a noticable problem.

Finally, there is the writing.One gets the impression that the writer is skilled at the craft, but generally uninformed about roses.The language is clear, but the meanings are frequently muddy.If I had to choose between a person with a deep knowledge of roses but quirky writing skills and a person with no knowledge and great writing skills, I'd choose the former every time.Voice matters.

For Americans living in zones 5, 6, and 7 who wish to learn a little more about climbing roses of the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, this is an indispensible volume.It is difficult, however, to recommend this as a first or only book on the subject of climbing roses.And if one wants to learn about ramblers,one should look elsewhere.

Best book on climbing roses I've seen
--bar none!The author gives detailed descriptions of a select variety of climbers, along with information on the history, care and pruning of each one.Photographs of each are included, but this is an informational book, not mere eye candy.If I could only have one source on climbing roses, this would be it.My hope is that it will come back into print.

beautiful book, very instructive
This book goes beyond the standard fare of horticulture writing.Its very informative but at the same time it had very readable prose and some refreshing ideas, especially on zones, blooming characters, etc, for theeast coast of the US, which doesn't seem to be very habitable for roses ingeneral. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent and Comprehensive Introductory and Reference Book
As a landscape professional and part-time rose nurseryman I find this book the most generally useful and comprehensive (if not as effectively organized) of all the books I have purchased and/ or read regarding the subject. It packs the most information into the smallest footprint (meaning I carry it with me regularly) and gives a broad and sound overview of all things rose related including: types of roses, the general habits and qualities of each (good and bad), selecting, planting, maintenance, feeding, spraying, and other care among them. It's a great general reference and I recommend it to many of my clients that inquire and express an interest in learning about roses. For those interested in expanding their knowledge further in this area there are a number of references cited and available for further exploration.

As to it being British based I didn't find this at all to be an issue; use common sense to make adjustments for the difference between climes. In fact Britain is in the same USDA zones as most of the Western US, zones 8 & 9, which is whereI am based.

I can't say the specific rose listings were in themselves terribly helpful since selection and availability will vary from locale to locale and year to year, but the pictures are always nice to look at just the same. (It's more helpful for my business to learn what's available through existing channels and find which of these best fits the criteria desired; most good growers/ sellers will include sound performers in the core areas.)

Happy Gardening!

Basic Primer of Limited Use
I found this book to be a decent basic primer on the differnet types of roses, such as hybrid tea, floribunda,etc. After that, however, the book was of limited use. Most of the information is based on the assumption that the reader lives in England. The climate maps, planting schedules,etc onlyguide the gardener growing roses in England, and because I live inCalifornia the book did not help me make decisions about what types to buyand when to plant, prune, etc. So, if you live outside of England, searchfor a book that will provide better information on growing roses in yourgeographic area.

Well organized presentation with detailed information
The New Rose Expert divides roses by hybrid tea, floribunda, patio,miniature, ground cover, climber & rambler and shrub with small labelsat the bottom of each category for quick location and each rose ispresented with beautiful photo, general description, and the specifics:blooms, foiliage, health, and awards for efficient comparisons.In depthcoverage of planting, care and propagation with pointers for the novus areincluded.I especially liked the guides to selection of roses depending onthe fragrance, color and proposed use (ground cover, climber, etc).Anexcellent primer! ... Read more

Product Description
Mike Shoup has put together hundreds of evocative photographs illustrating creative and imaginative gardens blended with Old Garden Roses.As owner of the Antique Rose Emporium Inc., Mike has created a business that has made these roses available to gardeners through mail order and through three display garden centers.Each center is in itself unique, and distinct from each other, due to their location in three different environments.He uses this experience to profile the best roses for their proven and most excellent garden use.

Among each rose profile, not only are there numerous sumptuous photographs, but also descriptive captions and side-bars that instruct the reader on how to best achieve the results seen.The experienced and novice gardener alike, from the forested East coast to the arid Texas plains, will find this book to be, not only beautiful to look at, but also a delight to read with its straightforward discussion.The book not only expresses the culture and placement of the rose in creative and sometimes whimsical gardens, but also the author's love of gardening in a personal, and at times, humorous way. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

About This Book...
A lovely hardback, with a sturdy sewn binding in dustjacket. 174 pp and well over 250 color illustrations -- mostly photos.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Vigorous Climbers (20)
- Once Blooming
- Repeat Blooming

Mannerly Climbers (15)
- Accents
- Cascading Hybrid Musks

Large Shrubs (23)
- Chinas
- Teas
- Other Shrubs

Small Shrubs (19)

Specialty Roses
- Pegged Roses
- Unique Color
- Water Feature
- Ground Cover
- Cabbage Rose

USDA Zone Hardiness Map
Index

great rose book for southerners
Great photos showing close-ups as well as full views of the plants showing how they look when grown. Loved the history but really just loved the photos most of all.
So very helpful to a Florida rose grower and inspirational.

Beautiful book for rose lovers in the south
This is a valuable book for selecting antique roses that perform well in the southeast and southwestern areas of the U.S. After a brief introduction, chapters are arranged as follows: 1) Vigorous climbers 2)Mannerly climbers 3) Large shrubs 4) Small Shrubs 5) Specialty roses. Eachvariety is given a two page spread which contains a few paragraphsdescribing the rose and its habits and numerous photographs. The mostvaluable aspect are the photographs because they show how the rose grows indifferent situations, such as on a fence, an arbor, etc. There areclose-ups of the rose and views of the entire plant. There is nohorticultural advice, so this book can really only be used as a selectiondevice. The photos alone, however, make this a worthy purchase. ... Read more

Product Description
A rose is a rose is a rose, but every rose garden -- and every rose gardener -- is unique. In Beautiful American Rose Gardens, Mary Tonetti Dorra, author of Beautiful American Vegetable Gardens, captures the special beauty of twenty-four rose gardens devoted exclusively, or nearly exclusively, to America's most beloved flower. Traveling from Maine to the Pacific Northwest, from Florida to California, Dorra not only discovered a variety of rose garden designs, but also a myriad of approaches to cultivation, depending on climate, garden size, location, and, of course, the gardener's favorite roses.

Roses, long considered to be impossible to incorporate into the landscape, here prove themselves to be durable rather than delicate, versatile rather than difficult, and in every case absolutely dazzling in their splendor. Working out the logistics of successive bloom and meeting the challenges of too much heat, too much cold, too much moisture, or too poor soil, each gardener has developed his or her own cultivation plan -- and a selection of their secrets is presented in Growing Tips from the Gardeners.

What is most striking about this celebration of the rose is the shrub's potential variety -- endless combinations of colors, from the purest whites to the brightest reds and oranges; of forms, from tiny Miniatures to towering, tree-engulfing Ramblers; and of uses, from military rows to sinuous free-form borders to startling accents in the middle of the woods. Every featured garden is a gem that will inspire: New England old garden roses, some descended from those the Puritans carried across the Atlantic; a Colefax and Fowler-designed Palm Beach garden; the butterfly-shaped garden at Boone Hall plantation in South Carolina; the French-inspired garden ofMaison Chenal in Louisiana; the astounding 350 varieties of roses grown in a garden in Spokane, Washington; and Dolores and Bob Hope's high-profile Hollywood garden.

With more than 250 color illustrations, Beautiful American Rose Gardens offers both intimate views of individual roses as well as bird's-eye views of overall garden designs. Tips from the owners, caretakers, and designers bring to life the fun, challenge, and joy that these gardens inspire. The garden plans and a thorough source list are a great starting point for new garden planners and an excellent reference for veterans. In all, Beautiful American Rose Gardens is an invaluable resource as well as a stunning tribute to America's favorite flower. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

More for the rich than the poor
Beautiful American Rose Gardens is a good but not a great book because too many of the rose gardens discussed in this book are too large (acres and acres). The pictures are wonderful and descriptions are well written and Irecommend that rose lovers read this book. However, the book doesn't giveenough detail into how a reader can create their own rose gardens,especially if they are not professional rosarians or wealthy enough toafford professional gardners. Most of the gardens in this book are owned byrose retailers or rich or famous people like Bob Hope.

INFORMATIVE, COMPREHENSIVE--A GREAT GIFT!
I was drawn to this book by the stunning pictures of roses and rose gardens.However, it is the wealth of valuable information on EVERY aspect of roses that make this one of my all-time favorite gardening books.

Thisbook would make an excellent present for the neophyte and expert gardeneralike.The author's passion is contagious.A great read and highlyrecommended ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Farmers almanac style information-
This is written as an A-Z style dictionary of gardening tips, up to date with the revival of natural pest management and organic gardening. Somehow this little book gets jam-packed with amazingly thoughtful, motivating and entertaining information-- very much reminds me of gathering materials from farmers dusty notes over a period of lets say 200 years or more. Has a believable wisdom put into useful format. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
Growing Roses in Cold Climates is also destined to be a landmark in gardening publishing.Providing gardeners with tips and techniques drawn from 60 years of rose-growing experience, this fully illustrated guide to expertly growing roses in cold climate regions includes easily accessible information on more than 700 varieties of roses best suited to cooler climates.

Eleven major classes of roses are profiled in detail, complete with photographs and guidance on achieving ideal growing conditions.Step-by-step photos, complete with instructions, show exactly how to protect roses in winter.Growing Roses in Cold Climates also illustrates common organic and inorganic rose problems and their remedies.This is the book that rose growers in colder climates have been clamoring for, for years! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Growing Roses in Cold Climates
Excellent book to have for any rose lover. The only thing I would change is probably that the book doesn't cover 'ownroot' roses just bareroot. Otherwise it's great! Shipping was fast and done well. Thankyou!

Valuable Book for the Rose Grower
This book is well organized and has a wonderful rating system on cold weather roses. Evrything you need to know about roses in cold climates in one place.

Wonderful rose reference for northern gardeners
Not only is this book the best reference, but the only one that gives novices as well as the advanced growers the information on growing healthy roses in the colder zones. It classifies the different types of roses that can be grown well, how to plant them, prune them, maintain them, select them and where to buy them. If non-hardy hybrid teas are your choice, it has excellent pictures giving the step-by-step method of tipping roses for winter protection.Roses hardy for the north are all listed - the old garden roses up to the newly hybridized Canadian hardy roses. Anyone wanting to grow roses in the north needs this excellent reference!

If you live in the north you have to have this book!
The most valuable part of this book is the section that rates each rose.It gives a 1-5 star rating and a detailed description of the characteristics of that plant.It tells you why it deserved 5 stars orwhat is wrong with the rose so it didn't earn 5 stars!The other part ofthis book gives detailed and easy to understand tips on how to plant, feed,and protect your roses.The pictures are excellent and this is a hard bookto put down.The author is obviously a lover of roses and not just ahorticulturist! ... Read more

Product Description
Encompassing art, literature, science, technology, history, and everything in between, the stories behind rose varieties include enough curiosities, romance, tragedy, wit, mystery, scandal, and earthy delights to satisfy even those who would never dream of actually tending a plant. in addition to names, readers will learn that the perfume of 'Rosa Gallica' wafted through Pliny's Roman villa and lulled Marie Antoinette on the night before her wedding; that 'Eglantine' is threaded through Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream; that roses in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries were mainly raised for medicinal purposes; and that the world of rose-naming rights is one of complicated and fiercely guarded copyrights and patents. With full-color art throughout, this eclectic little volume is a must-have for die-hard rosarians, and for the less rose-obsessed, it's simply a marvelous miscellany starring what is arguably the world's most popular flower. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

gift for gardeners in your life !
I purchased this for a dear friend who is a weekend gardener.She found it very interesting and found some roses she will plant in her garden this year.It was a book she wouldn't have picked up for herself.That made it fun to give as a gift. :D

Sweet roses

So enjoyable that I bought a copy as a Christmas gift for a friend who does rose gardening.Need I say more?

A Rose by Any Name
It's no secret that I love roses, especially heirloom roses.I love their gorgeous flowers.I love their heavenly scents.I love their toughness.And I love their names.Residing in my garden are Baronne Prevost, Cecile Brunner, General Jacqueminot, Mme. Pierre Oger, Mme. Plantier, Therese Bugnet and Zephirine Drouhin.Who were these people and why were roses named after them?

Douglas Brenner and Stephen Scanniello set out to solve those mysteries.They initially chose about four dozen roses with interesting histories.But the problem with roses and their stories is that when you start out discussing one tale, it leads to another story about another rose which leads to yet another story about another rose, etc.By the time the authors finished, the four dozen roses had become over 1200.

It's those stories that make this book so fascinating.Rather than a dry list of names each followed by a short explanation of the person/place/thing for which the rose was named, we are treated to tales of danger, intrigue, humor and pathos, all with historical tidbits thrown in to put it into context.

We visit gardens that no longer exist and gardens that are still going strong.We learn about the game "Rose Alphabet" wherein players must come up with rose names for each letter of the alphabet.Also included are several recipes using rose petals or hips along with the story of the discovery of rose oil in India.

Most of all, it's the people and their stories.Gods and goddesses, kings and queens, saints and sinners.Presidents, war heroes, painters, fashion designers, actors and actresses.Humbler folk such as family members of rose breeders.

The authors debunk a few legends.My personal favorite is the quote attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt: "I once had a rose named after me and I was very flattered.But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalogue: no good in a bed, but fine up against a wall."Not true, unfortunately.

A glossary of rose and gardening terms is included as well as a bibliography, both very helpful.The lack of an index was the one glaring omission in this otherwise wonderful book.There is no way to look up a specific rose.

As for the "people" growing in my gardens?Five of them are covered, but you will have to read the book yourself to find out which ones and the stories behind them.

A SPECIAL BOOK FOR A ROSE LOVER & HISTORIAN. TOTALLY INTERESTING!!!
THIS WAS A GIFT FOR MY HUSBAND AND WE BOTH ENDED UP READING IT TO EACH OTHER.THE TIDBITS OF INFORMATION MAKE HISTORY IN A SENSE COME ALIVE.FASCINATING BOOK AND STAYS OUT AS WE PICK IT UP OFTEN.A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR GARDENING BOOKS.SO GLAD I FOUND THIS BOOK.

A lovely book.
A lot of fun to dip into here and there. Lovely illustrations in each chapter. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the improved, enlarged Second Edition of the breakthrough classic work on reblooming old roses, known internationally in its First Edition for its fresh research and accuracy.It provides the most complete listing of all of the existing or otherwise important or interesting varieties of those opulent reblooming old roses, with chapters on Bourbons, Hybrid Perpetuals, Damask Perpetuals, Chinas, and Teas.The author has obtained the most complete and varied collection of descriptions ever, often providing the original descriptions by the actual breeder!This Second Edition has been augmented with many more listings and many more descriptions, and has been re-formatted to increase the ease of use by the reader. This improved edition of a modern classic will be a welcome addition to the reference collection of any lover of roses, horticulture, or horticultural history! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

From the Author . . .
This is volume two of the new enlarged, updated, improved edition of *The Old Rose Advisor*, the breakthrough work which brought a new level of interest and accuracy to the study of old roses, those fragrant, opulent varieties bred before 1920, many of which are still available to grace the choicest gardens of today.Readers of the globally-acclaimed first edition will know that the book is built on actual statements by those who lived in the times in which these roses were new and the object of intense scrutiny; indeed, many of the descriptions are those supplied by the breeders themselves!This new edition has many additional entries, and has been re-formatted to increase ease of use by the reader.Additionally, new material has been tapped to augment many of the old entries, and continuing research has yielded new information, included here, updating names, attributions, dates, parentages, descriptions, and indeed rose history.Volume Two includes chapters on Noisettes and Climbers, old Polyanthas, and old Hybrid Teas--in each case, the fullest treatment in modern times of each group; this volume also includes the updated extraordinarily detailed and helpful ten appendices to both volumes, appendices which help the reader to select and identify old roses.The reader will be interested as well in Volume One, also in release now.Come, join in the elegance and richness of another exciting world of Rosedom!

From the Author . . .
This is volume one of the new enlarged, updated, improved edition of *The Old Rose Advisor*, the breakthrough work which brought a new level of interest and accuracy to the study of old roses, those fragrant, opulent varieties bred before 1920, many of which are still available to grace the choicest gardens of today.Readers of the globally-acclaimed first edition will know that the book is built on actual statements by those who lived in the times in which these roses were new and the object of intense scrutiny; indeed, many of the descriptions are those supplied by the breeders themselves!This new edition has many additional entries, and has been re-formatted to increase ease of use by the reader.Additionally, new material has been tapped to augment many of the old entries, and continuing research has yielded new information, included here, updating names, attributions, dates, parentages, descriptions, and indeed rose history.Volume One includes chapters on Damask Perpetuals, Chinas, Teas, Bourbons, Hybrid Bourbons, Hybrid Chinas, Hybrid Noisettes, and Hybrid Perpetuals--in each case, the fullest treatment in modern times of each group.The reader will be interested as well in Volume Two, also in release now.Come, join in the elegance and richness of another exciting world of Rosedom!

An Important Work
This monumental piece of research establishes Brent Dickerson as one of the most important rose historians of our time.Dickerson has painstakingly unearthed, translated, and indexed the information from countless antique nursery catalogs, archival notes by hybridizers, and garden journal articles to offer anecdotal, contemporary commentary on thousands of old rose cultivars.It is fascinating to read what the growers of past centuries had to say about the roses which were entering commerce and being introduced to gardens and public collections during their times.Often a rose which, in our own time, proves to be difficult due to some predilection for disease will have that tendency confirmed in the comments of a rose grower (sometimes the hybridizer himself) who was growing the variety as a "new" introduction decades ago.The contemporary descriptions of roses which have vanished from nurseries and the show tables can be invaluable in helping modern rosarians in their quest to identify the plants that "rose rustlers" find in old cemeteries and ruined gardens from the past.Together with Dickerson's more recent book, The Old Rose Adventurer, the entire array of rose varieties introduced prior to 1920 is covered in great depth.These books are a "must" for the serious student of the genus Rosa. ... Read more

Product Description
Ezra Haggard, author of the popular Perennials for the Lower Midwest (1996), literally takes landscape design to a higher level with this gorgeous book especially for Midwesterners. Trees and shrubs add mass and the all-important vertical element to a garden. If well chosen, they also contribute beauty, texture, and color all year long and for years to come, beautifying the home and adding to its value, screening out unattractive elements, providing privacy, and getting better as they get older. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

excellent book
The book came in perfect condition protected in a hard covering wrap. The pictures inside are large in beautiful color. The book was shipped in excellent condition.

Tried & True
What I so enjoyed about this book was the very hands on, forthcoming approach the author has in dealing with his subject.He very much encourages the reader in a way that gives you the feeling you are in his garden with him.

No the book doesn't cover a million plants by any means...but those it does discuss provide intersting, precise & tried & true information.

I refer to this book often for inspiration..& sometimes just the pleasure of gleaning insight from another gardeners life experience with all these plants & their quirks etc.

Highly recommend this for any novice or veteran gardener in the Midwest!

More good reference from Ezra Haggard
This book is in the same good-looking and useful format as Haggard's first book on perennials. Each plant, tree or shrub has its own page of description, with a picture on the facing page. It's a personal book - these are the plants that over the years (and you can see how many by comparing the author picture on this book with his earlier one) Haggard has discovered really work. If you are making decisions about design, and know nothing about trees, this is very useful. It not only gives some interesting alternatives to the old standbys, it also contains good information on light, water, soil, and ultimate size (which can be critical for shrubs or trees). I've used his advice over and over, and he has never steered me wrong. I met him a while back when he gave a beautiful slide show (he does his own photography) and I was a novice. He was down to earth (so to speak), and equally kind to me as to the local gardening bigwigs. ... Read more

Product Description
Teas - once almost forgotten - are now being acclaimed as superb roses for warm gardens. Bred for a century or so from 1820, they were descended mainly from Chinese garden hybrids introduced into Europe in the early nineteenth century. Teas brought characteristics that had not been seen before in European roses. These included an intriguing multi-layered fragrance; a new range of colours; a higher-centred flower shape; gently nodding heads; and a bushy, twiggy growth habit. Even more importantly, the Teas whose ancestors came from temperate to subtropical areas of China bloomed almost continuously in favourable conditions and did not need a dormant period.The authors aim to bring together the observations and knowledge they have accumulated about the Teas and to tell something of their past history. In this title, full details are given of roses currently being sold as Teas in Australia, as well as some Tea-like found roses. Descriptions are first-hand and not just a repetition of what has been said before. The authors grow most of the Teas known in Australia, and these are a large proportion of those commercially available elsewhere.Consequently, the information given about them will be relevant wherever these roses are grown. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A fabulous book about fabulous roses
For gardeners in warmer climates, Tea Roses are a wonder.Evergreen, virtually everblooming, fragrant, with graceful growth habits and beautiful flowers, they are attractive landscape shrubs throughout the year.These minimum-care roses are historic, too, evoking the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in their romantic appearance, names and stories. This book is a labor of love by six Australian tea rose experts, who provide great detail about more than 60 of these roses, most of which are available in the United States.The book is worth owning for the photos alone, but the detailed descriptions and extensive information are its greatest strength, helping the reader to select, grow and identify tea roses (some of which have survived for a century in old cemeteries or at old houses, waiting to be appreciated once again).The definitive book about a great class of roses. ... Read more