ROSE GARDENS Some form of rose can be found on all continents.  Introduction and breeding the many members of the species has resulted in never ending varieties to grace our homes both inside and out. From open-faced varieties with four to five petals multiplies by petals too numerous to count the rose family keeps growing.

Long stemmed beauties are the favorites of florists everywhere (no thorns please), with bunching, trailing, running, and creeping categories in every size imaginable. Flowers from miniscule to the large tea roses are grown in pots; hanging baskets, trellises, fences, bunched or singular roses make an impact wherever grown. Sweet smelling or non-scented they are still popular. 

Original colors were mostly pinks and reds with other color developed by many a home gardener. Breeding and cross breeding to introduce new members continually. Roses are adapted to most all soils and climates, some of course with preference depending upon the variety and origin. This segment of the flower kingdom has seasonal to year long flowering members.

Unless you are a seasoned gardener some roses can be tricky to start with, pruning, feeding, spraying, watching for fungus and insect infestations can be a challenge.  Best to start a rose that is adapted to your soil and climate and branch----out from there. Some newer varieties have been developed lately that are more heat tolerant and disease resistant.

There are a few rules to follow with any rose. Water as early in the day as possible, watering at night encourages fungus and diseases to set in. Feed on a regular schedule and supplement the soil whenever needed. Buying roses grown from nearby nurseries may add to the success in keeping them year after year if you are planting in the ground and not in containers. 

Many of the roses sold at "chain" stores have been started on stock not specifically adapted for the soil where you live and unless you are buying all the potting soil and amendments needed may not do as well. But it never hurts to try and many a successful garden has started in this manner.