The friend is just getting into roses? Well, here's one that's really basic and happens to contain (what I found to be) an unexpected amount of very good, very helpful info . . .

Here is a link that might be useful: rose book

Lol, I was going to suggest that one too! I did a search on Amazon under "rose growing books" and a bunch came up but I don't know anything about any of them. Roses for Dummies might be best for a real newbie because those are usually really easy to read and follow.

Well....
I think that is probably a really good book but..I would have a problem giving someone Roses for DUMMIES as a gift.. it may not be the most flattering thing.. lol.

My kids got me Better Homes and Gardens Rose Gardening. I enjoyed it very much. Has lots of pictures of different roses, step by step pruning, mulching etc. I spent a lot of time planning my next purchases while browsing this book. It has an American Rose Society seal on it.

Also-San Jose, CA wouldnt have to worry about all the weather hardiness, snow, etc. Rose growing is a lot easier in the mild winter areas I think.

Good luck! and Merry Christmas!

thanks you guys, that'll get me started! :)

When I lived in that area I would recommend the Ortho book on growing roses. Sunset has one too but I liked the Ortho book better. Don't remember why. The Sunset book would be very area-appropriate at least, with no confusing info on unnecessary stuff like winterizing and blackspot and japanese beetle.

Some people do get insulted by the "for Dummies" titles. Guess they don't realize it's a very popular series. My aunt went off on my uncle (her brother) when she asked for a basic computer book and he gave her the 'for Dummies' one. Total temper tantrum.

I glanced at the new Better Homes book when it came out. I saw that it's recommending diazinon for things like midges, even though diazinon was removed from the market by the EPA, some years ago. Anyone know what's up with that?? has diazinon been rehabilitated, or what? I've been not recommending it because of that.

I read the Ortho and Better Homes ones some years ago and there was good information in both. One of the things that has bugged me for some time is that many rose books did not even make mention of Rose Rosette Disease. I would be curious to know if that has been rectified in more recent editions, since one can't expect newcomers to rose growing to diagnose a problem that doesn't even appear in their books.

I recall when I had my first plant get the disease (now >10 years ago) not being able to find anything about it in any of the rose books on my shelf (over a dozen) and having to hunt online. Presumably now with the efforts of Ann and others, the word is out to a much greater extent.