Back to roses after 10 years - things have changed - help! (long post)

9 years ago

Dear Rosarians,
I'm not sure where to begin, but am so happy and relieved to have found this forum and have enjoyed reading the posts and catching up on the latest old rose cultivation news. In brief, about 15 years ago I discovered old roses, by a chance encounter with Steven Scanniello at BBG, who suggested Vintage and Pickering as good sources for roses. Can you imagine?! It was like being handed a new world on a silver platter - and some world to discover!
Over the years we planted dozens of roses - mostly old garden roses, a few Austins, and an assortment of hybrid musks, and selected 1930 - 1970's classics. It was a bounty! Then the twins came along, and then we decided to expand our teeny, tiny house and now - well - I have a lovely shade garden ;)

BUT, we have a terrace! And this spring we are designing and building proper planters because I am determined to bring some roses back into our lives (I kept and still have three lovelies in the front: Lavaglut, Blanc Double de Coubert and an unidentified charmer from Vintage which was mistakenly sent to me instead of Rosa Mundi, but this is definitely not that rose ... see below ). But the rest of the roses were mostly given away. If I had known ... only known that the sources for these roses would literally vanish ... Miranda, Duchessee d'Angoulême, and so many others ... (long, heavy sigh).

Marching forward:
I'm seeking a moderate climber that repeats and is very fragrant. Any thoughts? It's going to get a LOT of sun. We live in Brooklyn, so this is zone 6ish, but I understand I should be looking at roses suitable down to zone 5. I'm concerned about finding one that can take the heat and the sun.
Does anyone have any ideas for a great rose in this location?
And sources? I know ARE of course, and just ordered Rose de Rescht and Queen of the Bourbons from High Country (trying the Queen for the shade garden.) I've got Souvenir de Dr. Jamain there now, but this one is not doing well - not like the one I had in the old garden which pretty much made a fountain on our back wall. I'll move him up to the part shade wall on the terrace.
Rogue Valley, Greenmantle, Hortico, Roses of Yesterday and Today - any others of note?
I want to support the smaller nurseries if possible, so all suggestions are welcome! Many thanks!!

Featured Answer

Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR

9 years ago

Dear swamp_ rose, I know if you made it through twins and home remodeling you can make it through anything! I'll add Northland Rosarium and Heirloom Roses to your list of nurseries. Best of luck and post pictures if possible.

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Comments (6)

AquaEyes 7a NJ
9 years ago
Do also look into Long Ago Roses, Burlington Roses, Roses Unlimited, Angel Gardens, and Rose Petals Nursery. Between them and the ones you've already mentioned, you should be able to find just about anything still offered in the US.

How big of a climber do you want? I'm wondering if Hybrid Musks might do well for you. Also, I don't know how cold-hardy it would be for you, but I enjoy my 'Orfeo'. That one gets rather big, and needs a couple years to get blooming. I have mine growing into a tree, and just tuck it in as it grows. I'm sure if I had it trained and pruned as a proper climber I'd get it blooming more often, but I enjoy it this way. Someone else on this forum raved about it -- against a fence, I think.

:-)

~Christopher
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swamp_rose thanked AquaEyes 7a NJ
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portlandmysteryrose
9 years ago
Hi, Swamp Rose. You've got a great nursery list! If you add the suggestions, I think you're set. Is your mystery rose a fragrant once-bloomer? I think Vintage sent you 'Camaieux'/'Camayeux' which is a lovely Gallica! I have both Rosa Mundi and Cam, and to tell the truth, I now prefer Cam. I love her fragrance (heady!) and the way she fades to gray(ish). Carol
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swamp_rose thanked portlandmysteryrose
swamp_rose
Original Author
9 years ago
Wow! These are all truly helpful, wonderful suggestions! I'm scribbling the names down as fast as I can. It will be a fun weekend of the computer on one side and stacks of rose books on the other.

Thank you Sheila for your words of encouragement - Oh I forgot about Heirloom - good call! I wil send pictures ...

Amazing list Christopher - was hoping you might have some ideas. Thank you! I saw from some other posts you are not too far geographically. The Terrace is about 10 wide. The rose will go in one far corner and I'll train along the back. I love those Hybrid Musks - Ballerina, Buff Beauty, Katherine and Penelope (if memory serves). They were always very solid, dependable roses for me - I'll check out them out. Orfeo in a tree sounds dazzling! I realize (and accept) that it's going tot take time to get the rose to settle in and perform, which is why I'm eager to get it in this Spring.

Yes yes Camaieux!! That must be it Carol! I totally agree it's that grey thing that happens as the flowers decline. Yep - fragrant once bloomer.

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and ideas - cheers!
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smithdale1z8pnw
9 years ago
If I were you I would march right over to the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden, can't be too far & see what OGRs are working for them, I know Blush Noisette thrives there.Also in Peter Kukielski's book Roses Without Chemicals, he lists several OGRs that should do well for you.

Jane
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swamp_rose thanked smithdale1z8pnw
swamp_rose
Original Author
9 years ago
You're so right Jane, and closer still is the Cranford Rose Garden at BBG. I've got no excuse - thank you!
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