I’ve been in love with roses since I was a child but am now getting the chance to properly try my hand at growing them myself. After a false start last year buying hybrid teas and not understanding their needs in my cold climate, I’ve started over from scratch with hardier plants. I’m grateful for a big box store like Walmart carrying plants at a reasonable price (especially after my three starter roses all died). The price between a Walmart plant ($9-12) and a Sheridan Nurseries plant ($25-30) is bonkers to me. I’m just happy that I can buy & care for a rose with limited means. I’m quite fascinated with sturdy, fragrant R. Rugosas right now & the fact that I can propogate plants off the bushes I’ve seen growing around my neighbourhood (there are two massive bushes, quite ignored, next to a bus stop). When I’m a little more settled financially and also in my own house, I look forward to going nuts with climbers, old roses and a few hybrid teas that I could winterize securely (I’d like to buy from a nursery like Palatine Roses).

When I started all my roses were purchased bare-root and planted in the fall. I was in central Ohio then and grew a lot of shrubs and some antiques in addition to modern roses. I purchased from a nursery in northern Ohio owned by Ernest Vash called Historical Roses; he had a lot of species and Buck roses. My rose club used to make a group order from what is now Palatine Nursery in Canada; two members used to drive up there since they did not ship! This was in the early 70's.

Now I'm in the south, I'm purchasing shrubs, teas, noisettes and Chinas from Roses Unlimited in South Carolina, and from Antique Rose Emporium in Texas. Even in this climate it requires a lot of patience to grow these roses on, 2-3 years before you have a nice bush.

I have no patience with poor quality or misidentified roses; I like these two because I know I'll get good roses. They also have been great about answering questions about specific varieties.

Ashley, your bouquet is gorgeous! Which are the roses in its photo?

I am very touched by your story. I too am a rose lover.

Several years ago I was shopping at Lowe’s and seen David Austin roses in bloom! I Could not believe I was not dreaming LOL.. Thous roses took my breath away and I went home with one to try.. she did so well, so I had to have more : )

To my surprise roses did really well in my garden and in this time I got about 200 roses.. Most are mail order. My favorite places to order are Roses Unlimite, A Reverence for Roses, David Austin, High Country Roses , Palantine