Question
We live in Baldwin, Long Island and just put in an 8' arbor leading to our backyard.  We want to put in a growing rose over the arbor.  Would like something colorful, scent is not an issue.  It gets sun about 1/2 the day.  Fairly easy maintenance would be a bonus as we both work full time.  Good re-bloom.  Thinking red, pink, apricot or yellow.  Thank you so much for your help.  We are not great with the gardening, in case you couldn't tell LOL.

Sincerely and appreciatively,
Sharri and Dave

Answer
Thank goodness it's Friday, S&D, the weekend plans are going to include preparations for your new Rose(s).

I spoke today with Rose Central, officially called Brookville Nurseries (or Old Brookville Nurseries, something like that), they are on Northern Blvd (25A), the opposite shore but not quite as far as you might think.

Take the LIE to Glen Cove Road and drive North about 1 mile until you get to the intersection of Glen Cove Road and Northern Blvd/25A.  Wheatley Plaza is on the right, there's a Gas station across the street, Anthropologie on the opposite corner.  Make a right turn onto Northern Blvd.  Drive about 2 miles or so, past CW Post, another half mile or so you will see a little farmstand on the right when you get to Old Brookville.  They have the best selection of Roses on Long Island.  This is not Rose Season right now so they are out of a lot of things, but you only want one.  I saw a few that you would really love.  Ask for ROSE or for TERESA.  These elderly sisters have been doing this for 80 years at the same little farmstand.  They grow a lot of perennials too and they take very good care of everything.  If you want to order a Rose, they may do that for you, and it's done on a handshake.  They are a Gardener's Gardeners.  Teresa will tell you that Rose is the Rose Expert, but Teresa knows plenty about Roses and will direct you to the perfect climber.

They will also give you advice about the planting.  Make sure you have excellent drainage and the arbor has got to get full sun all day long.  The industry minimum is around 6 or 7 hours but most Roses will not flourish unless you get them a full summer day of sunlight dawn to dusk.  And you don't want Roses that are not flourishing.

On your way back from Teresa and Rose's farmstand, stop at Hicks Nursery on Jericho Turnpike in Westbury.  Hicks has all kinds of excellent supplies including things like large bags of bonemeal (for great roots and flowers), manure (for leaves) and greensand (for general vigor) to amend your Roses and flower beds.  You can't get too much of this stuff for Roses.  The soil will make the difference between Beautiful Roses and a Once-In-A-While Rose.

Got your lawnmower yet?  If you've got an open mind, may I suggest you take a look at the Brill Reel Mower, an old fashioned, precision instrument for slicing grass that is made in Germany, needs sharpening once every 5 years or so, uses no power other than your own sweat, and provides a superior grass cut.  Only available on the internet but on several websites.  I purchased one from Clean Air Gardening (www.cleanairgardening.com) in one of their specials, but there you can comparison shop.  Makes a great Father's Day Gift!

Welcome to the best Island in the world, and let me know how it goes w/ Rose and Teresa.