Starting a Rose Garden: A Surprise for Your Husband

Rose Week timing is perfect. But roses are a full-time hobby—hence this entire expert section.

First Steps

1. Browse American Rose Society — Rose of the Month, photos, descriptions.
2. Define your priorities: fragrance? cut flowers? all-season color? miniatures for edging? thornless? climbers?
3. My taste: fragrant, off-catalog varieties. 'Madame Isaac Pereire' (spring bourbon), 'Chrysler Imperial' (vintage), grandmother's Brooklyn roses (75 years old).

Reality Check

My season: 1 spectacular month, then "unsightly sticks" needing spray/feed/water/night flashlight bug checks. Perennials/lilies carry the visual load summer-long.

Next Step

Tell me exactly what you want—fragrance, color, cutting, season length, maintenance tolerance—and I'll recommend a dozen varieties with sources and care plans.