There are all kinds of roses in this world, and all kinds of reasons to grow them. I have a large L-shaped garden bordering my front sidewalk at the street and down the side of our driveway that I call my ‘Neighborhood Garden.’ Bob tilled it up for me thirteen years ago. I planted it up with roses that are almost always in bloom, specifically for folks walking or driving by. When I’m out front, people beep and blow me kisses, and stop to take pictures. It’s quite commonplace for someone to pull into the driveway, exit the car, and come over to give me a hug and thank me for putting such a pretty garden in full public view. This always makes me very happy, because that’s exactly why I planted this garden! Little gems like this make life worth it.

My Garden

My Neighborhood Garden has floribundas, hybrid teas, grandifloras, minifloras, and mini-roses. There are also oriental lilies in all colors that begin their fragrant displays after the roses finish their first flush, and they generally last until the roses are reblooming. The most prolific roses out in this garden are by far the minis and minifloras.

I call the minis little gems! They are like perfect little hybrid teas. Over the summer, many of them grow three feet tall and are very quick repeat bloomers. ‘Jennifer’ is a beautiful, fragrant, perfect pink. She’s been in my garden for decades, dedicated to my daughter Jen. ‘Jilly Jewel’ is another pink that is just a tad bigger than ‘Jennifer.’ ‘Scentsational’ is a lavender mini with perfect form and a perfect fragrance…amazing that such a little rose can pack such a fragrance punch! ‘Norwich Sweetheart’ was hybridized by our friend, Dave Berg, in honor of the Norwich, CT Rose Garden. This rose is a perfumed deep magenta and is just luscious.

More Varieties

‘Pacific Serenade’ is a tidy miniature with large, glowing yellow blooms. ‘Sweet Amy’ is brilliant, bright yellow. ‘Constellation’ is gorgeous at any stage in the bloom cycle. It is snowy white, makes a perfect bud and exhibition stage blossom, and when it is fully opened the red pistil and yellow stamens are very showy. ‘Fireworks’ has yellow petals tipped with fiery orange and blooms by the hundreds! ‘Rainbow’s End’ is a little larger and the blossoms begin as yellow tipped with red and finish as a deep pink. ‘Merlot’ is a dark magenta with a white reverse. ‘Black Jade’ is so dark red it is almost black, and ‘Minnie Pearl’ is a tiny soft pink. They’re little gems for any garden.

All these roses add so much to the garden! After dead-heading, they regrow very quickly and are back in bloom in no time. They are very hardy and on their own roots. And, they perform magic underground! When planted deeply, which I always recommend in cold parts of the country, within a few years a miracle occurs. They multiply! This means you can dig them up, separate them, replant, and give some away. I love sharing roses with friends.

With Family

I also love sharing my gardens with family. My youngest granddaughter, Emma, really loves roses! She is just two years old and likes following me around the garden. She and her sister Adele came for a visit a couple weeks ago. I always take them for a ride in the garden cart after I’ve padded it with cushions. We went up the sidewalk and said hello to some neighbors and when we came back, Adele (4) opted for bubble blowing. I asked Emma if she’d like to go see the roses, and she said, ‘Oh yes, Grammy!’ I cut her a ‘Show Stopper’ rose which immediately went up to her nose, and she slipped her other hand into mine. We stopped to smell every rose on our tour, and then I asked her if she’d like to go see the roses in the Neighborhood Garden. We came out front and she said, ‘Grammy, these are beaUtiful!’ I finally asked her, ‘Em, would you like to see the little gems?’

‘Oh, yes,’ she said…’Do you have Mickey, too?’

Gotta love the little ones…happy gardening!