Roses, Roses, Roses! Joy Us Garden

In this post you’ll see Roses, Roses and more Roses – not the plants, but just the flowers. Be warned – this post has many photos of Roses! I decided to stop by the Rose Garden (owned by our city) across from the Santa Barbara Mission on my way home from Pilates early last Monday evening. I thought I’d take a few photos to put on Facebook and Twitter but ended up with more than enough for a blog post. For those of you still making up your minds about what Roses to choose this year, I hope this helps!

First, a little background on this city-owned garden which has the historic SB Mission and the Santa Ynez Mountains as a backdrop. It is called the A.C. Postel Rose Garden and originated in 1955 with a donation of 500 Rose bushes and in 1962 the Santa Barbara Rose Society began sponsorship. The garden now has over 1500 plants – many of which I did not take photos of. The All American Rose Selection (AARS) committee has accredited the garden and it receives Roses donated by growers one year in advance of their being put on the market for sale.

I have arranged the pictures of the Roses by color and also label what type they are and the year it was introduced. The ones with AARS before the year denote they have exceptional qualities as only a few of them get chosen. If you’d like a few pointers on their care that I’ve picked up through my years as a professional gardener, then scroll all the way to the end – it may take you a while to get there though!

Pink

Wenlock / Shrub / 1984

Brilliant Pink Iceberg / Floribunda /1999

Knockout / Landscape / AARS 1999

Rainbow Knockout / Shrub / 2007

Erfurt / Hybrid Musk / 1939

Archiduc Joseph / Hybrid Tea / 1872

La Sylphide / Hybrid Tea / 1848

White MaryRose / Shrub / 1988

Roseraie De L’Hay / Old Garden Rose /1901

Fame / Hybrid Tea / 1998

Yellow

Baby Love / Shrub / 1992

Danae / Hybrid Musk/1913

Sunshine Day Dream /Grandiflora /AARS 2012

Sunflare /Floribunda/AARS 1981

Strike It Rich / Grandiflora / AARS 2007

Mellow Yellow / Hybrid Tea / 2000

Julia Child / Floribunda / AARS 2006

Celebrity / Hybrid Tea / 1988

Red

Tempo / Climber /1975

Prospero / Shrub / 1982

Crimson Bouquet / Grandiflora / AARS 2000

Apricot Peach

Tamora / Shrub / 1983

Easy Does it / Floribunda / AARS 2010

All That Jazz / Shrub / AARS 1992

Honey Pefume / Floribunda / AARS 2004

Just Joey / Hybrid Tea / 1972

Over the Moon / HybridTea / 2009

Apricot Nectar / Floribunda / AARS 1966

Mandi Gras / Floribunda / AARS 2008

Colorific / Floribunda / 2011

Deep Red Purple with Lavender

Wild Blue Yonder / Grandiflora / AARS 2004

Bi-Color

Fourth of July /Climber / AARS 1999

Glowing Peace / Grandiflora / AARS 2001

Rainbow Sorbet /Floribunda / AARS 2006

Scentimental / Floribunda / AARS 1997

Peace / Hybrid Tea / AARS 1946

Granada / Hybrid Tea / AARS 1964

Singin’ in the Rain / Floribunda / AARS 1991

Distant Drums / Shrub / 1985

White

Pillow Fight / Shrub /2000

Mania Shriver / Grandiflora / 2004

Here are a few tips: Amend the soil with compost every year, preferably at the start of their growing season. Most Roses need full sun – make sure they get it. The different types of Roses get pruned in different ways – make sure you’re clear on this first. Be certain the terminal bud faces out. Roses get aphids – best to just spray them off with the hose. They are not drought tolerant - water them regularly. I always fertilized Roses with alfalfa meal and epsom salts 3 times during the growing season. The Moo Poo Maven recommends to water them with her alfalfa tea and epsom salts right after the threat of frost has passed. After that, use the horse tea (they get fed alfalfa) and epsom salts every month or two depending on the health of the plant.

I live in California where Roses are pruned in January and fertilizing begins in March. That being said, I hope these pictures have wet your appetite for a Rose or two and that they are always in bloom!