My roses

What do you plant in the gardens of an antique house? Antique roses, of course! I have long been fascinated by the old rose varieties. If you drive around the countryside, you can often find early rose varieties planted next to old farmhouses,cemeteries and fences. But there are also a number of nurseries that specialize in selling antique roses. What we usually picture when we think of a "rose" is most likely one of many hybred (Tea Rose) varieties developed in the 20th century. They are large, showy, with multiple rows of petals, and bloom for a long time. Antique roses often look quite different, but they have a charm all their own, and are often more fragrant than modern roses.

Here are the antique roses that grow in my own gardens:



This rose is called "Harrison's Yellow". It was first introduced in 1824 and was very popular with the early settlers of the old west because of its hardiness.( more pictures )