Home » Plants & Animals » Australian Gardening » Roses at this time of the year are great to see

Roses at this time of the year are great to see

© John Bottomley

The Western Australian Rose society's spring show was held last weekend. Whenever I attend this sort of event the number of varieties of roses on show never cease to astonish me, and then there are the catalogues issued by the nurseries exhibiting. One particular nursery had a list of almost 400 different varieties. Bob Melville's, an internationally known rose grower, who runs Melville Nursery in Carmel, Western Australia, has about 800 varieties for sale and more than 80,000 plants on his property.

As well as the WA Rose Society, there is the Heritage Roses Australia Inc. This is a fellowship of people who care about old garden roses, species and shrub roses. The organization was formed in 1979 and has links with similar organizations in New Zealand, USA and the United Kingdom. International conferences are held in different countries. Heritage Roses Australia appeals to people interested not only in old roses but also in allied plants, and the landscaping and history of gardens and their cultures. Garden visits, field excursions, exchange of plants, social gatherings and necessary business meetings make up a regions' typical activities. Professionals and amateurs get together and there is always a chance to meet world leaders in their field.

The local Shire of Kalamunda has recently re-designed the entrance to the town and decided to plant over two hundred roses in the traffic island and cross over safety points linked to these islands. This is another example of the flexibility and the adaptability of the rose as a design and decorative plant. It can be used almost anywhere and does not consume too much water and if the correct type is chosen will survive.

We have decided to plant another twelve or so roses along the front drive of the house. With the water restrictions as they are at present it is not a bad plant to use in the garden. If tended properly and if you use plenty of mulch, there is a chance you will not need much water during summer to keep them lively and well. A local gardener suggested plenty of pea hay and to keep them well fertilized with sheep manure. The pea hay should allow good retention of the moisture.

This year being the international year of the rose we should recognise the rose's wonderful place in the gardens of the world. The plant has often been described as a symbol of love and of friendship. As Gertrude Stein once wrote: "A rose is a rose is a rose", and to end, we could do no better than quote the bard: "But earthlier happy is the rose distilled,/ Than that which withering on the virgin thorn,/ Grows, lives, and dies, in single blessedness"(A Midsummer Night's Dream).

The copyright of the article Roses at this time of the year are great to see in Australian Gardening is owned by . Permission to republish Roses at this time of the year are great to see in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.