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Miniature Roses

© Adriela Sakamoto

I've always had a fascination with small things. There is something about peering into the window of a doll's house, where everything is perfectly reproduced in miniature, that appeals to the Gulliver aspect of my personality. I must admit this did not translate to miniature roses until I was given two as a gift.

Prior to this, they had always seemed silly plants, and I suppose my prejudice came from the row upon row of often sickly minis seen in grocery store displays for Mother's Day or Valentines Day. I did not view them as "serious" roses, I guess, but more a trifle.. a folly... silly: Something to be sat beside the azalea given in February and then tossed out in April when both died. Ah me.

Well, given my tendency to care for every stray animal that has the good fortune to wander into my yard, I suppose it was no wonder that the little miniature roses should suffer the same fate. I could not bear to throw them out when the last blossom fell. Besides, there were at least two living leaves on each plant, and as any gardener knows, this is akin to that blinking green harbor light in the Great Gatsby.. hope! hope! hope! I could not just toss them. However, the spider mites were having a fiesta, and the little roses were shuffled from one inadequately lit window to another until it became evident my home was going to be their final resting place.

I sighed, and did what any tender hearted gardener does.. I found a spot outside and stuck them in the ground. It was, of course, too cold, too wet, too everything. I was sure they would succumb, but I reasoned they would at least amend the soil with their passing. They promptly croaked.

Or so I thought.

Yes, yes.. cut to the chase.. They were alive, they continued to be alive, and when I moved and left them for the next rose lover, they were absolutely magnificent.

Miniatures are grown on their own roots, you see, and bear a hardiness that belies their small stature. In the garden they are a lovely and perennial addition to a border and are available in almost any color you could want.

Nor'East Miniature Roses, Inc. has an excellent site with mini's grouped in categories according to fragrance, or color, or variety. There are even climbing mini's, and I plan to add one to my own patio garden this coming spring. Can you imagine a doll's house or child's play house with a climbing mini wreathing the doorway?

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