Antique Roses Make Good Sense And Scents!

Who says you can't grow roses? They don't have to be as high maintenance as you think if you'll stick with old garden roses or antique roses. Old garden/antique roses have been found for years abandoned near old cemeteries, rail stations and homesteads. They have withstood droughts, hurricanes and insect infestations. These abandoned roses have not been fertilized or sprayed with fungicides or insecticides, and they are still alive and blooming.

So, why aren't more people growing antique/old garden roses? I think it's because when they see them for sale at nurseries or garden centers, the plant specimen is coming from a cutting, and doesn't look anything like it's going to look. Thus, from a marketing or PR perspective the consumer can't "see to the future."

But the neat thing is that you can see what old garden/antique roses look like in their full glory by visiting a couple of nurseries that specialize in just such roses.

The Vintage Rosery is brand new Antique Rose Specialist that just opened up near Needville. (click on this site to get directions and more info www.vintagerosery.com,) This is has been a passion for the owners Bob and Marcia Roenick. They began this odyssey six years ago, but are just now opening their doors to the public this year. The reason that's important is because they've taken the time to grow out all their rose examples in a myriad of garden situations. That way, you can see which color you like and in which way it works best (arbor, trellis, free-standing), and then purchase a cutting from them knowing what you'll be getting for the future.

If you don't mind driving even further, there's still the rose shop that popularized the search for old garden roses, The Antique Rose Emporium, near Brenham. (click here for that link. www.antiqueroseemporium.com)

Lastly, for those that can become obsessed with the passion of finding just such old garden roses, don't forget about the Texas Rose Rustlers. Every spring, they recruit rose fanatics to help them in their search for antique roses throughout the state. Here's their website link if you're interested in attending one of their workshops, or for that matter rustling up some old garden roses in one of their quests. Their spring event is April 26:
Peaceful Habitations Rose Gardens
FM 1376
5-1/2 Miles North of Boerne, TX

http://www.texas-rose-rustlers.com/