Henny Penny Farmette

If your sweetheart is a gardener, why not give a gift that keeps on giving? Instead of a single rose or a bouquet, consider giving a bare-root rose bush. A plethora of plants are arriving in garden centers now.

Many modern roses have been bred to bloom repeatedly throughout spring, summer, and fall, even into December in milder climates. With gorgeous single buds on tall stems or dazzling sprays of blooms, roses are the perfect cut flowers for indoor bouquets.

With the traditional “lover’s” day just around the corner, now is the time to decide on what type of rose bush to give your valentine. Bare-root season is the best time to purchase rose bushes. In a couple of months prices go up as unsold roses are re-potted in containers of soil with nutrients.

At the most basic level, roses are classified into three main categories: wild roses, old garden roses bred before 1867, and new roses bred or hybridized for modern gardens for fragrance, bloom size, color, and other desirable characteristics.

Before you buy, consider what characteristics you would like in a rose and choose a type that matches your purpose.

Modern varieties have been cultivated to produce roses to repeat bloom, bloom as single buds, or bloom in sprays. Some are fragrance-free; others offer a heady scent. Many roses have prickles (sometimes called thorns although technically they are not). The blooms of roses vary in size, shape, and number of petals as well as color. Some have a single color. Others display two or more colors as the blooms open and age.

Consider how much space your sweetie might have in his or her garden for growing the rose. Climbers need support like a wall, fence, or a trellis. Certain roses aren’t fussy about soil, other cultivars have specific needs. Be informed before you buy. Be sure to read the rose label for information about the cultivar.

If you enjoy reading about gardening and country living and also love a good story, check out my Henny Penny Farmette series of cozy mysteries. All are available online and wherever books are sold. They include, A BEELINE TO MURDER, THE MURDER OF A QUEEN BEE, and A HIVE OF HOMICIDES.