Green Finger Gardening

Would you like to cut down on the areas you would normally have to mow grass? You could plant roses as a groundcover. This will produce an effect that is quite pleasing to the eye. Roses as a groundcover won’t kill underlying weeds, therefore you will still need to prepare your ground to cut down on the chances of weeds growing underneath your groundcover.

They can grow out as wide as six feet and upwards as high as 2 feet. This may help you decide how many plants you’ll want to buy for adequate coverage.

The image of a rose plant is usually that of a rosebush, not as a groundcover. This is a fairly new concept. The beauty of it, of course, is more than just the benefit of coverage, but also that of gracing your yard with the ever-popular rose.
Why use a groundcover at all? It helps prevent erosion on banks, grows low, and covers a wide area. The groundcover rose is not to be misinterpreted as a ground-hugger.

It’s best to choose for repeated blooming and disease resistance. Pruning may still be necessary, depending on the effect you desire. Of course, to keep the groundcover looking its best, monitor for dead stems.

Some available choices for groundcover roses are: Flower Carpet Coral, Flower Carpet Appleblossom, The Fairy, Baby Blanket, Red, White, or Pink Meidiland, Foxy, My Rosy Carpet, and Sea Foam.

If you want strong fragrance, be sure to check on that feature before you purchase your groundcover rose. Many modern roses are simply not bred for a strong fragrance, but more so for your viewing pleasure.

Groundcover roses do tend to be quite thorny. Thorns for a true rose grower are but a minor inconvenience. If you’ll need access to the areas or plants nearby, you’d do well to consider placement so you aren’t continually fighting the abuse from being pricked and scratched. Weed removal is more of a challenge with this type of plant.

A particular favorite among groundcover roses seems to be the Flower Carpet Series. However, Rosa ‘Glacier Magic’ has a spectacular white flower. It is said to have glossy, large, self-cleaning flowers that are highly pest and disease resistant. The white blooms help the plant stand out and demand attention. It’s like adding a light to the darkness of a non-blooming groundcover!

Some groundcover roses don’t resemble your traditional expected vision of a rose. For example, the Rosa ‘Nearly Wild’ has fewer petals and opens wide. It’s a colorful vision that is still a joy to own.

When deciding where to plant your groundcover roses, remember to avoid areas where foot traffic would be a hindrance or vice versa. Consider whether you’ll need to drag a water hose out to the area. If so, you may want to purchase a soaker hose, and make sure it will be the proper length. If you’ll have a big area to maintain or if your groundcover will be spread out to include various areas of your yard, the purchase of a wheelbarrow could be an asset. Gloves that protect against thorns may be needed. Such items as a hoe for weeding, clippers for pruning, and knee pads could be necessary purchases.
Don

www.greenfingergardening.com

Who hasn’t heard of the song about ‘The Yellow Rose of Texas’? The yellow rose is one of the most popular roses in history. The song, however, was actually about a lady a Civil War soldier is trying to find. Dolly Parton also wrote a song titled ‘Yellow Roses’ about a romance with someone who both began and ended the relationship with a yellow rose.

There are companies named for the yellow rose, such as Yellow Rose Products, Yellow Rose Enterprises and Yellow Rose Gifts. There are books written, such as the Yellow Rose Bride, A Texas Sky, the Yellow Rose Trilogy and a series called The Yellow Rose Mysteries. There is yellow rose white gold jewelry. A concealer has been made called the Yellow Rose of Texas, which hides imperfections of the skin.

The yellow rose has been said to symbolize friendship, caring, freedom, dying love, and platonic love. In German-speaking countries, the yellow rose means jealousy or infidelity. It is appropriate to send yellow roses to graduates, Texans, new mothers, and newlyweds. If you send red roses mixed with yellow roses, it stands for happiness and celebration. A single rose of any color is a sign of thanks. A safe idea is to send a note with the yellow rose, explaining your intentions!
In the 18th century, yellow roses were discovered growing wild in parts of the Middle East. The first yellow roses found did not have a sweet smelling fragrance. Cross-breeding was a friend to the yellow rose’s scent. You can buy organically grown yellow roses, which would give support to environmentally-friendly farming.

Yellow roses will bring a touch of sunshine to any flower arrangement. You won’t be disappointed in the addition to your flower bed. They add elegance to any décor in a home. The yellow rose is a pleasant image on items of clothing, bedding, curtains, and so on.

The yellow rose has brought financial gain to Texas by association with the song title. It has benefited Texas for years by way of its commercial value. But the yellow rose is certainly not limited to Texas or Texas products and services. It is available in many areas of the world. People in countries that have no connection to Texas have enjoyed the silent, quiet, soothing beauty of the yellow rose.

On the downside, there is a link between yellow roses and blackspot. Blackspot is a leaf disease that defoliates and kills. Hybrid yellow roses have been bred stronger and more resistant to blackspot, however, resistant roses still need care to avoid disease. Also, the area makes a difference in how well a yellow rose will be able to fend off disease. A warm and humid climate will be more inviting to the disease. There are sprays available to help guard against blackspot, such as apple cider vinegar spray. Wild herbs like stinky nettle, horsetails, and comfrey are also used by some as a spray for blackspot. Whatever the case, if you truly want yellow roses, where there’s a will, there’s a way!
Don

www.greenfingergardening.com

The hybrid tea might also be called the flower of lovers. It makes the perfect long-stemmed rose. It flowers repeatedly and can be strong with the proper care. It is the resulting combination of the tea rose and the hybrid perpetual. A hybrid tea is an ideal choice to present to the love of your life, a special gift for a mother, or just to display on your tabletop. It will add a touch of elegance to any room even as a lone flower in a vase. There are at least 237 varieties available.
If you worry about thorns, you can choose a thorn less type of hybrid tea. In my humble opinion, the thorns add to the artistic charm of the flower. It demands respect and adds character.

Be sure to take care of your newly acquired plant. You’ll want to decide what to feed it for endurance and strength and overall health. Each established gardener most likely has a favorite recipe or brand of plant food. Guard against overuse when feeding. It is possible to chemically burn your leaves or stems. The food is often concentrated and requires diluting. Watering heavily also helps dilute the food for the hybrid teas to process more easily and acceptably. You really only have to feed once in the spring and again in the fall. Some gardeners may choose to feed more often.

Pruning, feeding, proper watering, insect and disease control all sound a bit overwhelming at first. But it’s actually an easy process to learn. Like any living thing, there is a necessity for proper growth and development. Try keeping notes you feel are important about your hybrid and its care. These may even come in handy should you choose to try your luck with other flowering plants. Once you become more comfortable with the care of your plant, you’ll be better able to appreciate it.

Some hybrid teas have romantic names, such as Bride’s Dream, Bronze Star, Change of Heart, or Classic Beauty. If you like card games, perhaps your landscape would be more complete with the Ace of Hearts. Like many other things, there are hybrid teas named after famous people such as Barbara Streisand, Barbara Bush, Bing Crosby, and Bob Hope. Whatever your choice, you shouldn’t be disappointed in one of the most popular and beloved of roses.

It would probably be next to impossible to count all the things ever written about the rose. Often when one pictures a love scene, if a rose is involved, it would be a long-stemmed hybrid with or without thorns. Although they are not known for their strong scent, a hybrid tea has its own appeal in its appearance alone. Commercially, it is a welcomed rose. Shown in many pictures and used in many images, the hybrid is greatly admired. It’s image is used on gift wrap, tattoos, dinnerware, in wedding decorations, and especially on assorted items for Valentine’s Day, to name a few.
Don

www.greenfingergardening.com

One type of rose that seems saturated with sophistication beginning with its name is the English rose. There have been stories and books written with the name. But the English roses are especially deserving of a name that suggests class and royalty.

English roses are a group of roses, introduced by a hybridizer in the 1960’s. They were created to enhance some of the Old Roses, although a rose is a special flower in its own right and would seem to need no such enhancing. A rose by any name or type is a long-admired favorite among almost anyone.

The English roses tickle the senses with their delicate charm and fragrance. If you enjoy the idea of a larger rose, this type is a good choice. Being a fuller flower with many lovely petals, it is a delight for the eyes. Having been bred also for the excellent scent, English roses are a delight for the nose as well. The old-style combines with the modern style for a nice balance.

Although roses are mostly associated with the thought of the female gender, many types of English roses also carry male names. If you’d like a garden to suggest a theme, you could devote an area to roses with names of each gender. A few of the English roses with names are: Charles Austin, David Austin, Brother Cadfael, Charles Darwin, and Benjamin Britten. Some English roses with female names include: Barbara Austin, Claire Rose, Cordelia, Evelyn, and Gertrude Jekyll.
Maybe you’d like to include some English roses with names that play on your tongue to exercise your palate. Try Corvedale, Glanis Castle, Jaquenetta, and Mortimer Sackler. If you yearn for English roses with names from other lands, try Queen Nefertiti, Sharifa Asma, or Shropshire Lad.

As with most anything these days, there are many websites devoted to the famous David Austin English roses. They are beautiful hybrids that can only add pleasure to your landscaping. They are meant to be admired and enjoyed by all. One man’s dream and creativity reaches people worldwide with something as simple and yet complex as the English roses.
Roses have the most elaborate vocabulary of any flower. Rose buds generally signify youth and beauty, red roses signify passion, white roses purity and innocence, and yellow roses jealousy and/or infidelity. You’ll find a wide array of colors available in the English roses. They can mean much or nothing, depending on what you want from your garden.
An interesting tidbit of information is that rose water is not a perfume. It is still used in cosmetics and perfume. The Romans created a beauty treatment using dried roses and lion’s fat.

English roses are enjoyed by people in all walks of life: rich, poor, famous, and the regular “joe”. You don’t have to speak a certain language or be anyone special to plant and enjoy the endearing English roses. You don’t have to have an entire garden of roses either. An English rose plant is beautiful all by itself.
Don

www.greenfingergardening.com

Some say roses aren’t climbers by nature and must be taught. Just think….a climber that can grow to forty feet up a tree, yes, it’s possible! If you prefer a smaller version, there is also the miniature climber to consider. Any rose is beautiful, but you might say climbers have a farther “reach”.

Suppose I give you an image flower lovers can appreciate? Imagine a field such as seen under the warm California sunshine. It’s a grapevine field, with rows and rows to fill. Now substitute the grapevines with climbing roses! What a vision that would be to behold.

However, you must choose your climber with care, for some are only able to tolerate small amounts of sunshine and will bloom only with the proper amount of sunlight. You’ll need to keep it properly pruned for the better health of the plant. It will need plenty of room to spread its spectacular beauty. Some climbers grow taller and larger depending upon their climate. You’ll need access to the taller parts of the plant. You may decide to shape it.

Some questions to consider are: ‘how often will you want the climber to bloom’, ‘will you want a certain color theme among your climbers’, ‘would you need to treat it for bugs native to your area’.

A climber and a rambler are different types of rose plants. Climbers need to be tied to a structure to maintain stability. They have heavier vines, or canes if you will, than the rambler. The rambler’s vines are more flexible and must be trained to grow over an object.

As with many flowers, the best time to plant a climber is at least 6 weeks before the first hard frost or in the spring or fall when the weather is cooler, but not wintry. You could start the plant indoors and then move it to the garden. Build a teepee of wooden poles; make sure the height of the legs will suit your container; wind nylon wire or string in a criss-cross fashion around the poles to give the plant places to grab as it works its way up the poles.
An easy idea for use with climbers is a trellis, which is made with either lumber or plastic. Although, personally, I would think the plastic surface would be harder for the plant to grab and hold. You could substitute nylon netting in place of the string or wire.

If you have little ones who want to help garden, you could buy popsicle sticks for them to glue together in lattice fashion for use with your climber. If you are comfortable with the art work of a child, you could have he or she paint the container and put their own pictures and letting on it. One idea that may be of interest to moms or grandmothers is to allow the child their own climbing garden area. It would teach them the wonders of the rose on a level they could accept more readily.
Don

www.greenfingergardening.com

Ask anyone who has a green thumb about rose gardening, and you may need a tape recorder to remember all the advice you’ll get! Almost anyone who has an interest in gardening flowers and plants will eventually mosey into rose territory. It’s almost irresistible because of the beauty and scent of one of the most popular plants on earth.

A rose is like no other. Rose gardening then will certainly open up grounds for controversy among fellow gardeners. It’s a subject like that of rearing children. To the rose gardening crowd, their plants often become like their own children. They must be fed and nourished and guided properly to bloom and flourish into their majestic beauty.

Gardeners have been known to talk to their plants to coax them into perfect health.

Rose gardening is sure to involve getting your hands dirty. If you want to truly enjoy the experience, you must dig in with gusto and heartily embrace your adventure. Well, there are gloves, you know; but the earth welcomes the hands-on experience. Some say it is quite gratifying to become like one with the soil.

There is surely an art to rose gardening. The experience can be as simple or as scientific as you so choose. You may want to stock up on things like mulch, a shovel, a hoe, weed-killer, a watering can or hose, and maybe something called Miracle Grow or “food” for your rose plants. Not to mention bandaids if your plants have thorns! You’re certain to get pricked at some point if you have the type of rose plant that produces thorns. It’s all part of the true rose gardening experience.
Roses have been known to contract diseases, so you want to know your plants well to be able to recognize unhealthy changes in their leaves, color, overall health. Any living thing is susceptible to such and must be monitored.

Certainly some research is recommended should you choose to begin rose gardening. It would be advisable to research your particular type of rose plant. The adorable miniature roses may need different care than another type of rose plant. Also, a rose that grows well in one area of the globe may struggle in another.

Unsure where to start? The internet has vast amounts of information for rose gardening. There are gardening clubs in many areas. You can search your local library or favored book store for the proper books or magazines. Maybe it would be a good way to meet that neighbor you never knew how to approach. There are also many elderly gardeners who would enjoy mentoring the right student in rose gardening.

Remember, when you choose your rose plant, you may want to share the beautiful blossoms with someone special, or many someones. A child’s teacher, some lonely person in a nursing home or hospital, someone who is unable to enjoy the rose gardening experience firsthand, a favored relative or friend. So make sure you choose carefully and choose enough to share! A rose just isn’t meant to enjoy alone.
Don

www.greenfingergardening.com

Because white is a symbol of purity, honor, and innocence, white roses are often the type of flower chosen for weddings. They seem to exude cleanliness, freshness, and sophistication. A bush loaded full with white roses is an outstanding sight to behold! One might think of them as having heavenly beauty.

The beginning of a new relationship, a fresh start, a baby’s birth, could be celebrated with a gift of breathtaking white roses. They can bring an air of importance to any event, or to your outdoor scenery. They can bring out the best in a formal setting and add a teasing glimpse of bright color and beauty to an informal setting.
White roses are used in garlands, as adornments for hair, decoration on hats, or in corsages and boutonnieres. When used fresh, they can only last a few hours.

Proper preparation for long use of fresh white roses includes:

1. Soak the stem in room-temperature water for a few hours prior to use.

2. Wrap the end of the stem or stems tightly in florist’s tape to contain the moisture.

3. Slip wires discreetly beneath the florist’s tape and pierce the calyx. [The calyx is the outer group of protective leaves of a flower.] The wire helps stiffen the stem.

There is such a thing as a glass lapel vase. When refilled, often it will keep the flowers strong for days.
White roses can be ordered and shipped overnight. It is possible to find them for about forty dollars a dozen. They can be mixed with other colored flowers to brighten an arrangement.

White on roses that aren’t mean to be white can signify downy mildew. This condition is brought on by hot days and cold nights; possibly there will not be enough air circulation. There is a fungicide available. Always read the labels to determine that it will be what is best for your particular climate and plant. As with any chemical, you should use a fungicide with care. Using mulch around the roots is helpful to protect against this condition.

An interesting white rose is a Cherokee rose. It comes from the Orient, made its way to Florida, and escaped to become the wild rose of the South. Soldiers during the Civil War planted this rose on the graves of fallen comrades. Indian legends have been made about this white rose. Also in the south, there is a leafy white rose native to North Central Texas. The most famous rose gardens are in Tyler, Texas, known for its field-grown roses. An autumn rose festival is held there each year. It is not unusual to see wild white roses running wild in south Texas, at a height of up to eight feet. White roses do indeed add a wild grace to an untamed countryside.

Early Christians used to shun the rose, believing it a symbol of pagan corruption. The belief was also that the rose grew thorn less in the Garden of Eden and acquired thorns to remind people of their sins. How ironic that the white rose, indeed that any rose used to be shunned and is now a welcome symbol in many ways.
Don

www.greenfingergardening.com

In the Greco-Roman culture, the rose represented beauty, love and the season of spring. It also spoke of the fleetness of time, and therefore implied death and the next world.

In Latin Christian iconography, the first use of the rose appears in the scenes representing the next world. Also used were the lily and other flowers. These flowers also became symbols of virtues and of categories of the elect. The red rose represented the martyrs, and the lily, for the virgins. The rose as the queen of flowers, was evidently a privileged symbol for Mary. She is called a rose among the thorns. The rose is also a symbol of Christ who is called the Rose of Sharon.
Wonderful examples of this symbolism are found in the gothic cathedrals and their rose windows. These circular stained glass windows enhance the three entrances of these churches. These immense roses symbolize the world of salvation offered and revealed by God to our lost human race through the old and New Testaments. Christ, at the center of these rose windows, appears usually as judge or in the mystery of his Incarnation. In the latter example we see Mary presenting the Child Jesus.
During the Middle Ages the theme of the rose garden developed from the symbolism of the rose in the literature of courtly love.

In the literature’s of these times the rose was the symbol of the beloved lady. Later the influence of the Song of Songs led to the rose symbolizing the mystical union between Christ and his Church or between God and each member of his people. Mary was honored as the model of our union with God. The rose then became a symbol of the union between Christ and Mary thus titled the Mystical Rose in many writings. Marian symbolism of the rose was later popularized by the devotion of the rosary. The structured prayer form of 150 Hail Mary’s was termed a “rosary.” Here, with the religious, the symbolism of the rosary stands as an anthology of spirituality.

Our Lady of the rosary is Our Lady of the roses. The roses are the symbols of greeting offered to the Mother of God. The religious greet her with spiritual flowers.

Another use of the rose as a spiritual symbol is symbolic. The rose became a moral emblem to illustrate various old sayings or rules of conduct. For example: “Life is a rose. Its beauty fades rapidly.” “As the rose blossoms under the sun, I shall blossom under the eyes of God.” “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.”

The rose also symbolizes the trials and tribulations of life. There will be pain amongst the beauty, blooming even in the deserts of life and thorns within the trusting of the Vine. The rose, whether depicted through the Virgin Mary or The Christ, is a symbol of love, passion and perseverance throughout all the ages and the ages to come.
Don

www.greenfingergardening.com

Although some have the ability to grow quite large, there are shrub roses smaller than four feet. Many people like to use these shrubs for barriers as well as for ornamental purposes. Shrubs make beautiful hedges that have a touch of old-world class for your landscaping. The term ‘old-world’ is used because these shrubs have been around for such a long time.
Shrub roses work well for formal or informal landscaping. If you want to balance your scenery, you could plant shrub roses among herbs. Incidentally, roses have some of the same uses as herbs.

Shrub roses have a natural ability to resist disease. They’ll grow in various climates and require little maintenance. These qualities make it a friendlier choice for the person new to gardening.

You may want to plant shrub roses to hide an imperfection on your home or in your yard. If you have an eyesore that can’t be repaired or removed, it may be a good idea to hide it with the larger shrub roses. It should draw the eye more towards the plant and less towards the eyesore, or may even hide it completely.

You may not want to plant shrubs in an area where it will be accessible for passersby to pluck your favored blooms. If you are trying to win the title of “Yard of the Month”, or something similar, placement would definitely matter! These shrubs in bloom may make it irresistible to passing admirers. Besides taking the blooms, the flowers could be damaged carelessly by wandering hands. Bruised blooms would not be a welcome sight to a judge.

The more shrubs you plant, the more beautiful blooms you can enjoy. They would make it easier to decorate for an event you may want to hold. It would save the convenience and cost of ordering flowers from someone else. The added benefit would be the pride of showing something you would have produced yourself. The shrubs would not only provide beauty, but a fragrance as well, to share with your guests.

You could use the roses from your shrubs in many ways. Suppose you are crafty, you could use them in dried flower arrangements. Maybe you want to share them with your neighbor, or use them for romantic purposes for your spouse( such as covering the bed or floor with the petals from your very own shrubs). You could try selling the blooms from your shrubs for corsages. Even a blind friend or relative could benefit from the sweet, uplifting smell of the roses. Maybe you are an artist as well as a gardener. You could plant your own shrubs for your oil, watercolor, or acrylic paintings.
Roses have one of the more dominant scents used for commercial purposes. Planting your own shrubs would give you an outdoor air freshener that you could also bring inside to show off in vases placed around a room. The rose scent can be subtle rather than overpowering. Some roses do have a stronger fragrance than others.
Don

www.greenfingergardening.com

Roses may be the traditional gift given on Valentines Day, but they are definitely well received any day of the year. Buyer beware before you buy roses, know what message you are sending in the color. Men as well as women, express that they love to get flowers and floral gifts. Remember color talks! Although it is a common acceptance that all roses convey warmth and affection, the person receiving them may know and understand the meaning of roses colors and the symbolic message conveyed. It would be nice to assure that you are communicating the right message to that special person sharing a special language between the two of you.

The color of a rose can certainly be interpreted than the thought you intended. To ensure that your love (or friend) understands what the roses you are sending mean, follow the guide below so you can be sure of no misinterpreted gestures.

Orange – enthusiasm, desire and fascination

Lavender – love at first sight

Coral – desire

Pale Peach – modesty

Peach – appreciation, closing of the deal, lets get together, sincerity

Red and Yellow – jovial and happy feelings

Red and White – given together these signify unity

Yellow with Red Tip – friendship, falling in love

Yellow – Joy, gladness, friendship, delight, promise of a new beginning, welcome back, remember me, jealousy

Light Pink – admiration, sympathy, gentleness, grace, gladness, joy, sweetness
Dark Pink – appreciation, gratitude, thank-you

Pink – appreciation, thank-you, grace, perfect happiness, admiration, gentleness, please believe me

White (Bridal) – happy love

White – purity, innocence, silence, secrecy, reverance,humilty, youthfulness, I am worthy of you, Heavenly

Deep Burgundy – unconscious beauty

Red (single) – I love you

Red Dark – unconscious beauty

Red – love, beauty, courage and respect, romantic love, congratulations, I love you, job well done, sincere love, respect, courage and passion

Single in any Color – simplicity, gratitude

Red Rosebud – symbolic of purity and loveliness

White Rosebud – symbolic of girlhood

Thornless Rose – love at first sight

There is also significance and meaning to the number of roses you send which is interesting also to note.

1 Rose – Love at first sight!
2 Roses – Mutual feelings
3 Roses – I Love You!
7 Roses – I’m infatuated with you
9 Roses – Together as long as we live
10 Roses – You’re Perfect!
11 Roses – You’re my treasured one
12 Roses – Be my steady
13 Roses – Forever friends
15 Roses – I’m really sorry
20 Roses – I’m sincere towards you
21 Roses – I’m committed to you
36 Roses – I’ll remember our romantic moments
40 Roses – My love is genuine
99 Roses – I’ll love you till the day I die
100 Roses – I’m totally devoted to you
101 Roses – You’re my one and only
108 Roses – Will you marry me?
999 Roses – My love will last till the end of time
Leaves – In general they are a symbol of hope

Rose talk is the language and trend setting is the game. It does not matter whether you are shy, trying to convey a suttle message or shouting it from the stems, saying it with a rose sends a special message. These “body language” blooms are the most popular of all cut flowers and nothing quite says it like a rose. Regardless of color, number or stage of growth, rose that are sent every month conveys “beauty ever new.” Regardless if your rose recipient is not familiar with the shades meaning or number of, one message shouts out loud and clear. The person that sends roses is a romantic and is saying something very special!
Don

www.greenfingergardening.com