Easy elegance roses

To recreate the gardens of your ancestors, include the old garden roses. These date back for centuries, are hardier, and include a large variety. They fare well in poor conditions, are the easiest type of rose to care for, do best in rich soil that drains well, and continue to bloom for years.

Some types of the old garden rose are Mary Queen of Scots, Sweetheart Rose, American Beauty, Awakening, and Belle Amore.

The Butterfly Rose is an ancient hybrid from China, introduced in 1932. The blooms change colors from soft orange to pink to carmine, which makes it a delight to observe.

What classifies a rose as an old garden rose? According to the American Rose Society, these are plants introduced before 1867. They prefer light fertilization, a light feeding schedule, and patience. They bloom only when they are ready to bloom.

Judging seminars are held because it is a challenge to judge the old garden rose; therefore, the judging for it is not set in stone. Fewer judges are familiar with it than with the newer modern roses.

If your goal is to show your old garden roses for prizes, you'll have to pay a bit more attention to them and prepare them properly for the shows. Things to look for include strong, vibrant blooms, leaves, and stems. They should have good color. Remove damaged petals (trim if necessary). The foliage should be clean. The less side growths you have on your canes, the better. A stem-on-stem condition is considered impairment. This is when new growth starts where old growth had stopped.

A national show was held in Dallas, Texas, in October of 2006. There are district shows and local shows around the country as well. If you are interested in competing in the rose shows, you might consider joining the American Rose Society. Through such a group, you can obtain a wealth of information and contacts.

Plenty of garden groups and clubs exist for rose enthusiasts. A short list of some of these clubs are as follows:

American Horticultural Society, Arlington Rose Foundation, Phoenix Rose Society, Potomac Rose Society, Arizona West Valley Rose Society, and Humboldt Rose Society.

If you would enjoy traveling around the United States in search of gardens to view the various old garden roses, among other types, you could try the following places:

The Pageant of Roses Garden, Whittier, CA, Washington Park International Rose Test Garden, Portland, OR, Inez Parker Memorial Rose Garden, San Diego, CA, The Gardens of the American Rose Society, Shreveport, LA, Tyler Municipal Rose Garden Center, Tyler, TX, and the Zilker Botanical Garden, Austin, TX.

If traveling the United States is not an option, try the local yellow pages in your area or call or visit the Chamber of Commerce in your town to get information on local gardens, clubs, and events that feature old garden roses.

Firecracker The Easy Elegance® Garden Jubilee® Firecracker rose, Rosa 'BAIcker' (PP15,737), like fireworks, has red blossoms with rich, pink tones and a white eye surrounding golden stamens which cover the plant in an electric explosion all summer long. The Firecracker rose has an compact, upright form which is complemented by clean, disease resistant, medium green foliage. An Easy way to a beautiful garden The Firecracker rose is part of the Easy Elegance® Rose Collection which makes it easy for everyone to grow beautiful roses. Bred for natural disease resistance and hardiness, the Firecracker rose will continue to bloom throughout the season, giving you long-lasting beauty and unparalleled ease of care. The Firecracker rose provides for: Easy care, low maintenance - no complicated pruning required Rich color all summer long - continuous blooms provide long-lasting beauty Environmentally friendly - no chemicals are required to maintain health.

Centennial The Easy Elegance® Garden Art® Centennial rose, Rosa 'BAIcent' (PPAF), has clusters of high-centered blossoms that are held on long, straight stems on this dynamic new rose. The exhibition-style blooms are apricot to soft yellow, fading gradually to creamy white, a vivid contrast to the bronze-tinged foliage. The Centennial's reblooming qualities make this rose a valuable addition to the mixed border. It is highly resistant to blackspot and mildew and is crown hardy in zone 4 with winter protection. Bred for natural disease resistance and hardiness, the Centennial rose will continue to bloom throughout the season, giving you long-lasting beauty and unparalleled ease of care. The Centennial rose provides for: Easy care, low maintenance - no complicated pruning required Rich color all summer long - continuous blooms provide long-lasting beauty Environmentally friendly - no chemicals are required to maintain health.

Grandma's Blessing The Easy Elegance® Garden Art® Grandma's Blessing rose, Rosa 'BAIing' (PP16,993), resembles a hybrid tea with large, full, dusty-pink blossoms. This beauty is so sweet it is named after Margaret ‘Grandma’ Bailey. Grandma’s Blessing has a symmetrical, vase-shaped form and dark-green, disease-resistant foliage. Stunning color combines beautifully with many perennials and also makes an elegant low hedge. Bred for natural disease resistance and hardiness, Grandma's Blessing will continue to bloom throughout the season, giving you long-lasting beauty and unparalleled ease of care. Grandma's Blessing rose provides for: Easy care, low maintenance - no complicated pruning required Rich color all summer long - continuous blooms provide long-lasting beauty Environmentally friendly - no chemicals are required to maintain health.

Kiss Me The Easy Elegance® Garden Art® Kiss Me rose, Rosa 'BAIsme' (PPAF), is one of the most fragrant roses in the Easy Elegance Collection. Kiss Me bears clusters of large, double, clear pink blooms, reminiscent of English roses. It flowers all season, and is especially attractive in the perennial border. The Kiss Me rose highly disease-resistant foliage adds to its appeal as a cut flower. Bred for natural disease resistance and hardiness, the Kiss Me rose will continue to bloom throughout the season, giving you long-lasting beauty and unparalleled ease of care. The Kiss Me rose provides for: Easy care, low maintenance - no complicated pruning required Rich color all summer long - continuous blooms provide long-lasting beauty Environmentally friendly - no chemicals are required to maintain health.

Macy's Pride™ The Easy Elegance® Garden Art® Macy's Pride™ rose, Rosa 'BAIcream' (PP15,574), a delightful rose, was selected by Macy’s Department Store for their centennial. Lemon-yellow buds open fully to creamy-white and age gracefully with a hint of pink. Disease-resistant foliage is red-rimmed when immature and ages to a beautiful semi-glossy, medium green. The Macy's Pride™ rose was the New England Rose Society Award Winner in 2002. An Easy way to a beautiful garden The Macy's Pride™ rose is part of the Easy Elegance® Rose Collection which makes it easy for everyone to grow beautiful roses. The Macy's Pride™ rose provides for: Easy care, low maintenance - no complicated pruning required Rich color all summer long - continuous blooms provide long-lasting beauty Environmentally friendly - no chemicals are required to maintain health.

Sweet Fragrance The Easy Elegance® Garden Art® Sweet Fragrance rose, Rosa 'BAInce' (PPAF), has hybrid tea-shaped buds in tropical tints of coral and orange with a deep yellow base that swirl open to full, sweetly fragrant, apricot blossoms. Each bloom matures to salmon-pink adding interest with the range of color. The Sweet Fragrance rose is a vigorous, upright grower with excellent disease resistance. An Easy way to a beautiful garden The Sweet Fragrance rose is part of the Easy Elegance® Rose Collection which makes it easy for everyone to grow beautiful roses. Bred for natural disease resistance and hardiness, the Sweet Fragrance rose will continue to bloom throughout the season, giving you long-lasting beauty and unparalleled ease of care. The Sweet Fragrance rose provides for: Easy care, low maintenance - no complicated pruning required Rich color all summer long - continuous blooms provide long-lasting beauty Environmentally friendly - no chemicals are required to maintain health.

Yellow Submarine This beautiful rose has an upright habit and highly disease-resistant foliage. It is crown hardy in zone 4 with mulch for winter protection. Bred for natural disease resistance and hardiness, the Yellow Submarine rose will continue to bloom throughout the season, giving you long-lasting beauty and unparalleled ease of care.

Great Wall The Easy Elegance® Lifestyle Garden® Great Wall rose, Rosa 'BAIall' (PPAF), is as vigorous and hardy as the name implies. The Great Wall's new foliage emerges red and slowly turns to dark green. Bred for natural disease resistance and hardiness, the Great Wall will continue to bloom throughout the season, giving you long-lasting beauty and unparalleled ease of care.

My Hero The Easy Elegance® Lifestyle Garden® My Hero rose, Rosa 'BAIhero' (PP15,400), is a self-cleaning rose that has bright red blooms, which turn to deep pink as they mature. The My Hero rose has good resistance to blackspot and mildew and is crown hardy in zone 4. An Easy way to a beautiful garden The My Hero rose is part of the Easy Elegance® Rose Collection which makes it easy for everyone to grow beautiful roses.

Snowdrift Each cluster of blossoms retains its pure color before dropping cleanly. The Snowdrift rose is hardy, disease resistant and is at home in any border and also makes a graceful hedge. The Snowdrift rose provides for: Easy care, low maintenance - no complicated pruning required Rich color all summer long - continuous blooms provide long-lasting beauty Environmentally friendly - no chemicals are required to maintain health.