Rose Gardens and Rose Gardening
For over 35 million years the rose has graced planet earth. With hundreds of species roses have, over the years, been symbols of love and beauty but they also have been representative of war and politics. It is rather apt then that the most famous rose gardens in the world are those of the west wing of the oval office. The rose gardens of the White House in Washington, DC. cover an area of 750 square feet, and contain various other plants, such as tulips, daffodils and hyacinths, which work well with the roses to create a fantastic display of color which lasts all summer.
Roses have been cultivated for over 5,000 years beginning, most probably, around China. The Romans grew extensive rose gardens all across the Middle East growing in popularity until the Roman nobility took it upon themselves to create a multitude of large public rose gardens. The popularity of the rose continued after the fll of Rome and today the garden rose is as popular as they ever were.
Rose gardens consist mainly of roses but they are usually planted with other annuals and perennials which compliment the rose bushes and extend the range of color while also extending the flowering season of the borders. There are several types of roses, garden roses which are usually bushy, miniature roses and climbing roses, all of which are used in rose gardens. Climbing roses (also referred to as roaming roses) are often used to create a flow of color, they can be placed on walls to add height or in containers to add height variation and extra dimension.
Berkeley Rose Gardens
The Berkeley Rose Garden covers an area of 3.64 acres and are considered to be the best rose gardens in Northern California and, possibly, the country. The Rose Garden was opened to the public in September, 1937 and has around 3,000 rose bushes in 250 varieties. The best time to visit is around Mother's Day when it is said that the rose gardens are at their best but this is also the busiest time.
Berkeley Rose Gardens has a number of visitor attractions which include 4 tennis courts and a picnic area. There is a semicircular terraced amphitheater, a redwood pergola and an ornamental pool. The gardens can be hired for various events such as weddings and other celebrations. If you are interested you should call the City Recreation Office on (510)981-5150.
Rose Gardens at Home
It is relatively easy to create rose gardens which are suitable for around your home. First of all you will need to choose an area of suitable ground and then set about choosing which varieties you want to include. Roses are usually available in bare root form or in containers, they can be grafted onto alternative root stock or own-root and they are available in a number of different grades.
The most important aspect of choosing roses for rose gardens is their size, it is vitally important that you choose a selection of varieties which will grow to a suitable size for your garden. You will also need to consider the local growing conditions and a quick visit to your local nursery should provide you with all of the relevant information as most will only sell roses which are likely to grow well in their are. However it is always best to ask for help and advice if you are unsure.
As well as being readily available locally through garden centers rose plants can also be purchased by mail. When ordering via mail the roses are often supplied as bare-root. Bare-root roses are in their dormant state and, rather than having soil around the roots, they often have moist wood shavings or other material. When they arrive soak the roots in water for about an hour and then plant them in their flowering positions.
Garden centers and nurseries can provide bare-root roses but normally they offer containerized and potted roses. Containerized roses have been bought, by the nursery, as bare-root plants and then placed in containers and sold, often within the same season. Obviously if purchased in the same season the roots will not be as developed as those which have been in the container for longer.
Potted roses are often a better option for the amateur wanting to create rose gardens as they have been grown in the containers for far longer and have root systems far more developed. Potted roses have extensive root systems which form a root ball which makes it far easier transferring them into rose gardens.
Below is a selection of articles about roses to help you become more knowledgeable in the subject.
More articles about roses below this video presentation
More articles about roses:
See also: Landscaping, Lawn Care, Organic Garden, Barbeque Grill/Smokers, Outdoor Furniture, Vegetable Gardening & Vegetable Gardens
