Antique Roses Proving That Old is Good

Rose enthusiasts everywhere are turning again to antique roses for their gardens, for good reasons. The many advantages of these old garden roses are being rediscovered. Their general ease of care, as compared to some of their more sensitive, more "modern" cousins, is one of their prized winning attributes. Not all heritage varieties are immune to the dastardly black spot disease, but most suffer little from its effects, and this eliminates the regular spray programs required by more delicate cousins. Other diseases and insects aren't usually major problems with this group...assuming you have provided them with proper nurture.

Old Garden roses are known for their gloriously abundant perfumes, and they need less major pruning. As more hardy shrubs or climbers, they lend themselves to many landscape uses, allowing them to socialize and adorn our yards with vertical bloom and graceful arches in various areas, as opposed to confinement to one rose bed or area.

Some of these 'old' standbys can tolerate light shade as well. They can demand less water and fertilizer than do the "newer" hybrid teas, for instance. And they can be rooted fairly easily for propagation, offering a pat to the pocket book as well.

So why, with all these wonderful habits, did they pass into the shadows? As with fads in any area of consumerism, the "new " versions capture the tide. With introduction of the Hybrid Tea, the excitement of a totally "new" look in roses, along with much larger blooms, and a nearly constant blooming ability lasting through the growing season, caused quite the stir. New colors were subsequently introduced as well, bringing delight and variety to the mostly pastel range of the Antiques.

The exquisite, high-pointed, high-center bloom of the Hybrid Tea came to be the darling of the twentieth century, and the most recognized form of rose yet today. The trade off for all this beauty, charm, and grace was a loss of scent and the need for more maintenance. Like ladies of high fashion, many newer versions require more "polish" to keep them happy, they may have some of the robust genes of their parentage diluted, and demand more attention to maintain their most lovely qualities.

I enjoy and relish the personalities and various attributes of adornment of all my roses. The modern versions and the old garden. I can't, however, imagine my yardscape without the perky, petite, sprays of pink blooms of my trusty fairy roses, that have staunchly held up to mounds of snow, provided cover to many a mother rabbit and babies, and staunchly faced some unhappy heat of summer, yet keep coming back for more to spread and adorn the drive. Nor can I imagine trading my Zepherine Drouhin, for a modern climber. This old garden rose lavishly drapes my walkway arbor with gorgeous, large, deep pink blooms and provides an exquisite perfume that literally makes my heart sing. Neighbors may wonder as I linger for minutes on end with my nose shoved between the lattice, inhaling blossom after blossom of heady, intoxicating perfume...with no worries about thorns! This wonderful Bourbon Rose is thornless!