One of the most unexpected and purely delightful aspects of our clinic is that our waiting room has evolved into what can only be described as a living room. Many families have had the same appointment times for months, even years, and we’ve been privileged to watch them build relationships with each other and with our staff.
One of these special relationships has developed between Jenny (clinic director) and Sheri (a parent). If you happen to visit the clinic on Tuesdays midday, then you may have heard them go on and on talking about roses. Both are avid gardeners, so they know what they’re talking about. Since it’s a great time of year to be planting roses, we thought we’d do a little knowledge drop on some of their faves.
Behold! Sheri’s and Jenny’s Top 5 Roses
Jenny
If you’re familiar with David Austen’s Jude the Obscure, then it’s your favorite too. If you’re not a rose person, then change your ways with this rose. It’s a bushy rose with dark green leaves, different from your stodgy hybrid tea roses (don’t send me angry emails). The blooms are prolific and repeat throughout the season. It is an English-style rose with a deep cup of pale yellowy-orange, and the most delicious lemony-rose scent. It’s completely swoon-worthy. It was my gateway rose, and I now have three more David Austen roses.
Jude the Obscure rose, photo credit Jenny Peddicord
Rosa Glauca, photo credit Jenny Peddicord
The Rosa Glauca is a completely different type of rose and highlights the breadth of the rose family. This is a species rose, meaning it looks more like wild roses. It has dusky gray purple foliage and small simple mid-pink flowers. The arching stems make it more of a landscape rose and less of a grown-only-for-the-flowers type of rose. I use branches of this rose as greenery in bouquets. With the unique color of the stems and foliage, the simple pink flowers, and lovely small orange hips in the fall, you easily get three seasons of interest out of this rose.
Sheri
I pick out roses the same way I pick out a bottle of wine: ones with a name or picture on the label I can personally relate to. My family loves popcorn, so when I came across the Gourmet Popcorn Rose, I had to have it. When this bush is in full bloom, it really does look like popcorn.
Gourmet Popcorn Rose, photo credit Sheri
Did you play tiddlywinks as a kid? I did, and there is a sweet, little rose named Tiddly Winks that is truly delightful. When it’s blooming, it’s a sea of pink and yellow.
Tiddly Winks Rose, photo credit Sheri
And how about the age-old question: ketchup or mustard? I have both in the stunning floribunda Ketchup and Mustard! The petals are brilliant red on top and bright yellow on the bottom. Roses are a lot like potato chips. You can’t have just one, especially when you can personally connect to them.
Ketchup and Mustard Rose, photo credit Sheri
If you’re itching to get your hands on some of these roses and start digging in the dirt, but are wondering when’s the best time to plant roses in Oregon? Right about now. Happy gardening!
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