Above left: Perennial Blue climbing rose. Above right: Morning Mist shrub rose. Below: Catherine May with Sorbet Fruite rose
for money, starting in June and flowering through to the first frosts. The day of the rose bed, 1950’s style, is over. Today’s garden has drifts of mixed planting with roses interspersed. It’s a more natural, romantic look.” Our gardens might also be smaller and most of us have less time available to spend in tending them, but what hasn’t changed is our love affair with fragrance, and roses still deliver this in abundance. Although they don’t grow a rose unless it has a good scent, as Catherine’s quick to point out, everyone’s sense of smell differs, which can on occasion lead to family disputes. Old favourites such as the highly scented, double bloomed climber Madame Alfred Carrière remains popular. While under a royalty system they also graft on to new roses grown by internationally respected breeders; these include David Austin, Harkness and Warner, which adds to the enormous variety currently on offer. Also important is colour. And here too you’re certainly spoilt for choice. From the exotic Sorbet Fruite, with its vibrantly striped orange and yellow flowers that fade to pink and cream, to the appropriately named deep crimson coloured, Love Knot. The ‘colourful’ names given to roses can certainly evoke some wonderful memories – unsurprisingly Warm Welcome is a popular gift for a new home, while Star Performer is perfect for a special achievement. The list goes on and on. >16 February 2014
Catherine May’s top tips for blooming good rose plants • Apply a regular liquid feed – tomato food works wonders during the summer months; • Roses need plenty of moisture, don’t forget to water when it’s dry; • Any rose should grow well as long as they receive at least ½ a day of sun; • Deadheading never stops if you want long-term flowering; • Soil conditions can be improved with a blended manure but this needs to be sterile; • If a rose has been heavily attacked by aphids, cut it right back, feed it and wait for re-growth. 15