ROSES
An inspirational guide to choosing and growing the best roses
Michael Marriott 2022
Now that fall is over and we will soon have very few, if any, blooming plants in our yards until spring, it is pleasant to pull out a book that reminds us of the beautiful blooms we have had in past months of the year. I was fortunate to take a tour of gardens in England last May. Michael Marriott, author of this book about roses, was our tour guide to David Austin Roses, the premiere breeder of English roses. Mr. Marriot has worked for many years at David Austin Roses. He has designed many rose gardens and borders in public and private spaces, in large and small gardens in England and in the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and Queen Mary’s Rose Garden in Regents Park.
Roses is a very thorough book with wonderful illustrations. The introduction is my favorite part of the book, and the sections Romance of the Rose and The Magic of Scent are enchanting.
Rose Inspiration covers topics including the evolution of garden roses, hybrids, the diverse types of rose gardens, planning a rose garden, repeat bloomers and modern roses. Rose Selector provides information about choosing the ideal rose for your chosen type of garden, garden settings, and purpose. Rose Care covers topics such as planting, propagating, regular care, and remedying problems.
Should you decide to read this book, remember this book was primarily written for England and some of the rose species in it may not be suitable for growth in the United States.
Roses is a book you can enjoy reading straight through. Or you can simply go from one rose illustration to the next, enjoying the rich beauty within.
Holly Sparrow, Headwaters Master Gardener