Carpet roses by the old Restaurant entrance- not old roses but fantastic!

I am so proud of the new rose garden here at MacKenzie-Childs! If you have been following the blog, I have mentioned it occasionally and have talked about my great hopes for its success. This year it is more spectacular than I had hoped it would be!

Years ago, I attended a lecture about antique roses given by one of the area’s marvelous amateur gardeners, Linda VanBuskirk. Until I listened to her talk I thought of roses in terms of the ‘Blaze’ rambler and hybrid tea roses my grandmother fussed over when I was growing up. The flowers were lovely but the bushes were not much to look at and there was little fragrance to speak of. Additionally, she spent her summers following a strict regime that included insecticides and fungicide dusts. For me, they were like the plastic covered couch of the plant world. I was more intrigued by the old rugosa roses my great-grandmother had planted when she settled on the farm. Those roses were singles with a heady perfume and predictably bloomed around Father’s Day. When the blooms were done, beautiful scarlet hips adorned the bushes until the birds ate the fruits. These bushes flourished in the hedgerow with no attention and no problems. Linda’s library lecture years later awaked a fascination with old roses that, until two years ago, I had fed by reading and small plantings. Here, at Mackenzie-Childs, I have the opportunity to allow it to blossom into a full grown obsession!

Rosa gallica 'Camaieux' in the Rose Border

Rosa rugosa 'alba' first blooms

In 2008, inspired by the gorgeous garden book ‘The Greater Perfection: The Story of the Gardens at Les Quatre Vents’ by Francis H Cabot. I set out to create a rose garden that would feature antique and old-style roses. This garden would be a show stopper when in bloom and quietly fade into the background out of season. I chose roses for their fragrance, form in flower and in the landscape, decorative hips, and sometimes reblooming abilities. I made my selections from the ancient albas, noted for their superb scent, ease of growing, and quiet affinity with other plants, gallicas, damasks, bourbons, all wonderful blousy blooms, and a number of the New English roses from breeder Davis Austin. We planted almost 100 roses along the north bank of the pond.

A view of the Rose Border across the pond

 2008 was a hot, dry summer and we lost a discouraging number of bushes. We ordered replacement bushes in spring 2009, adjusted our planting techniques, crossed our fingers, and waited. We had a lovely, cool, rainy summer- not much fun for vacationers- but terrific for establishing roses!

Climbing David Austin English Rose 'Teasing Georgia' along the sheep pasture fence

Now- they are spectacular! I spent all day on one of the 85 plus degree days last week weeding because the strong fragrance so made up for the heat! They look wonderful- and- because some of the most fantastic blooms are on the David Austin English roses, I can expect blooms all summer. So enjoy the pictures and be sure to visit!

Climbing David Austin English Rose Constance Spry

English Rose 'Lillian Austin' in the Rose Border

English Rose 'Redoute' in the Rose Border

Not a Rose! The Oriental Poppy 'Raspberrry Queen' blooming with Nepeta faassenii 'Walkers Low' were very eye catching this week