You might want to check out the rose garden at the Marin Art & Garden Center in Ross. It is maintained by the Marin Rose Society, and I believe they do the winter pruning in Jan. Mostly modern roses, but the small rose garden is well tended, and it is in a multi acre garden that used to be a large estate. There is a wonderful antique shop, and other nice things - check out their web site.

Jackie

Jackie, thank you so much. What a good idea, and closer than either Sacto or SJ (although I plan to get to both of those in the Spring anyway).

Susan

Susan,

If you make it to SJ, feel free to stop by.

Masha

Masha, I am definitely hoping to get there, and have enlisted my sister and brother-in-law who are better at actually doing the things they/I want to do. So, I will let you know when it is happening and at least maybe we can rendezvous.

Thank you for inviting me.
Susan

Susan.......

I spent three months pruning the minis at the SJHRG in the winter of '04 while I was waiting for the escrow to close on my home in Nocal. I loved the winter garden. I worked 5 to 6 hours every day ... mostly alone. When I needed a break, I would walk around the garden seeing the roses with new eyes. I could see the structure of the plants in a way you can never see them when they are fully clothed in new foliage and in bloom.

I think I learned more about the roses and classes of roses on those quiet winter days than I ever did when I visited the garden at other times of the year. To me, it's well worth a visit.

Smiles,
Lyn

There are several rose gardens in or near downtown Sacramento where you can see how the pruning has been done. McKinley Park rose garden has moderns, many of which are new, including some climbers. There is also a modern rose garden in Capitol Park.

You will never see a "fully pruned" set of roses in the cemetery because we simply don't get to them all, but we are in process and have a good number of them completed. We try to do all of the HPs and HTs, most of the climbers, and work on the teas, chinas, and polys on a triage basis. I agree that the structure of the roses is much more noticeable in the winter, and that there is something very beautiful about the arching canes of many of our big plants. We do some pegging,too, so it's a chance to see a big Mme Isaac Perriere or other roses with the canes extended or wrapped around themselves, with all of the laterals ready to pop in the spring.

The cemetery is closed on Wed and Thurs. It will be open on all of the holidays. I am there on Sat and Tues mornings, and often other times, too, so if you come by please say "hi." If you let me know you are coming I'll try to be there. Email (no spaces) is anita c @ surewest.net.
Anita

We're still pruning in the San Jose HRG. (Free pruning lessons Wednesday and Saturday mornings through Feb. 19). I don't know if the whole garden will be pruned by then or not.
Jill