When we bought our home, it was 23 years old. The original family had planted five 'John S. Armstrong' roses (a bright red grandiflora) on the East wall by the front door. Those roses are now 35 years old, and still going strong. I cherish them just as much as the 177 roses I planted afterwards in ever-expanding beds. Would I dig them all up if I were to move? No way! (Well, maybe just a few). I'm in my 60s now and that would just be too big a job. Besides, looking back gives you a stiff neck!

We have a few uncommon things here.
If we were to leave, I'd invite everyone we know to come take cuttings. And I would hope the next person really WANTED a hillside full of roses et al.

Jeri

I left my garden of 80 roses. I invited friends to dig out what they wanted - that took up just a few. Sold a few others to local society members. Took along with me the very few I had room for in my new place. Over half my collection was left abandoned, along with alcoholic ex husband, incapable of caring for them even when sober. They are probably all dead now from neglect. His parents moved in with him after I left but they are as incapable as gardeners as he is. They might be watering stuff but I dismantled the irrigation system when I dug stuff up and I'm sure they don't know how to fix it or even run what's still intact. Not my problem anymore. I think they wanted to keep up the garden, such as it was at that point, but they can't and I won't help them.

I had to save myself. We can't take on the whole world. Roses were way down on the priority list. My own life was at stake. Don't walk, RUN and leave behind anything that holds you back. They're just plants.

Now I start over with new roses and a few from the old garden.

Maybe a bit heavier than what you were thinking of but these things happen and I want anyone else here in that position to know they can do it too.

Everything is transient, everything is tentative. Gardening we do and enjoy in the present. Fretting about what's to happen when I'm no longer responsible would diminish each of the many pleasures I derive from gardening. If I had vast gardens & resources to match, perhaps I'd donate the grounds to the public & create an edowment for their upkeep as others have done.

My small garden enhances my home and contributes to its overall value. I hope the next owner (& there surely will be one) will tend to the entire property as carefully as I do. If s/he doesn't, it's out of my hands. Meanwhile, I consider myself very fortunate to have a garden to tend . . . temporarily.

Bingo to the above.When my run is over,i'm outta here,there and everywhere.

If I move, I'll put in the sales contract for this house which specific roses that I will take with me.

If I, ur, leave "this mortal coil" then I'll have the rose society come over and let the members take what they want. Thanks, I'd better make a note of that...

After I put in my rose garden this Spring, followed by a drip system, followed by our new backyard with dozens of roses, we decided we will be moving into a smaller house with a much smaller yard in the next couple of years. At that point I will decide which roses I can't live without, start the chosen ones from cuttings, and leave the rest for the new owners. Roses aren't for everyone in this climate, so after I take cuttings, the fate of the rest will be up to the new people.

reg_pnw7,

I am grateful for your honest and sincere post. Fundamentaly, roses are for enjoyment. Your post is an inspiration.