Suggestions for Rose for Mom with Cancer

15 years ago

My 74 yr old mom was just diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer that has already spread. She feels perfectly fine and it was found during a regular exam. Everyone is in a lot of shock and I want to do something nice for her.

My mom is a fabulous gardener. Her yard won an award from the city of San Mateo for best yard maintained by owner (no gardeners). When I was growing up, she always had roses - Tropicana, Duet, Sterling Silver (which she managed to keep looking pretty good), and a white that she eventually replaced with Honor. She pulled out Peace because it was a tall, awkward bush. About 10 years ago, she took them all out because she had a kidney removed and refused to use any type of poison.

I'd like to get her a rose that she'll like - vibrant, prolific, nicely shaped bush, no spray, disease resistant. Nice scent is good, but I think she prefers color and lots of flowers. I rarely remember her cutting them to bring indoors, so I think she prefers to enjoy them on the bush.Her yard has good sun most of the day and is in zone 9. I don't think she has room for a huge rose or a climber. Something that would fit in a pot would work, as would a moderately sized bush in the ground.Hopefully, I could get it locally (maybe Regan Nursery) because I don't want her to wait for flowers from a band. Primarily, this must be an easy care rose. We have no idea how long it will be before she starts feeling pain and can't garden any more.

Thank you for any suggestions. Mom spends a lot of time in yard puttering around with her hanging pots, hand watering and just reading. I'd like to put a smile on her face everytime she goes in the backyard.

Debbie

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

mendocino_rose
15 years ago
First of all I am sorry that your mom has cancer. I think that growing a new rose is a very good idea. I would reccomend Julia Child. This is a fragrant rose easily grown that has quick results. You know Regan's is having their half off sale now. Hopefully they still have some nice Julias Childs now.
My heart goes out to you. I lost my mom to lung cancer many years ago now.
jerijen
15 years ago
Debbie -- Get her "Grandmother's Hat."

For sheer flower-power and adaptable nature it can't be beat.
It is the perfect California rose, and has been found all over the Bay Area.

If she likes a lighter color, Vintage now has a very vigorous clone of
Larry Daniels, a pale pink sport of GramHat. Ours has tripled in size
in the month or so it's been here.

Jeri
Related Discussions
Any suggestions for my roses?
Q
Comments (8)
Sorry for the delayed response. To be honest I don't know if its ever had a second bloom but I will keep an eye on it this year. To hear that it might jut be rootstock growth is slightly disappointing, but I talked with my mom and she said she did try to dig it up one year, but that she remembers it always blooming like this. So perhaps the grafted part of the rose NEVER made it and that it's always been rootstock. If I can't get the blackspot under control and it completely defoliates again, we might consider taking it out and replacing it with a named, tougher variety. Here's some more pictures I took, the quality isn't the greatest (cell phone) but what do you think? Is it Dr. Huey? Kristopher
...See More
Rose Pruner/Tool Suggestions
Q
Comments (12)
I have 3 pruners and the one I like best was my Mom's. It's about 30 years old and the name is no longer readable but they are all metal and still light weight and easy to use. I think they may have been Fiskars because Mom always got Fiskar scissors for her sewing because she said they were the best. My Felco #6 would be next. They work great but I find them very heavy. The last pair is a cheapie one I bought at the dollar store. I didn't want anything expensive because I leave them in a pail tucked into the bushes out at the street bed. That way I don't have to take the hike back to the shed if I just want to snip something quick while I'm out there. A good long handled loper is a must. I just got a racheting one that I love. Really makes taking out some of those thicker branches easier. I also have a drain or trenching shovel for digging the holes. I had a terrible time getting a regular shovel to sink into the ground but the trencher goes right in with little problem and less effort. I have yet to find a good saw. The foldable one I have has a really wide blade and I can't get it into tight spaces between canes close to the graft to take out some of the dead stumps as I d like. Someone suggested a bonsai saw to me so I'm going to take a look at those. I do have one of those collapsible litter bags and it works pretty well...when I remember to get it out, lol! Now I need to go look for one of those cut-n-hold pruners and the extendable ones too. Those sound great!
...See More
Light hearted short stories for cancer patient?
Q
Comments (12)
Thank you everyone for all your support. I am very happy to have spent the time asking the question. There are lots of titles listed that I completely overlooked and many that I will have to look into. My mom lives in the philippines and is old fashioned. She spent lots of time teaching and helping others as a social worker so maybe those 20th century country tales so I appreciate your suggestions Liz and Yoyobon. Thank you Ccrdmrbks. I am trying to relate to how my mom is feeling right now but I can't imagine it. We just celebrated my eldest sister's marriage last week so I think her emotions must be quite a mixture as well. Miss Read sounds promising. A friend highly reccomended Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe a long time back simply as a read to enjoy but I haven't gotten around to it. Anyone know if it would be appropriate for the situation? Comedy is an interesting idea. Though it may be hard to find something she relates to. I'll ask her and see if she has any favourites. Thank you all again so much, I've got all the titles written down and am going to do some research now! Take care and God bless! : )
...See More
Angel face rose/ suggestions for lavender roses.
Q
Comments (6)
Plum perfect and Poseidon are doing great for me as well no disease on either so far. I planted two angel face bushes last year, both died to the ground and came back very weak only two canes each and only about ten inches tall. I am removing them shortly. Here are photos of plum perfect and Poseidon both have a mild fragrance for me.
...See More
rosefolly
15 years ago
Sorry to hear about your mother's cancer. I wish her all the best. If she hasn't begun treatment yet, and still feels well, how about taking her up on a field trip to Regan's and let her pick out the rose herself? She might surprise you by choosing something you'd never guess she'd like.

Rosefolly
katefisher
15 years ago
I'm sorry to hear about your Mom also. I think what you are doing for her now with a new rose is great. I think after you read all the suggestions you will get you might end up putting in a small rose bed instead of just one rose:)

You might think about the rose 'What a Peach' (link below). Back when I had some self control I bought this rose because it was on sale only and came home, planted it and really had no expectations. It has become the most constant bloomer in the yard with its very cheerful and pretty much always present blooms. Very clean grower.

The only thing about it for your Mom's situation is the blooms blow fast and have no scent. The flowers are small but abundant. I love it and can show you some of my pictures from the summer if you're interested.

Hope this helps and best wishes for you and your Mom.

Kate

Here is a link that might be useful: What a Peach
sammy zone 7 Tulsa
15 years ago
I also am sorry to hear about the cancer, and I wish her the best. Besides taking her to a nursery to select a rose, I hope you intend to plant it for her or hire someone to do it. It also might be a nice gesture to help out in her garden - especially during treatment.

Sammy
melissa_thefarm
15 years ago
Everyone's already said it for me. What a fine idea to get your mother a rose. I like rosefolly's suggestion to take your mom shopping and let her make the choice. I don't grow roses of the type you're thinking of (mine are mostly shrubby kinds) so will leave it to others to make recommendations. I wish you all well.

Melissa
jbfoodie
15 years ago
I have been thinking about this for a few days. The roses that bloom all of the time for me are Teas, but they grow quite large. I do have one smaller rose that blooms fairly continuously--Gruss an Teplitz. It is a Bourbon with dark red flowers. The foliage is a gorgeous plum color when new and a nice mid-green upon aging. I would think this could be grown in a pot, but mine is now about 3 years old in the ground and it is 2 X 2. My mom was diagnosed with stage 3C uterine cancer at the age of 76 and felt really well at the time. This thing called 'cancer' is an insidious beast. It sneaks up our loved ones with no early warning. My mom loved roses and I think she would love to see the garden in its current incarnation. Please know that you and your mom have my best wishes.

Joanne
luanne
15 years ago
In my no spray garden, the ones that fluorish are Margaret Merrill, Tiffany,Peter Mayle, Oklahoma, and New Zealand. I think New Zealand which is a marvelous pale pink might be the perfect one. The road trip to Regan's sounds like a lot of fun.All my blessings.
la
LindyB
15 years ago
Debbie, my heart goes out to you. As a stage 3a breast cancer survivor I know first hand what you and your family are going through. Keep a positive yet realistic attitude and know that there are more people than you can imagine who will care for you and pray for your mother. You will meet people everywhere you turn who are or have gone through the same thing. Support is out there. All you have to do is be open to it.

As for a rose suggestion for your mother, I think the best idea is to take her along and let her pick one. I would have loved to have been able to do that with my mother when I planted her garden. Sharing the selection of a rose will create a memory you can cherish later on.

Suggestions for Rose for Mom with Cancer

Comments (9)

mendocino_rose

jerijen

Related Discussions

rosefolly

katefisher

sammy zone 7 Tulsa

melissa_thefarm

jbfoodie

luanne

LindyB

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US