Geeze. Beautiful gardens and such lovely pairings of colors.

Thank you Bonnie. My Ebb Tides and Twilight Zones don’t get quite as purple as those or Diane’s, they spend much of their time some variant of red or magenta. I do often get deep rich purple out of Lavender Crush, so I’ve decided that it’s my go to purple rose. I’m almost sure the multicolor in that picture is Granada, I grow it, its clusters and blooms look just like that and it can have those exact colors . It’s a favorite of mine

Diane,

I agree some of those soft subtle pastel colors don’t really work when you live in a furnace. Something like Easter Basket, with those nice soft pearl tones, I admire but think, um, that’s not one for me. Many of my apricots turn to cream too, but I still like them. Mostly I grow stronger colors or white, they look better in my climate.

As for ‘the trouble with red roses’, I do agree they don’t blend well in my rose beds which are just mixed all colors. Especially when those very big, very red roses like Firefighter and Veterans Honor are in full flush they really stick out. I don’t mind one teeny tiny bit, they draw everyone to my garden to admire them and have made me many new friends, they get all the compliments from my guests and make me feel good about my garden.

Kind of off topic, but what roses do you have on your obelisks, BenT? They're beauties, and that bed is gorgeous.

Thanks ac91. The two roses on the obelisks are Westerland and Eden.

I like obelisks because they provide height and save space. I have another parallel raised bed on the other side of my house that has only 1st year roses, and I have Lady in Red and Aloha on similar obelisks, but they’re very young and have yet to climb.

Beautiful, Ben. Thank you for the id on Granada.

Stunning, Ben!

I actually really like red roses when they are near a darker colored house.

The green foliage gives that sort of shadow look the early posts were talking about, but the fire engine red looks GREAT.

I’ve seen some in town I should take pictures of to help explain.

Mossy, that mass planting of roses behind the bench is my kind of garden. Did you plan it out before hand, or just add to it from year to year? I've been kicking myself for not color blocking my beds, but you have shown how beautiful mixed beds can be.

Ben, your Eden is the healthiest and bloomiest (to use a word someone here coined, but I apologize for not remembering who) specimen I've seen. Does anyone remember who gave us that most perfect word? I thank them from the bottom of my heart because I use it all the time. Ben, are your obelisk roses wrapped around the obelisk, or growing up through the middle?

Hi Flowers,

I think the rose should always be planted next to the obelisk, not inside, and then wrap the canes around it as horizontally as possible.

Here’s my young Lady in red to show the positioning of plant relative to obelisk:

To relate it back to the original topic, Lady in Red is as bold a red as I’ve seen, once she climbs her structure she is going to cause much ‘trouble with red’. I can’t wait for that to happen :)

flowers - no planning involved, I don't have room for that, I just have to put plants where ever there's space for them at the time, and each year the garden is a bit different.

Lady in Red is a color trouble maker for sure. Ohhhh la la. I love your reds Ben.

I have my first obelisk with Winchester Cathedral standing close by. I need to do a better job wrapping

Do you tie the canes or weave them ?

Hi Kristine,

I tie them, obelisks are rather a tight fit for a climbing rose, and for me even something nicely flexible like Eden or Lady in Red needs to be tied. A stiff variety like Westerland is much harder to train, sometimes her canes snap when I try too hard. Oops, but she’s way too vigorous and I meant to prune her anyway :)

Mossy -

My garden is mostly planned like yours too...where ever I have space, that’s where the new rose will live! It mostly works itself out well enough for me, I only try to avoid very obvious clashes (no screaming metallic orange Fragrant Cloud right next to super saturated Lady in Red , but they still live in the same bed).

A red rose bush to me is like Tabasco Sauce on my scrambled eggs. Just the right amount, dripped sparingly and evenly all over, makes them delicious, too much Tabasco with big, unevenly dropped globs, and the eggs are inedible.

My 8' wide rose bed is 3-4 bushes deep. If I place a dark, receeding, red rose bush in it, whose bloom color depth matches, and blends in with the green foliage, the entire bush almost looks like a flowerless hole in the bed, even when in full bloom.

I have to pick the red shade of rose carefully, eye popping, to be seen, or it will disappear into its green hole. Then there is the likelihood of being continually annoyed by the eye popping red bush.

So you see, it's like a choir in my garden, the reds either sing too loudly or too quiely.

Moses

Moses - I think perception like this is completely in the eyes of the beholder. Sounds like you have a negative perception of red roses in your garden, and they are just not for you.

I think as rose gardeners, we are all artists with a palette. Every masterpiece is a reflection of us - whether organized or chaotic, coordinated and planned, or happenstance. They are all beautiful, but most importantly must be something that we are proud of, and give us peace.

I am a chaos / happenstance gardener. When I was just starting, I tried to make conscientious decisions about what color combinations I was putting together, and trying to plan around anticipated sizes of individual roses. But then, I started running short on space, and would buy new roses, and my focus was just finding a spot, any spot, to be able to get them in the ground. As time went by, I started only focusing finding individual roses that I just loved, and putting them, really, just anywhere.

This is a reflection of me. I am a pretty chaotic, unplanned person, and it's fun for me to see myself in my garden.

My red roses are Crimson Glory, Firefighter, Oklahoma, Mr Lincoln, Chrysler Imperial, cl. Blaze. cl. Don Juan, Veterans Honor, Ingrid Bergman, Munstead Wood, and not-so Proud Land. Then red blends/stripes - Love, Scentimental, Dick Clark, Cherry Parfait, Neil Diamond, Perfumed Tiger - I'm sure I'm missing a few.

Personally I wouldn't be without them - some are some of the most fragrant roses I have. But I completely understand your perspective!

Broadway, Blue Girl and Crimson Glory

Crimson Glory, Mary Rose, Honey Dijon

Dick Clark and Crysler Imperial is in group (but off picture)

Driveway (prior to cutting grass!)

Crimson Glory and Sunsprite

Front yard in spring flush - chaos!

Red amongst yellows and pastels

Very nice Chaotic gardner

I am kind of a plan it out color girl. The downside to that is I get something totally out of scheme and it has nowhere to go. I like your plan better.

Beautiful pictures everybody!

Ben, what is that stunning peach below Westerland?

Karen, your yard is an explosion of color. I love it.

Ben, always impressive.

Lavenderlace,

The peach below Westerland is good old Just Joey. I'm glad you noticed because it's one of my very favorites of any color, huge profuse shapely blooms on a compact plant, and it smells fabulous :)

Karen

Beautiful roses, the one pic with the purple rose looks like a rose farm! And I envy all that space to grow more!

Ben, I can't believe that you said Just Joey! I have them in the ground and in pots and was just debating on putting some in a new opening with afternoon shade versus Evelyn just this morning.

I love them but never hear that much about JJ so I assumed that she was old-fashioned and out of style like myself!

Yours are exquisite, thanks for sharing!

Gee thanks Ben, you have just made my desicion gor my peachy/ apricoty bed. Ding ding, we have a winner. Just Joey. How wide does it get ?

Ben - interesting your Just Joey is fragrant. I have two, and I don't really detect any scent from either. How old are yours? Mine are now about 8-9 years old. In their first 5 years or so, they were very excellent bloom producers. Blooms looked much like yours - I found them to be some of the prettiest blooms on any rose. But now I find they are weak and not producing so well. I am thinking of replacing them with younger stock as I miss their beauty. In 9b they are nicely sized - about 3.5' x 3.5'.

LL

There are many new apricots, but I don’t think any can replace Just Joey’s combination of beautiful form, huge size, great fragrance and delicate color.

Karen

I’ve had my Just Joey for just one year, it has always been strongly scented even when young...sometimes perfumey, sometimes like apples, but always a good scent. I’ve found it fragrant in other people’s gardens too, so I’m surprised yours is not scented.

Kristine

Agree with Karen, Just Joey is relatively compact at 3-4 ft tall and wide. But I know you’re concerned about blackspot, and I’m afraid JJ isn’t that resistant (I spray mine). How about Jude? She looks delicate enough to be in a Renaissance painting, but plant itself is disease resistant and tough as nails. Left on her own Jude will get over 6+ feet, but she takes pruning well and is quite low thorn.

Is that Jude ? If so that is one on my short list. How beautiful !!

Kristine, you could try the Romantica, Abbaye de Cluny. Jude, which can get to 9 feet tall, might be an answer to the big yellow you want (on another thread). Diane

Abbaye de Cluny

Jude

Old photo, but it shows the height well. The fence/wall is 9 feet tall.

I just realized this is supposed to be about red roses, I think. I'm so sorry. I plead extreme age. Diane

I think Diane’s Jude could swallow a red rose whole, thereby solving ‘the trouble with red roses’. LOL, I made the thread relevant again, my apologies to Moses.

I got a Jude thanks to you Diane, and love it here too.

Well Jude is a rather tall fellow isn't he? He might be an option for the corner. Tall and handsome lol

Abbaye de George Clooney is very nice.

I just grabbed a picture of Oklahoma. That Bush is loaded . It needs a bigger home

Kristine, are you trying to make me break down and cry with that photo of Oklahoma (wow). My roses are either sleeping or providing a banquet to deer. Abbaye de George Clooney--teehee. Get your mind back on roses.

I hope Jude continues to do well for you Sheila (or I'll feel awfully guilty). Is it really hot in your area right now?

Ben, I wish I had just one of your beautiful rose beds. Where did you get that beautiful tuteur?

Diane

Mossy - the first thought that popped in my head when I saw your roses was: Holy Sh#t!! They're gorgeous!!! Oh man!!

BenT - your Eden is amazing!!! I can't believe you get soooo many gorgeous blooms on yours!! I don't remember seeing a better Eden!!! Oh my goodness!!!! Your Just Joey is leaps/bounds ahead of mine!!! Wow!!! And then I see your JtO!!! Wow!

Karen, I love a hodgepodge of colors...your gardens look incredible!!!

Diane - I never tire of those pictures of BC and JtO!!! Wow!!!! And I really, really love your AdC!!!

Kristine - gorgeous bloom....and look at those buds coming!!!!

Here are some of my reds this year.

Lasting Love - not much fragrance...but it's a non stop blooming fool! Brand new bareroot this year.

Oklahoma - new bareroot...not much fragrance. Is not a non-stop blooming fool

Carol

Hi Diane,

The tuteur (new word for me!) for Lady in Red was purchased at Plow&Hearth, the ones for Eden/Westerland at Hayneedle. I always try to get the biggest one, so they’re about 8’ before planting.

Carol

Nice red blooms! Lasting Love for you is much brighter than I’ve seen it.

Carol, that is an amazing show for a brand new bare root. I'm glad that Lasting Love is such a winner. Those blooms look like a mature rose's would. Oklahoma is big and luscious, too. I wish I had the room for that one.

Ben, thanks. I'm going to check those tuteurs out if they're still for sale. Did you paint the tuteur/obelisk from Hayneedle? I love them both.

Diane

Abbaye de Cluny, from Just Joey, is absolutely wonderful at your place Diane, wow! I didn't know that you grew that one. I agree with you, Ben, and Sheila on Jude too!

Kristine and Carol, Oklahoma looks great for you! It must be a good rose because it did well here too, along with Chrysler Imperial, and Mr. Lincoln, though I hear mixed reviews about them.

Diane,

You are very observant. I did paint the Hayneedle obelisk in Rustoleum hand hammered copper. The Plow&Hearth obelisk came coppery as is. I actually think the Hayneedle one is more functional because the diameter is bigger. The P&H is nicer looking and more heavy duty, but the Hayneedle is sturdy enough. I stabilize them with a bit of cement so I can keep the height at a maximum.

BenT - thanks ... probably because of our cooler weather? Or because it's a new rose? Or because it's grown in a pot??? Weren't you the one who told me it wouldn't have much fragrance?? If it was you..so far you're right. LOL

Diane - my Oklahoma is a powdery mildew mess...you can have it. LOL :) Thanks for the kind words about my LL. :)

Carol, that is a bummer about your Oklahoma .I would adopt it if I could.

You know how sometimes you get a rose and it just surprises you? That is my Oklahoma. I had no intention of buying it , I had never heard of it and the friend in Florida showed me pictures and I thought that's a cool rose. I love my Oklahoma

And then there's roses that I'm all excited about can't wait to get and they just turn out to be meh.

And Sometimes a rose that does super well for one person is just not a great rose for someone else.

I am going to rethink where she is planted. She is In a pot but would do well in the ground where she can go a little crazy. I do have a hardy hibiscus that can be potted, that would open a nice space.

I love everyone's pictures and great advice . Keep growing beauty

Kristine - I've tried Oklahoma before...same results...so I guess it's not a good fit for me. .... But then...that's another rose I can order in the fall. :)

I'm so glad that Oklahoma works so well for you...it will be wonderful to see your pictures. :)

Carol

Carol, not everything is gonna work for everybody in different locations so you have lots of things that I can't grow here and vice versa. You will just have to live vicariously through my Oklahoma rose.

Kristine - definitely :)

Carol, yes I remember our conversation, when I saw Lasting Love at a public garden, it was dull and scentless. Yours is quite nice!

BenT - yes, I'm really, really impressed by it...it is never without flowers...and they're large and beautiful flowers!!! Maybe there'll be better fragrance next year. I've had that happen many times. :)

Carol

A few reds, and red/multicolor

Love

Ingrid Bergman and Ketchup and Mustard

Veterans Honor

Love and Scentimental

Mr Lincoln and cl. Blaze

Chrysler Imperial and Love

Crimson Glory

Karen, you have some beautiful reds. I love your Veterans Honor

Karen - your Love made me gasp!!! Oh my!!! I can't believe how many flowers your CG has!!!

Carol

So after reading through this thread which started out being the trouble with ref. it certainly looks like there is absolutely no trouble with red . There are many beautiful reds and most of us seem to love them

Kristine - is that red intuition? I don't think so...??

Carol

No, it is a mini flora called Brookstown Inn . The repeat is pretty lousy

It took for ever to get its 1st blooms this is its 2nd year that I've had it. The blooms came and went. Nice blooms when you get them but they are few and far between .

I'll tell you which striped rose is just blowing me away with blooms my little Gigi. What a trooper

I have 2 of them and since April they have not been without a Bloom.

Oh wow!!! Your Gigi looks great...so vigorous!

Carol

It is my best mini without a doubt. Continual bloom, clean as a whistle foliage, heat , what heat ?

What a keeper!!! :)