How beautiful. As you said, what a perfect rose for your Memory Garden.

Judi, what a lovely bloom--there's a heart in the center, which is perfect. I hope your memory garden brings up good memories for you and helps wipe away the sadder ones. What other plants do you have, or are planning to grow in your memory garden? What's you cold hardiness zone currently? If you have little or no trouble with blackspot, the rose Angel Face might be a candidate for your memory garden. I'll bet there are many more possibilities among perennials, too. Diane

Thank you for the suggestion, Diane. Angel Face is already on my list to get this year. I have room yet for several more roses in that garden and I have always been fond of AF. I am not going just by the name, but a sweet name like Angel Face can't be ignored. I have 2 other roses in that garden, a redbud tree by my bench, a Lilac, sunshine blue caryopteris, keys of heaven, dwarf Russian sage, salvia, firelight hydrangea, etc. I have Mediterranean Carpet growing along and draping over the rock edge. So yes, a combination of perennials. I have little experience with designing garden areas, so I really enjoy the photos that some of you post on these threads, especially those of you in arid climates. It gives me so much inspiration! I have quite a bit of experience with growing things, but not the design aspect. Thanks for your interest!

Judijunebug, what a beautiful and fitting tribute to your son.

Blessed Child is such a cool name for a memorial rose. I know that you will fill your garden with plants that make you smile.

I have a memorial garden and it less about names as oppossed to what makes me smile. Mine is lavender and white with a splash of pink.

Judi, thanks for telling us more about your memory garden, and I hope you share photos in the future. If your climate is arid, Angel Face should be great (I'm in a very arid climate). Are you pretty warm, too (zone 7 and up cold hardiness?). Another gorgeous and beautifully scented rose for warmer climates is Frederic Mistral, also know as The Children's Rose. I grew this one for years and want to grow it again. I like to grow Jupiter's Beard around Angel Face, but if you're in California, it might be too invasive. Frederic Mistral is a large rose, and it's pink blooms go well with so much. Love Song is also a great rose for beauty and color, and what a sweet name for a rose. Have you considered a small climber over an arbor as an entrance to your memory garden? Diane

The first three photos are of Frederic Mistral, and the second group is first, Love Song, followed by Angel Face in the Jupiter's Beard, and Angel Face with Young Lycidas, which is another rose that would be excellent for you. The name is from the title of Milton's poem, Young Lycidas. Diane

How interesting about Fredrick Mistral's second name! I have seen pictures of that rose before and it is lovely. Love Song is beautiful, but not as Fragrant as Angel Face, I understand, so if I get that one, it might go in another bed. I don't have any good photos of my memory garden at present, but hope to in the future. I do have Kiss Me Kate growing on an old gate set against the house wall. My Memory garden is off the end of a long patio, continuing along the back of the house. Eventually, we plan to build a flat roof over this patio, with a spiral stairway at the corner adjacent to my garden. I plan to grow either a wisteria or climbing rose up the side of the stairway and training it over the edge of the patio roofline, which will give an arbor sort of entrance to my garden. That will come later...too many other projects just now!

I enjoy all your suggestions with accompanying photos! Interesting that you mention Young Lycidas, because I have that one already on order for this spring. I don't hear as much about that one as some of the other DA roses, but I love the magenta tones. When I did a Houzz search and saw your photos of YL in your garden, I went ahead and ordered it. I hope mine looks as pretty as yours someday.

It will, Judi, and let YL drape itself on its neighbors. I love your plans for the future garden, especially the spiral stairs and climbing rose. Our patio is awful--basically a hot pepper and veggies garden with too many chairs crammed in around the pots. Here's a drapey Young Lycidas. Diane

That's Angel Face below YL which mixes with Bernstein Rose, Julia Child and Colette. Quite a mix up. Diane

And a perfectly gorgeous mix-up it is!

Thank you, Judi. Diane

Judi your Blessed Child rose is gorgeous and I love the idea of your memorial garden. I hope it brings you joy and many peaceful moments.

Thank you, Joey. I find gardening very therapeutic.

Thank you, Joey. I find gardening very therapeutic.

Thank you, Joey. I find gardening very therapeutic.