United States

I've been a 'Rose-aholic' ever since I planted my first bush in the spring of 2003 in St Louis, Missouri, on my newly-acquired previously neglected property that was basically a bare scrubby patch of land with only a thorn bush, a yucca (move those at your peril--they multiply like weeds), and some scraggly mature trees. Some 150 roses later (a HUGE variety, from climbers and shrubs to miniatures and Old Garden Roses) I had a blooming floriferous riot of color and scent, interspersed with hydrangeas, altheas, perennials, deciduous shrubs, and the odd evergreen conifer. My garden became the centerpiece of my street in Webster Groves, MO, a suburb of St Louis, and I met what seemed like the entire neighborhood, who passed by and complimented me on the fruits of my labor, and who--yes--'stopped to smell the roses'! Since then, I have planted roses wherever I go, be it in containers or in the ground... I look forward to every growing season with the promise of new roses, and delight in new varieties each year, as well as ones I have previously known and grown.

Experienced (21 years)

Society member, Show exhibitor

Last visit: Thursday, June 20th