Buying Roses

I have various different coloured roses all in planters next to each other and they look lovely, but I planned the colour scheme before I bought them. I have a mix of pale pink, mid pinks, pale yellow, very pale peachey colour and pinky/orangey tones.

It's very much a personal thing though and as it's your garden, whatever you like is what you should have, whether it be one or two colours, a riot of different colours or a coordinate blend of colours

 

Thanks Woo, I had a look at this site and thought to myself there is no nursery on Richmond Hill only the 'Home of Rest for Old Horses' and the islands incinerator. Then the penny dropped! The nursery does exist, but the roses grown there are sold as cut flowers for bouquets, gifts etc.

The layout of the circular rose bed you posted details of must be huge, I could fit that into my front garden (just) but I don't think I could afford to fill it. I bet it would look spectacular!

 

My flower bed isn't huge and I will post pictures when it is in a reasonable state, it will probably hold a maximum of twelve roses at a guess and at some point, if the roses grow well I will probably extend it. It's not a formal bed and I will be putting smaller plants in there to help soil coverage and keep weeds to a minimum.

I've had a quick look round the sites suggested today and with what I've seen so far I think I'd be better off with the bed that Woo posted on his link, there are so many to choose from! It's going to be hard to whittle these down but I've narrowed the field by sticking to Floribunda's. I also think I will have a mix of colours but hope to choose colours that won't clash. That's the theory anyway, it could all change in reality!

 

Hmmmm........I'm beginning to think I'll be going round in circles, choosing these roses.

 

Woo and Armandii,

I've just typed almost a full post only to lose complete function, I couldn't type anything, only scroll up and down. Grrrrrrr! So I'm trying again.

An insight into the area I'm planting, I will post pictures tomorrow evening. My bungalow is wide and I have dug the bed, about 15ft wide across part of the front of it, the aim is to break up the expanse of bareness. I have tried pots and troughs of plants but the sun is on the front most of the day during summer and it's a nightmare keeping them fed and watered. The garden faces south east and has sun (when it shines) from early morning until about 7pm. My aim is to have roses that repeat flower throughout the summer and bring colour to the area. This is why I was thinking of Floribunda's.

Your 'type' of rose suggestions would be of help please if you don't think Floribunda's are the way to go.

 

The bed in progress. I may change the size and shape in the future but for now it is enough to start with.

 

It's completely sheltered Armandii. The worst of the weather hits the back and side of the bungalow, which is the left side of the bed and that is sheltered by my neighbours place and their garage that you can just see on the left of the top picture.

I made the shape of the bed up as I dug it out, I don't use a plan just my minds eye. The bungalow is wide and I put the curves in to help offset the straight lines.

 

Thank you Woo. It's strange, it's back breaking work digging the bed, but the hardest thing is going to be chosing the roses, so much choice, so little room.

 

I notice that no one has mentioned David Austin's English roses...

I'm sitting here, looking around nervously, wondering if I've just dropped a clanger. Is he "one who should not be named" here?