My newest deviation is of thirteen beautiful roses, all cut from my own stock. The aroma filled my kitchen for days. Included are Chrysler Imperial, Mister Lincoln, and one single, deep red Oklahoma.

Roses are one of five various plants that I haven't been able to kill with my green-and-brown-camoed thumb. The others are Christmas Cactus, Conferderate Rose, Amaryllis, and pineapple plants grown from the cut-off tops of your friendly neighborhood pineapple found in your local produce department=>my Husband gets the biggest hoot out of that (that the cutting actually grows)

I get my plants for planting between Valentine's day and Mother's day(as a matter of fact, my husband gave me a dozen roses for the Mother's day after my accident-12 rose plants, and my oldest son dug all twelve holes and helped me plant them->without one complaint!) I sometimes wait until late May to get discounted, though sometimes "sad" looking roses-if they grow, fantastic-if not, I'm only out a wee bit of money.

I only buy fragrant roses->there is one rose that I have that doesn't have much of a scent at all->the Hubby picked it.There are, I believe, three major types of Rosarian(rose growers/lovers):

1: people who grow roses ONLY for their beauty is their addiction

2: people who grow roses ONLY because their scent is their addiction

3: people who grow both because roses are their addiction

I also believe these groups can also further be divided further into types groups of show/competition roses, long-stem looking roses, "cabbage"-like roses, antique-only roses, unusual looking roses(ex: striped liked "Purple Tiger") OR fruity scented roses, musky scented roses, spicy scented roses, light or heavy scented roses, etc., etc.....

I'm a strong supporter of, "why am i going to grow a rose that is pretty to look at, but doesn't smell good or have a fragrance?". My nose wins the arguement over my eyes any day.

I purchase them from Jackson & Perkins and sometimes David Austin (I'm not a big fan of antique "cabbage" roses, but they have the strongest scent). These are a bit pricier, but are also sold at Walmart, Lowe's, and Home Depot, for lower prices sometimes. As long as you get a healthy plant, that's all that truly matters. I usually try for hybrids, floribundas, and grandifloras, but it's whatever really catches my eyes and particularly my nose.

I advise you that growing roses is a trial an error love affair. Things such as hardiness of the region that you live in, local diseases and insects, the amount of TIME and ATTENTION you're willing to give your roses, as well as other factors such as stock quality. From my own experience, read all the information that you can, visit a local rosarian group, if you pass a garden that you like, pluck up the courage and speak to the owner-usually more than not, they'll be more than willing to talk about something that does, in its little way, makes life better.

Be forewarned-you may have a problem trying to end that conversation-rosarians LOVE to talk about their roses. And don't be afraid to 'lose" a rose if things don't quite work out. I do mourn a bit when a planting doesn't quite make it through its first season, but keep your chin up, kiddo-you might be happily suprised to see the scrawny planting grow big and lush(I've had some bushes grow up to ten feet high, and it was not a climbing rose!), while the one you spent $25 dollars on kicks the bucket.

Something else that I cannot kick myself in the num over and over again for: keep a journal/record of your roses. You can have little tidbits of info about each different plant, but i cannot stress how IMPORTANT IT IS to keep a RECORD of WHERE your rose is planted, a PHOTO of your plant (I use the tag that comes with the plant), and WHAT KIND of rose you've decided to try your hand at. I have a few that I didn't do that with, and it drives me crazy trying to "solve the mystery of the unknown rose."

I also have tried to grow plants from cuttings done in the spring and fall, and was quite successful. UNTIL...
my youngest dog went through her chewing stage and decided that my cuttings were what she had to use to get through that faze, among other things. I haven't had any bloody luck since.

But it's all worth it-just to walk through the house and have that sweet scent and gorgeous images caress my senses. And pass that love on to my niece, Stinkerbelle.

A Wikipedia Article on the rose
Jackson & Perkins-they have a rose test panel you can try
David Austin Roses-links to various countries (roses that can be ordered varies from country to country)
The Meaning of Rose Colours
Rose FAQ link