Book Review: Antique Roses for the South

On the West Coast, hybrid tea roses make a beautiful addition to the landscape.

On the Gulf coast, they usually die from rampant fungal disease, thanks to our subtropical humidity.

Never fear, rose lovers! There are roses that do grow here. Some of these grow so well that they survive literally decades of neglect, once established.

I refer, of course, to "antique roses". These are varieties that have been around so  long that they are, well, antique. They are tough and beautiful. If you need a good introduction to them, William C. Welch's Antique Roses for the South is a worthwhile place to start.

Welch is clearly enthusiastic about his subject matter, and is eagerness comes through so well in the text that it is rather catching.   The book includes the history of old roses, tips for collecting them and placing them in your landscape, descriptions of different categories to aid recognition, tips for rooting cuttings, and a few profiles of specific varieties. It even includes a chapter on things to do with clipped roses, from arranged bouquets to recipes for potpourri and rose petal jelly.  Of course, there are plenty of beautiful photographs to provide the reader with inspiration.

This slim volume is not a catalog of every variety of antique rose ever found.   It is meant, rather, to provide introductory material to a reader who is new to the world of antique rose collecting and cultivation. You will still want to talk to a knowledgeable person at your local nursery (preferably one that carries antique roses) about the maintenance of certain varieties, especially if you are purchasing plants. Some are hardier than others. Martha Gonzalez, for example, is frustratingly prone to blackspot.  The good news for those who catch the hunting and collecting bug from reading this book is that cuttings from a rose that has survived for 100 years in a neglected cemetery have a good chance of surviving lazy gardening, once they are established.


In short, if one is new to old roses,  it is a worthy addition to one's gardening library. It might even look nice on the coffee table.

Book Review: The Encyclopedia of Planting Combinations

While decorating books help you find inspiration for your home, Tony Lord's Encyclopedia of Planting Combinations is a guide to help you get ideas for aesthetically pleasing assortments of plants in your landscape. 

The book offers general advice on design, including varying color and texture in the garden, as well as  basic information on planting and establishing new items.  Chapters are arranged by types of plants, and offer profiles of specific plants, along with lists of species that make attractive companions for each.  It is fairly easy to use as a quick reference for finding plants that will look attractive together.  The book is loaded with beautiful photographs of a variety of plantings to help the reader visualize some of these planting combinations.

The author himself states that his book is meant only to be a general guide with suggestions, and that is exactly how it functions.  The gardener who uses is must have a workable understanding of her own local climate and soil conditions.   Many of the plants profiled in this work are popular in gardens across the country, and may or may not be suited to the tastes, needs, and time constraints of the individual gardener. 

While not an essential component of a Gulf Coast Gardener's personal reference library, it can be a handy resource when one needs ideas,  especially in combination with gardening books specific to one's own region.

Planting Knockouts

Somebody from Missouri was searching for information about how to plant double knockout roses.

As with any rose, if it is in a container, the basic procedure is to dig a hole a little bigger than the root ball, and put the rose in it. The top of the root ball should be an inch or two above the surrounding bed. Water it in, and add a layer of mulch.

For Double Knockout roses, the label recommends spacing of 3-4 feet.

Even though Knockouts in their various forms are supposed to be able to take any kind of soil conditions, I did amend the soil in my bed a bit with some organic planting mix and a little leaf mold compost. Because of the drainage issues in this area though, I did not dig my amendments in too deep. I also added a little bone meal to the bottom of the holes I dug for them, to encourage root growth. As this bed had been mulched last spring, I moved the mulch layer out of the way before planting, and put it back afterward. I may add a new layer of mulch before the cold weather really gets going. Time will tell us if they happy in their new location.

For bare root roses, which were what I preferred when I lived in California, the planting is a little more complicated, though it is not difficult. It requires that one make a cone-shaped mound of soil in the bottom of the hole, which is used to give the roots proper structure, so they can grow in the right direction after planting.

The American Rose Society has a collection of articles on planting roses that can be worth reading.

My St. Louis, Missouri visitor might want to consule the Rose Society of St. Louis Missouri or the Central District of the American Rose Society for regional information.

Houston area rose-lovers can get their regional information from the South Central District of the American Rose Society, or from the Houston Rose Society. Donald Burger also has a page on planting container roses in this region. If antique roses and organic methods are more your cup of tea, have a look at the website for the Vintage Rosery in Needville, TX.


___________________________________
Read my other posts on Double Knockout roses.

When to plant veggies.

Some resources:

Harris County Vegetable Gardening Guide (.pdf)

Lazy Gardener's Guide by Brenda Beust Smith.--Straightforward, simple, month-by month gardening tasks and planting tips. I bought my copy at the Urban Harvest office in Houston.

Year Round Vegetables, Fruits and Flowers for Metro Houston, by Bob Randall---If you are serious about having your own veggies, this book is AMAZING!

UrbanHarvest.org

Book Review: Botanica

Full Title: Botanica: The Illustrated A-Z of Over 10,000 Garden Plants

This is a massive, encyclopedic volume, containing brief descriptions of almost any plant you could ever want to look up. It also has photographs of most of them. It is highly useful as a reference, and sometimes fun to browse through. When I hear of a species that I think I might like to try out, I usually look it up in this book first.

Being short, the plant descriptions give you just enough information to determine whether or not a plant might be worth growing in your garden. However, if you want detailed information on any particular plant, you will need additional resources. Other downsides include the fact that not every plant is illustrated, and there are some Texas Natives that are not listed in this volume. The information is also very general, so it is worthwhile to cross-check with other resources, especially if you live in a climate as unique as the one we have here along the Texas Coast.

Book Review: The Tropical Look

Full Title: The Tropical Look: An Encyclopedia of Dramatic Landscape Plants
Author: Robert L. Riffle.

I recently had the opportunity to browse through this one, thanks to my Grandfather who has a copy. It is a handy resource for anybody with an interest in Tropical plants, either by choice, or by necessity. It has two sections of good photographs, and plenty of plant information, including many that will grow on the Texas Gulf Coast. It was while thumbing through this book that I learned the identity of a certain tree I like.

Cons: Still not enough pictures!

Book Review: The Houston Garden Book.

Overall impression: Excellent.

Pros: Specific advice for the southeast corner of Texas in which Houston is located, and the unique soil and climate issues that affect us here. This book tells you exactly what will grow here, and when and where and how to plant it. Lots of plant descriptions and recommendations, lists of plant species that thrive in this region, plant care tips, pest control info, and many pretty pictures to inspire you. The section on edible plants was very helpful, and listed what is in season during what part of the year, so you can plan your food-related planting accordingly. It made me want to run outside and start an herb garden.Another awesome feature is that it includes suggested organic gardening methods and common synthetic chemical methods of plant care, so you can use either or both.

Cons: Not enough pictures! While the lists of plants are helpful, I have no idea what they look like, which means I need to either get another book, or search for them online if I want to be sure a listed plant is right for my vision for my garden. A few more illustrations in the pest chapter would be useful as well. Also, no info on antique roses, though it has an entire chapter dedicated to more recent varieties that can survive here. I ended up getting a second book for that.

Summary: Nearly everything you need to know about gardening here, you can get from this book.