Summer Projects at Select

An unnamed test seedling from the 2011 collection, with remarkably scalloped petals.It's the time of year when I put Select Roses' retail nursery sales to bed, and begin improvements for next season. It's also when I work on new rose hybrids for years to come.

We have been privileged to have you shop with us this year! You braved terrible spring gardening weather to come and select the perfect rose for the perfect spot in your garden.  Hopefully you are now enjoying rosy rewards!

We certainly are! I'm extremely proud of my most recent batch of new rose hybrids. They are, bar-none, the best I've ever created. I'm watching these new babies with a great deal of interest.  Those that show signs of disease are weeded out immediately, and those that show favourable characteristics are flagged as ones to watch.

More than ever, I'm following my nose to find those gems. The fragrance rating of some of these new seedlings is outstanding, and just what I was aiming for.  With all the tough-as-nails, no-maintenance, disease-resistant, roses out on the market, I have yet to meet a customer who doesn't lean over and take sniff when coming face to face with a spectacular bloom!  Who's to say we can't have it all? Tough constitution plus a breath-taking perfume?  I'm working on it! 

This summer is shaping up to be a busy one! 

Some of you may recall that a few of my beauties are taking part in the Biltmore Estate International Rose Trials, and by all accounts they are doing very well. You'll find the 'Royal City Rose' there, and 'Loretta Lynn Van Lear' has already been accepted to become part of the Biltmore Collection! Meanwhile, the very special 'Marylou Whitney' rose also made a public debut in Saratoga Springs, New York last week. 

Between these better-known varieties, and some of my rarer treasures, Select Roses are traveling to many corners of the globe for testing by other growers who hope to add something exciting to their nursery offerings. Much of this has happened with assistance from Paul Zimmerman of North Carolina. Paul is a noted rose expert, and is now acting as Select's international agent to share my introductions with rose growers around the world. If you have ever been confused about rose tricks and techniques, you have got to read Paul's popular columns in Fine Gardening called "Roses are Plants Too". 

It's exciting times in the world of roses!

So that's what I'll be up to while Select Roses is closed for the season. I plan to bring you periodic updates here on my blog, and of especially on Facebook, until March 2012 when I hope to see you again.

From all of us at Select Roses, thank you for your patronage, loyalty, friendship--and for your love of roses.