These sound wonderful, Marianne. Fragrance is what I am typically after. I don't have time to sit and gaze at my roses, so they don't have to be big and perfectly shaped; but fragrance is something that you can appreciate no matter what you're doing. Alice seyfried@oclc.org > -----Original Message----- > From: Marianne Lepa [SMTP:mlepa@adan.kingston.net] > Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 1998 11:52 AM > To: gardeners@globalgarden.com > Subject: Re: [gardeners] killing roses > > Right you are Liz. I love the OGR's and, a teeny misguided passion for > mini > roses aside, I wouldn't want to be bothered with any other. My > collection > includes R. rugosa, R. rugosa alba, Apothecary's (R. gallica > 'Officinalis'), a Damask type 'Madame Hardy', and an Alba type (that's > actually pink) 'Konigen von Danemark'. If I had the space and the $$ > I'd > have a million more. I do next to nothing for these roses besides a > light > pruning back of damaged branches every spring and a shovel load of > compost > every fall. Even in our climate they usually don't need winter > protection. > For all that effort I get back a dramatic and beautiful display of > *fragrant* roses every June and a nice harvest of rose hips in > September. > > I would definitely recommend you give the OGR's a try Alice, I think > you'll > be delighted. The only caution I'd give is that the rugosa types will > sucker like mad in good garden soil. Containing them can be a problem. > Mine > grow in a hedge bordered by the house on one side and lawn on the > others. I > don't bother trying to grow anything else with them. > > Marianne > Southeastern Ontario AgCan zone 5b >