Spring Collection

The Spring garden is overflowing with April roses! I thought I could do a rose-a-day this week so you could enjoy the absolute beauty and charm that this plant brings to a garden. The rose hips and pedals of roses have been used as medicine and food since ancient times. Of course, the rose is the ultimate symbol of love and beauty worldwide.

My climbing Don Juan is the first rose to boom in the spring, and will continue to bloom all summer long. It tumbles over my garden fence at the entrance to the orchard, giving off a strong, citrusy, old rose fragrance. The five inch flowers are a deep crimson red just like the velvety red of a Spanish matador's cape.  The Don Juan rose is perfect for an arbor or trellis, it's long canes can be trained and arched to give a stunning effect in the garden. It's a vigorous grower, hardy, and does well in the Arizona heat! Make sure you water roses at least ten inches deep throughout the summer and dead head the rose blooms as they die back.