| Eager to grow roses but put off by the thought | | | | are dormant. The Canadian Explorer Series are |
| of having to spend way too much energy in | | | | well suited for very cold climates (Zones 4 to 10) |
| maintaining your garden? Choose Nearly Wild | | | | (Chuckles and Bonica). |
| Roses, the low maintenance roses in garden | | | | The Rugosa Rose (Rosa rugosa) is an excellent |
| settings. | | | | choice and is used all over North America in |
| The truly wild roses grew on their own for | | | | landscaping gardens. It is a native of the Orient |
| centuries in natural settings without any help from | | | | but is being successfully cultivated in North |
| man. Vincent Van Gogh was so besotted with | | | | America. It is a very sturdy plant with a single |
| these flowers that he painted, in 1890, a beautiful | | | | bloom colored red or white. |
| oil on canvas depicting pale white roses with | | | | All nearly wild roses are shrubs that shed their |
| vibrant yellow stamens and named it 'Wild Roses'. | | | | foliage in the winter months. The shrub has |
| There are now about 100 purely wild roses but | | | | woody stems and can survive the coldest of |
| only a few are available in the market. As they | | | | winters (even less than Zone 6). The blooms are |
| bloom only once a year, they are not exactly | | | | very attractive and come in pink, yellow, white, |
| sought after by gardeners. | | | | and deep red. |
| Wild Rose (Rosa acicularis) is a native of Europe, | | | | You just need to feed the shrubs about once a |
| North America, and Asia; Virginia Rose (Rose | | | | year with a good organic fertilizer. Pruning dead |
| virginiana) is from the United States of America, | | | | wood at least once a year will help new growth. |
| and Central North Americais home to the Wild | | | | These plants send their roots deep down so they |
| Prairie Rose (Rosa arkansana). | | | | don't need as much water as other roses. |
| For your garden, you could go in for Nearly Wild | | | | Always check with the nursery about the |
| Roses which are bloom repeatedly throughout the | | | | disease-resistance of the plants you select and |
| season. To add to their appeal, they are also very | | | | make sure they are suitable for your climate |
| winter hardy and less susceptible to diseases. | | | | zone. Get tips from other gardeners and the staff |
| They need practically no care other than water | | | | at your local nursery before you start your |
| and the annual fertilizing and pruning. | | | | garden. |
| The ideal spot for your plants is near your fence | | | | If you research well before planting, you will soon |
| or hedge or at the end of your yard so that you | | | | have a vibrant and lovely rose garden. |
| don't mow them down during winter when they | | | | |