Harlequins Gardens

Boulder's specialist in well-adapted plants

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Tulip viridiflora, ‘Artist’

An artist’s palette of color, the salmon-rose flowers of ‘Artist’ glow with shades of peach, dusky purple and flashes of green that create the distinctive characteristics of a Viridiflora Tulip. The substantial, sculpted blossoms, with their pointed petals, add elegance for long-lasting color in the garden or indoors for room-brightening bouquets, with blooms lasting up to 3 weeks! This exotic creature will naturalize readily in your garden if the flowers are allowed to remain and are not cut. The term Viridiflora is derived from the Latin words virdis meaning green and flos meaning flower.

Plant in sun-part shade, 6” deep and 4-5” apart in well-draining soil. Hardy to Zone 3.

 

Tulip ‘’Blushing Apeldoorn’

Tulip ‘Blushing Apeldoorn’

Bulb.  Z3. 18-20” tall. Blooms mid-spring. Compost-improved soil.

This Darwin hybrid has rich yellow petals with soft red edging and a splash of tangerine.  Has extra large flowers. Makes for a stunning display.  Sturdy stems withstand spring snows and winds.  Excellent cut flower.  Stunning when combined with single-hued yellow and red tulips or other flowers such as basket-of-gold that also bloom in mid-spring.

Tulipa Orange Emperor

Orange Emperor Tulip

Bulb. Z3. 14-16” tall. Blooms early-mid spring. Compost-improved soil.

A feast for winter-weary eyes, the petals of Orange Emperor are a blend of tangerine, orange, pale yellow and apricot. This tulip brightens up your spirit along with your rock garden or perennial bed! Huge bowl-shaped blooms create a stunning display if planted in mass. Marvelous cut flower. Grows well in containers. Gorgeous planted under quince or forsythia shrubs.

 

 

  Tulip ‘Lasting Love’

Tulip ‘Lasting Love’
Extend the tulip season with this elegant beauty. Lasting Love’s dramatic deep burgundy petals are edged with softer red tones. The slightly recurved petals give it a very sophisticated look. Blooming in late spring (May) atop 18-20″ sturdy stems, it’s a beautiful cut-flower, too. The foliage on this variety is also notable, in an attractive blue-green hue. Lasting Love is a perennial tulip that returns year after year. Tulips perform best when planted in well-drained soil and in full sun to partial shade. Hardy in Zones 3-8.

Garlic – Italian Late (organic, soft-neck)

Italian Late

Italian Late Garlic is a Silverskin-type softneck variety known for its smooth, light-colored bulbs and tightly wrapped cloves. The cloves are generally round, plump, and uniform, with an attractive appearance that makes this variety especially well suited for braiding. Its extra-tight skin contributes to excellent storage quality, helping bulbs maintain freshness for extended periods. This late-maturing variety is typically smaller than Early Italian Purple but offers strong keeping ability and dependable performance.

  • Type: Silverskin
  • Type: Softneck
  • Bulbs per pound: 3–6
  • Cloves per bulb: 12–20
  • Storage: 10–12 months
  • Wrapper tightness: Tight
  • Flavor: Hot
  • Maturity: Late
  • Scapes: No
  • Braidable: Yes
  • Preferred climate: Cold to hot (versatile)

Garlic planting instructions

Garlic – Silver Rose (organic, soft-neck)

This is a soft-neck silverskin variety. Rose-colored cloves in very smooth bright-white bulbs. Beautiful garlic to braid! This is a longest-storing garlic.  Like all fast-growing Silverskin garlic, this type is frequently planted in the spring. Very popular in Western and Southern US and in France and Italy. There are 12-15 cloves per head.

Garlic planting instructions

Garlic – Spanish Roja (hard-neck)

Photo Credit, Irish Eyes Garden Seed

This vigorous, easy-to-grow heirloom variety arrived in the US over 100 years ago. It is famous for its classic rich, complex ‘true garlic’ flavor and is one of the most popular with restaurants/chefs. The large, purple streaked bulbs often reach three inches in diameter and typically have seven to twelve large tan cloves. Spanish Roja peels easily and keeps for up to 4-6 months when properly stored (the outer bulb wrappers are thin and flake off easily so be careful to keep them intact to prolong storage). Like all hard-neck garlic, Spanish Roja will produce curly ‘scapes’ (flowering stems), which can be snipped off and used for another culinary treat in late spring.  This variety grows well in cold winter areas, and is cold-hardy to Zone 3.

Garlic planting instructions

Tulipa kaufmanniana ‘The First’ (Waterlily Tulip)

A gorgeous, sturdy, low-growing (8”) naturalizing tulip, perfect for the rock garden, meadow or perennial border. ‘The First’ is very early, blooming in March or April. When closed, the red and white outer petals present a candy-cane striped effect. On sunny days, they open wide (~4″) and look like single waterlilies, revealing an ivory white interior with a bright yellow center and, sometimes, small coral-red markings.

Hardy to Zone 3. Plant 6” deep, 6” apart. Zone 3, 4” tall.

Garlic – Svea Red (organic, hard-neck)

Photo Credit, Irish Eyes Garden Seed

A late-season Porcelain-type, Svea is the ‘chunky tuna’ of Porcelains, producing large, flattened bulbs with 5 to 8 fat, easy-to-peel cloves. The colorful bulbs show red and purple stripes on their skins and clove wrappers. Blessed with strong, spicy-hot flavor when raw, the flavor mellows to a tasty nuttiness when roasted or baked.

Garlic planting instructions

Tulipa ‘Paul Scherer’ Triumph Midseason Tulip – NEW AGAIN!

NEW for 2019!
The darkest Triumph tulip, dramatic purple-black with a straight-sided shape. Earlier than ‘Queen of Night’ but a very similar color. Contrasts wonderfully with any color of tulip, whether your garden plan is classic or goth. Triumph tulips perennialize well in the garden if left uncut and fertilized after blooming. 16–18″ tall. Mid Spring blooms, Z3-7

Tulipa ‘Little Beauty’ Species Tulip

These adorable Species Tulips have reddish-pink petals with glowing, blue-eyed centers.

Plant 3” deep in full to part sun. Lightly fragrant. Grows 4-6” tall. Zone 3.

Tulipa ‘Muvota’ Triumph

Muvota Triumph Tulip

Bulb. Z3. 16-18” tall.  Blooms mid-spring. Compost-improved soil.

A show-stopper! The striking contrasting petals of dark red/maroon petals with dusty orange/rose edges will give your garden plenty of second glances. Plant in masses and close to walkways to maximize visibility. Stunning cut flower. Plant with large solid swatches of forget me nots, candytuft or basket of gold.

 

Tulipa Mystic Fantasy Blend

Mystic Fantasy Tulip Blend

Bulb. Z3. 20-24” tall. Blooms late spring. Compost-improved soil.

Unbelievably evocative combination of maroon, wine, mahogany, yellow, red and white petals on  tall, graceful tulips. A gorgeous blend lovely against early green foliage emerging on shrubs and trees. Makes nice bouquets of cut flowers.  Attractive interplanted with candytuft, garden thyme, and white alliums.

 

Eve’s Favorite Fragrant Roses

These are among our favorite fragrant roses. While we grow and sell many of these, they are not always ready to be put out for sale, and quantities are always limited! Come by and view our current selection, and check our 2024 Rose list.

  • Banshee Rose

    “Banshee” (found) Z 4, dbl pink 2″ early & long-blooming May-June, rich sweet damask fragrance; large shrub or climber, no die-back, very disease resistant, very tough & tolerant of low water, poor soil, shade, once established. Distinctive matte foliage, fall color- purple, orange. Common in old neighborhoods all along the Front Range.Not terribly prickly. Cut armloads for big fragrant spring bouquets!

  • “Broadway Perpetual” (found, Boulder) Z 5 (4?) Large dbl strong pink quartered, deep old-rose perfume, spring & fall, sporadic in between. Good cut-flower. Seems somewhat shade-tolerant. Strong arching growth to 7’. Potential climber? Healthy foliage, moderately prickly.

  • Fairmont Proserpine, courtesy High Country Roses

    “Fairmount Proserpine” (found, Denver)

  • Abraham Darby (English) Z 4-5. Large, dbl, cupped, pink shading to apricot, repeats very well, strong scent, old-rose/fruity, good cut-flower. Heavy blooms are sometimes pendulous. Large, bushy shrub 5-6’ x 5-6’. Glossy disease-resistant foliage, stout canes are moderately prickly.
  • Alchymist (Lg. Flowered Climber, lg.shrub) Blooms very large, warm apricot shades, very double, looks English, very fragrant, haven’t grown.
  • Apothecary’s Rose (Gallica) Z 3. Very old; semidouble deep pink blooms in late spring on thin, erect prickly canes to 4’. Delicious sweet old-rose perfume. Tolerates some shade but may mildew. Perfect for herb garden.
  • Baronne Prevost (Hyb. Perpetual) France, 1842. Z 5 (4?) Fat globular buds open to large 4″, flat, very double, loosely quartered deep “rose-pink” blooms with rich damask perfume, repeats well through season. Rather thorny, large arching shrub to 6’x6’ or more. Good for wrapping on pillar, pegging, self-pegging, or climbing.
  • Cl. American Beauty (Lg. Fl. Climber) 1909 USA, Wichurana hyb. Z4 Large blooms are double, deep pink, paler on undersides, borne in small clusters on longish stems, strong Damask scent. In 1940’s considered the most fragrant climbing rose. Leaves dense & glossy, healthy. Vigorous growth to ~10’, tolerates some shade, neglect; profuse in June, sporadic repeat (esp. in cool summers).
  • Constance Spry (English) Bounteous, very large double pink flowers in late spring on a large arching shrub easily used for draping or climbing. Bred from the Gallica ‘Belle Isis’. Fragrance includes a hit of ‘myrrh’, present in a number of David Austin’s English roses.

  • Darlow’s Enigma

    Darlow’s Enigma (Cl. Hyb. Musk ?) Vigorous large shrub or climber of unknown origin with very disease-resistant, handsome glossy foliage. Small white semidouble flowers in clusters, borne throughout the season , are very sweetly scented. Very shade-tolerant. Zone 4.

  • Desiree Parmentier (found Gallica) Probably incorrectly identified as Desiree, this rose is found in old neighborhoods throughout the Denver metro area. Healthy, soft apple-green foliage on a shade-tolerant, suckering shrub to 3’ in sun and taller in shade. Flowers are unique – many deep pink petals tightly packed, radiating out from conspicuous green ‘eye’, forming a dome–shaped blossom. Blooms in June. Rich Old-Rose perfume. Buds also unique, appearing to have had their tops cut off. Blooms are produced singly, not in clusters, making it ideal for cutting. Thrives on neglect once established. No die-back in the Denver-Boulder area. Prickles are numerous but very short and non-threatening.
  • Fair Bianca (English) Lovely very double white blooms of old-rose style open flat and are produced in several flushes through the season on a shrub to 3’. Not very vigorous, but the fragrance is unique, including elements of licorice, lemon and myrrh.
  • Felicite Parmentier (Alba Hyb.) An outstanding, classic old rose, with compact, bushy growth to 4-5’ tall. Foliage is matte, slightly greyish green, and completely healthy, even in considerable shade. Blooms are small (1 1/2″), blush pink, double and densely double, borne in small clusters, with exquisite fragrance that seems to match its appearance perfectly. No winter die-back in our area, hardy to at least Zone 4.
  • Gertrude Jekyll (English) Bred from the Portland rose ‘Compte de Chambord’, which may be a better rose. Gertrude got HUGE in my garden, to 9’ tall, likes to bloom mostly at the top of the canes, hasn’t repeated very well, and is incredibly well-armed. Nevertheless, she’s worth growing for her fabulously fragrant, large, oldfashioned, double,flat pink blooms. Best grown with strict discipline (hard pruning) and protective armor.
  • Golden Celebration (English)

  • Golden Wings

    Golden Wings (Shrub) A healthy, vigorous, open shrub to 5-6’ tall and wide, with large, almost single lemon yellow blossoms accented by showy dark red stamens. The petals fade quickly to white in our strong sun. Blooms all season. Keep dead-headed ‘til August , then allow it to form attractive red hips. Hardy to Zone 5, maybe 4.

  • Heritage (English)
  • Jude the Obscure (English) Weird name for a gorgeous flower, double, globular, shading from cream to yellow to apricot, sometimes pinkish. Flowers ball in wet or very hot weather. Blooms occur in clusters of 3 to 8. Strong fruity fragrance with elements of peach, mango, etc. With disciplinary pruning, the shrub will be 5’x5’. Bright green foliage is moderately disease-resistant; Keep dead-headed to ensure good repeat.
  • Konigen von Danemark (Alba) The deepest colored of the Albas, Konigen bears medium pink, very double, 2″ flowers in June, blessed with delicious Old Rose fragrance. Totally healthy, matte grey-green foliage on arching canes to about 5’. Tolerates some shade. Hardy to Zone 4.
  • Louise Odier (Bourbon) Fully double, 2″ camellia-like pink blossoms are borne in great profusion in late spring, and again in pretty good numbers through the season. The fragrance is rich Old Rose. The shrub is very vigorous, theoretically to 5’x5′, but mine is 9’x9′, suggesting the need for a pillar, trellis or wall, or strong pruning. Mine never suffers any die-back, and is pretty healthy. Repeat bloom is best if you deadhead until some time in August. Pretty thorny, but not as bad as Gertrude.
  • Madame Hardy (Damask) One of the most choice Old roses. Beautiful, medium-sized pure white blooms with a green button eye on a robust, upright shrub to 5’-6’ tall. Very fragrant. June blooming, Zone 4.
  • Madame Isaac Pereire (Bourbon) France, 1881. Large, purplish, deep pink, cupped blooms are sumptuous in their appearance and perfume. Blooms are carried on short laterals from strong, large canes, and can be used as a climber to about 7’. Blooms are best if protected from very hot sun, but the plant is not really shade-tolerant. Hardy to Zone 5.
  • Mister Lincoln (Hyb. Tea) Black-red buds open to cherry red, richly fragrant at all stages. Blooms are large (4-4.5″), double, scrolled, high-centered, good cut. “Bush is upright and almost naturally urn-shaped, to 3’ or taller. Susceptible to mildew. Robust grower, reliable bloomer.” I haven’t grown this one yet.

  • Morden Sunrise

    Morden Sunrise (Canadian Shrub) A compact shrub, to about 3’x3’. Seems pretty tough in our test/display garden. Semi-double flowers open from orange buds, are 2 1/2 to 3″wide and shade from soft, tawny yellow to apricot pink, to orange. Moderately strong Tea rose fragrance is unusual for a Canadian rose, which are generally scentless. Hardy to Zone 3, almost continuous blooming.

  • Nuits de Young (Moss)Laffay, France 1845. A must for its fabulously purple flowers, this rose has also been called “Old Black”. Flowers are almost double, very fragrant, with velvety maroon-purple petals emphasized by golden stamens. Mossing on buds and flower stems has a pleasant lemony pine scent when rubbed. The shrub is compact and erect, to 3 or 4’ tall, and suckers. Foliage is small and dark green. We found this rose growing in Boulder’s Columbia Cemetery, where it has survived mowing, drought, and complete neglect for at least 65 years.
  • Pink Peace (Hyb. Tea) France, 1959. Enormous, intensely fragrant, very bright pink, double, with somewhat old-fashioned form, sumptuous flowers throughout the season on an upright bush. A slow starter, not exactly vigorous, but worthwhile for the blooms, which are long-lasting when cut. We know one bush in Paonia that’s about 40 years old, 4.5’.
  • Reine des Violettes (Hyb. Perpetual)

  • Rosa spinosissima

    Rosa spinosissima (Scotsbrier) (Species) My favorite species rose, as it perfumes my gardening hours with its strong, very sweet scent – one of the few fragrances that really carry in our dry air. The 4’ tall shrub is shade tolerant, and has very small leaves on gracefully arching canes that are covered with the lovely pure white single blooms for about 2 1/2 weeks in May. Hardy to Zone 3.

  • Rosa Mundi (Gallica) Ancient, sport of Apothecary’s Rose. Named for Rosamond Clifford, mistress to Henry II. Identical in all respects to Apothecary’s, except: Dramatic semi-dbl blossoms blush-white randomly striped & splashed with crimson & pink. Petals dry beautifully for potpouri.

  • Rose de Rescht

    Rose de Rescht (Portland or Damask Perpetual) A very distictive Old Rose, supposedly discovered in Iran. The flowers are small, 1 1/2″ or slightly larger, rich fuschia-red with strong purple tints, aging to magenta, very double, tightly formed rosettes, almost pom-poms, produced in small clusters amid lots of foliage. Exceptional strong Damask fragrance. Excellent repeat. The shrub is healthy, compact and bushy, to 4-5’ tall and wide. Canes are quite prickly. Hardy to Zone 4.

  • Rose du Roi (Portland or Hyb.Perpetual) Lelieur, France 1815. This is a rose with a story. Bred by a French nobleman loyal to Napoleon (the second one), it was appropriated and re-named by the King, Henri XV, when he regained power. It’s also an important rose for having introduced “red” color to rose breeding in 19th century Europe. The plant is compact and bushy, growing 3-4’ tall and wide, with large leaves (I’ve noticed they’re light green in spring, with later growth being dark green with grey undersides), and prickly canes. The flowers are fabulous, fairly large, double, red mottled purple with pink reverse, loosely formed when open, and very richly scented. Repeats, with especially good display in early fall. Hardy to Zone 4-5.

  • Sharifa Asma

    Sharifa Asma (English) Slow to establish, but worth the wait. Blooms are large, double, delicate shell pink, cupped, and blessed with a strong Old-rose and fruity (litchi) fragrance. Leaves are dark green, slightly leathery, and healthy as long as the shrub is not in too much shade. Growth is upright to 4’.

  • Stanwell Perpetual (Hyb. Spinosissima) The earliest repeat-blooming rose to begin flowering in my garden, vying for 1st with Reine des Violettes. Bred from R. spinosissima and Autumn Damask. Canes are very prickly, arching, dark red, clothed in very fine-textured foliage, and loaded with blooms in several flushes through the season. Flowers are double, small to medium-sized, blush pink opening flat and fading to white. Very sweetly scented, with characteristics of both parents. Growth is awkward the first few years, but then fills out nicely. Hardy to Zone 4.
  • Sweet Chariot (Mini) Tall for a miniature, to 2’. Small foliage and small pom-pom flowers in large clusters, unusual purple-pink color and lovely fragrance. Blooms repeatedly through season. Hardy to Zone 5.
  • Sydonie (Hyb. Perpetual) Extremely reliable repeat bloom, exquisite Damask fragrance, unique flower form. Flowers are “rose-pink”, 2-2 1/2″ very double, very quartered, with strongly in-curved center petals. They are borne on very prickly arching canes on a bush that’s supposed to be 3 1/2’ tall and wide. NOT. Mine is 8’x8’ and I’m planning to do some hard pruning. Hardy to Zone 4-5, I’ve never had any winter die-back.
  • Tradescant (English) I haven’t grown this one yet, but I’ve seen it elsewhere and loved the blooms. They are velvety black-red, very double, opening flat and quartered, 2-2 1/2″ wide, with a powerful Old Rose fragrance. Good cut-flower, holding its shape and color several days. Hardy to Zone 5. Reportedly grows best with hot summer weather.
  • Wise Portia (English) Compact, to 2 1/2’, I grow 2 of these planted very close together to form one shrub. Very large double flowers are a unique raspberry red, rosette shaped, with uniquely pointed, lotus-like petals. Heavy-blooming, richly scented, borne singly or in sprays. Excellent repeat if kept dead-headed ‘til late summer. Then it will form large, red hips. Modern-looking medium green foliage. Provide good light and good air circulation.
  • Zephirine Drouhin (Climbing Bourbon) Bizot, France 1868. Hardy to Zone 5-6. Our strain is definitely hardy in Boulder/Denver. Completely thornless, somewhat shade-tolerant, vigorous tall shrub or climber to 12’ on wall or arbor. New foliage and canes are burgundy colored. Flowers are loosely double, warm deep pink, medium-sized, profuse in spring and repeats regularly into autumn. Strongly scented- fruity Old-Rose.

 

Some fragrant roses to try at higher elevations:

Alba Semi-plena

Alba Suaveolens

Maiden’s Blush

Chloris

Konigen von Danemark

Rosa spinosissima

Rosa rugosa alba

Rosa rugosa ‘Magnifica’

Metis

Banshee

Gallica roses

Centifolia roses

Therese Bugnet

Morden Sunrise

Rugosa roses

Tulipa humilis Persian Pearl

Tulipa Persian Pearl

Persian Pearl Wildflower Tulip is uniquely colored with showy purple-red petals and a bright yellow center. Like most of the wildflower tulips, Tulipa h. ‘Persian Pearl’ multiplies itself readily. Fragrant. Said to be deer-resistant!

Early to mid-spring bloom. Full sun to part shade. Thrives in moderate to low-water gardens.

 

Tulip (Triumph) ‘Princess Irene’

Prinses Irene Triumph Tulip

Bulb. Z3. 14-16” tall. Blooms mid-late spring. Compost-improved soil.

Bold orange and purple flowers on very sturdy stems successfully brave the worst weather spring can throw at them. Grow well in containers or outside in perennial beds. Great for forcing indoors. Gorgeous in bouquets of cut flowers. Combine with grape hyacinths for a stunning effect. Fragrant.

Tulipa ‘Purple Pride’

 

Purple Pride Tulip

Bulb. Z3. 20-24” tall. Blooms mid-late spring. Compost-improved soil.

A Darwin hybrid with multiple lilac-purple petals that have a pink sheen. Has huge 5” blooms.  Plant in mass for eye-catching color in your spring garden.  Sturdy stems withstand snow and wind.  Lovely cut flower.  Grows well in containers. Gorgeous when planted with coral-colored tulips

Amaryllis ‘Minerva’

The full petals of this bright and stylish Amaryllis are a saturated red, overlaid with a white star and accented by stippled veining and a light green throat.

Available in our decorative gold-boxed holiday sets, which include the bulb, a white plastic growing pot, soil disc, and planting instructions.

Amaryllis ‘Black Pearl’

Photo Credit: DeVroomen

The jumbo bulb of Black Pearl produces well-proportioned plants with up to 5 bloom stalks, each crowned with a cluster of velvety deep wine-red blooms, each flower up to 8” across!

Available as individual bulbs.

Amaryllis ‘Red Lion’

A gorgeous, bright red flower with wide petals. A perfect holiday decoration!

Available as individual bulbs, and in our decorative gold-boxed holiday sets, which include the bulb, a white plastic growing pot, soil disc, and planting instructions.

Canadian Roses for Colorado

The Canadians, like their English and French ancestors, have a great love of roses. However much of Canada is in zones 4, 3 and even zone 2. Therefore many of the hybrid tea and floribunda roses bred in modern times have not been tough enough for Canadian gardeners. So the Canadians set their own federal agriculture department to work on breeding roses that succeed in Canada. Not only do these roses do well north of our border, they are very successful in Colorado, even in our higher elevation environments. Our 10-20 below zero winters and dramatic temperature changes can kill or significantly injure more tender roses like the hybrid teas and floribundas. So gardeners in Colorado who don’t have time to remove large masses of dead canes, hill soil around the canes to protect them for winter, and who have less inclination to spray and fertilize frequently, find the Canadian-bred roses provide a rewarding and easy-care alternative.[Read More]

Climbing Roses for Colorado

Many Colorado gardeners have been frustrated in their attempts to grow climbing roses. The main problem seems to be that the tall canes die back and though they may bloom, they look like shrubs, not climbers. We are green with envy of the European and Californian gardens with roses cascading over and festooning pillars, walls and bowers. Why can’t we achieve this? I think we can, but not without a very discriminating approach. First of all we must realize that our cold temperatures and especially the rapid cold-hot-cold changes, and our drying winter winds are death to all but the hardiest rose canes.

[Read More]

Henry Kelsey Rose

Henry Kelsey (1984 Kordesii cross) is an Explorer Series  rose from Ag. Canada that is hardy  to Zone 3 and is considered by many to be the best red-flowered climber for cold climates. It is very vigorous and grows strongly even in lean soils. Whereas it can be grown as a low arching shrub to 4’, it excels as a short climber to 8’-10’ and looks especially good trained down a split-rail fence. The flowers are semi-double with prominent golden stamens, opening a luscious deep red and fading to a pinker medium red. The fragrance is light but pleasant and the clusters of flowers repeat from June until frost. Where I have grown it in a very low water area over the last five years it has performed well and has not died back on the trellis, but repeat flowering is intermittent rather than continuous. One of the truths of xeriscape is that not all plants that grow well on low water, flower as well. Sometimes just one or two deep waterings during bloom time will make a big difference in flower production.[Read More]

Cold-Hardy Climbers

At the end of last season I wrote about how to succeed with climbing roses in Colorado. Besides winter watering and careful siting out of the worst wind, the most important factor is the choice of very cold hardy roses that are grown on their own roots. The books may say we are zone 5 but when the temperature drops from 50 at noon to 5 at two a.m., we better hope our rose is zone 4 or even zone 3 hardy. With climbers this is even more true because if the canes die back to two feet the rose may still bloom but it won’t function as a climber that year. Here are a few of the toughest and most cold-hardy climbing roses for Colorado.  [Read More]

Crops to Start from Seed in May

Baby cucumber

Soil temperature—not the calendar—is the real signal for when seeds will sprout. Soil warms up far more slowly than the air. Many garden crops can be direct-sown this month when your soil is sufficiently warm to support germination and ensure survival of tender seedlings.

Prominent among these are all the vegetables in the group known as Cucurbits, including cucumbers, melons, summer and winter squashes, pumpkins and gourds.

[Read More]

Roses that Survive and Thrive in Colorado

After last November’s 77 degree cold plunge to 13 degrees below zero, most roses suffered die-back, some died to the ground and some died completely. But there were roses that had only minimal damage and some that will bounce back with a good show of vigorous growth and generous flowering this year. Here are some observations and conclusions about growing sustainable roses in Colorado.

Roses are cane shrubs, similar to blackberries and raspberries. Their wood has a pithy center and is not as hard or as strong as a lilac. Consequently roses are more vulnerable to insects, diseases, desiccation and cold, but another consequence is that they can grow and regrow much faster than woody shrubs like lilac and viburnum.[Read More]

Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse Rose Garden

Boulder Valley Rose Society
Hardy Roses Demonstration Garden
1770 13th St. Boulder, Colorado

This garden, planted in 1998, is both the Hardy Rose Demonstration Garden of the Boulder Valley Rose Society and an environment that delights the senses and calms the spirit, such as you might find at a teahouse in Tajikistan.

Designed by Eve Reshetnik-Brawner and Mikl Brawner, the garden includes 43 varieties of roses of many types, including Old Garden roses, Species roses, Canadian, Modern Shrub and David Austin’s English roses. These roses were chosen for their Old World Character, cold hardiness and disease-resistance. In addition, these roses are not grafted, but grown on their “own roots” which makes them tougher and longer-lived. These qualities have allowed the Boulder Valley Rose Society to maintain this rose garden without the use of chemical fertilizers, fungicides and pesticides. These roses are examples of how successful roses can be in Colorado.[Read More]