Roses for British Columbia

Beryl Hamilton is a freelance writer in Thunder Bay who specializes in
home gardening.

As the authors point out, roses can grow almost anywhere with the right
combination of sun, water, and care. These easy-to-handle guides tell
gardeners how to find those right combinations.

The books, which showcase 100 or more roses ideal for Ontario and
British Columbia, are divided into nine sections: species, hybrid tea,
floribunda, grandiflora, old garden, climber and rambler, miniature,
groundcover, and shrub. The roses are arranged alphabetically according
to their popular names for easy reference. The introduction provides
tips on buying, planting, growing, and caring for roses. A glossary of
pests and diseases provides information on detecting and solving common
problems. A resource section lists garden suppliers, soil testing,
facilities, and rose societies, as well as reference websites.

Both books are amply illustrated with beautiful colour pictures. Some
are accompanied by obscure but intriguing trivia. For instance, we learn
that “The William Lob Rose” was named after the plant huntsman who
brought the monkey puzzle tree from Chile and popularized it in England.


Written by well-known garden writers, and brimming with interesting
facts and tips, these books belong in every Ontario or British Columbia
gardening library.