From Homepage February 5, 2005

Claude Monet, one of the foremost impressionist painters, found great delight in simple roses. He was particularly fond of the native roses - the pure color (pink) - the beauty in the pure simplicity (single petal flowers - several petals of course but not doubled in multiple layers).

Carefree native roses: a Monet Rose garden would be a lovely addition to your landscape.

This summer when the your native roses are blooming, you can stand amidst them and close your eyes. Breathe in their delicious perfume. Imagine you are at Giverny. You might even find the urge to try your hand at capturing their essence on canvas to remember that summer day in your rose garden.

Create an island or corner garden with Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) surrounded by NW Native roses. The white Serviceberry blooms are followed by delicious berries. They're so good they're even grown as a commercial crop in Canada! Prefer yellow blooms? The Black Twinberry (Lonicera involucrata) is a repeat bloomer that often presents the lovely yellow flowers with the glossy black berries at the same time, sometimes on the same branch!

From Homepage May 22, 2004

Nothing beats a wild rose for simple, sweet blooms. As I drive down country roads, the fence rows have become bowers of pink roses. The fragrance is pure and delightful. I know later in the year the blooms will fade, each one leaving behind a red berry-like rosehip. A pleasure to see and delicious to eat. The birds agree!

Though the birds don't bother to wash their food before eating, human beings must be more cautious--always clean foods carefully. It's best to grow your own wild roses, and refrain from using pesticides or other poisonous chemicals that are not safe for any living thing.

	To a Wild Rose Found in October By Ednah Proctor (Clarke) Hayes 1677 THOU foolish blossom, all untimely blown! Poor jest of summer, come when woods are chill! Thy sister buds, in June’s warm redness grown, That lit with laughter all the upland hill,   Have traceless passed; save on each thornëd stem Red drops tell how their hearts, in dying, bled. Theirs was the noon’s rich languor, and for them The maiden moon her haloed beauty spread; For them the bobolink his music spilled In bubbling streams; and well the wild bee knew Their honeyed hearts. Now bird and bee are stilled; Now southward swallows hurry down the blue, Fleeing the murderous Frost that even now Hath smote the marshes with his bitter breath, Quenching the flames that danced on vine and bough,— Think’st thou thy beauty will make truce with Death, Or hold in summer’s leash his loosened wrath? See! o’er the shrunk grass trail the blackened vines; And, hark! the wind, tracking the snow’s fell path, Snarls like a fretted hound among the pines. The pallid sunshine fails,—a sudden gloom Sweeps up the vale, a-thrill with boding fear. What place for thee? Too late thy pride and bloom! Born out of time,—poor fool,—what dost thou here? What do I here when speeds the threatening blight? June stirred my heart, and so June is for me. Who feels life’s impulse bourgeon into light Recks not of seasons, knows not bird nor bee. I can but bloom,—did the June roses more? I can but droop,—did they not also die? The Moment is: the After or Before Hides all from sight,—canst thou tell more than I? What matter if to-night come swirling snow And Death? The Power that makes, that mars, is One. I know nor care not: when that Power bids blow, I ope my curlëd petals to the sun.
Painting (above left and right) "Study of Wild Rose" by John Ruskin

Painting by Alfred Parsons

From Homepage October 27, 2006

Northwest native roses are such little show-offs! They are so sweet in the early summer with their baby pink blooms and their delicate fragrance that reminds one of grandma's linen closet. Then the petals fall to reveal hips that are oblong or round, turning scarlet and orange and even gold around September. But did you know the Nootka Rose (Rosa nutkana) foliage is also colorful? Shades of wine and pumpkin--so beautiful!

If your garden needs some color for fall, consider northwest native wild roses. Beautiful and very attractive to birds and butterflies. Add a few Snowberries (Symphoricarpos albus) or Western Snowberries (Symphoricarpos occidentalis). Planted together they are just charming all year, especially in winter when most gardens could use a bit of interest. The red rosehips and the white Snowberries will last through the winter until the birds eat them all, every last one.