Stop and Smell the Roses

It's spring and all of us who have hibernated for the winter are now out and about. Front and backyards are being raked, seeded and weeded. And planted.

Climbing roses are so special and so easy. I've had climbing roses in every home I've owned for the past 18 years. But for some reason, completely foreign to me, the new homeowners of each house has taken them all down. Three houses and three homeowners decided these amazing beauties were not for them. We're not talking about Grey Gardens overgrown roses. They were beautiful, fragrant and trellised gems. Obviously none the folks who bought any of our homes had ever been to 'Sconset in Nantucket in June and July. One look at that charming fishing village with its climbing and rambling roses going up to the rooftops and you'll be forever hooked on a climber.

So here I am now in New England where English gardens abound and moderate summers allow for lush blooms. I'm starting yet again with the climbers and the trellises and I'm hoping against hope that whomever owns my home when we're long gone, will love these roses as much as we do.

Our favorite place to buy climbers is the Antique Rose Emporium in Texas (http://www.antiqueroseemporium.com/)