Right for Any Cold-Climate Library
The opening statement of Peter Schneider’s introduction gives rose lovers both the good news and the bad: “The single most important key to growing good roses is choosing the right rose in the first place,” and Right Rose, Right Place tells us just how to do that. Schneider’s detailed descriptions of more than 350 rose bushes read like encyclopedia entries, and the wealth of information about rose-gardening concerns makes this quite a guidebook. The gorgeous photography and large scale of the volume are worthy of a coffee table, so this book has it all and will make readers long for the season and space to plant roses. Throughout this book, the photographs are particularly evocative. There are some larger pictures of breathtaking landscape settings, quite a few photos of lovely roses with lush foliage, and many unusually large beauty shots of individual blossoms. The images are so stunning you’ll be swept off your feet again by your old loves and smitten with some new ones, too. Among the roses Schneider discusses and depicts in gorgeous photos are some favorites of the Greater Rochester Rose Society including
Divided into three parts, Schneider’s book first explains that anyone is able to grow roses and that roses are able to fulfill a number of purposes, which is a unique way of thinking about the different classes of roses. Throughout the book, text boxes and mini lessons are included among the main text and assorted photographs. The book’s second part reads like a personalized encyclopedia because that’s what it is: Schneider explains he has described only roses he has grown, so this section offers his take on a number of qualities rose can have, such as roses that are stately enough to be planted on their own, ones that work well with other plants, and roses for flower beds. He also offers his choices for planting in containers or cutting gardens and for mini, climbing, and tree roses as well. Most of his descriptions are longer than usual and include a discussion of plant history, useful instruction, personal commentary, or the like. The final, most practical part of the book details how to plant, prune, and protect these beauties as well as how to care for them and correct issues that arise. While this book is notable because it reflects Schneider’s experience with roses over three decades, its most helpful feature is that it focuses, for the most part, on cold-hardy roses. In fact, many of the roses Schneider recommends are suited for Zones 5 and 6. Since the author hails from Ohio, where winter makes choosing appropriate roses crucial, Schneider is well-qualified to tell readers which are the best roses for the worst climates, and his book offers readers hundreds of beautiful choices. Right Rose, Right Place, from Storey Publishing in 2009, is available at the Brighton, Fairport, Mendon, Rochester Central, and Scottsville libraries. Please leave a comment, and let us know if you found this review helpful or if you can recommend other roses that are right at home in the Rochester area.
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Patti Dee, Archives
December 2018
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