People Make Plants Come Alive at IGC

P. Allen Smith & me holding his beautiful rooster Edwin at #G2B14 in Little Rock, AR

Do plants give life to people or do people give life to plants? It’s the age old chicken or the egg causality dilemma, “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” At The Independent Garden Show last week in Chicago, August 19-21, I had reason to ponder this theory. When Continue Reading

Red | White | and A Blue Rose

Applause | A True Blue Rose

Red White and Blue Rose Collections had long been sought after and yet the Blue Rose was a quest that was only a dream. There are many patriotic Red and White Roses. And yet when one would seek the blue rose it was a dream to be fulfilled by a Continue Reading

Love Planted A Rose Garden | June Is National Rose Month

June Spring Bloom | The Floribunda Rose Garden in Full Bloom

“Love planted a rose and the world turned sweet ” ~ Katherine Lee Bates Floribunda Rose Garden in Bloom June was declared National Rose Month by Ronald Reagan in 1986. The Northeastern Illinois Rose Society was proud to play a role in having the rose named America’s floral emblem while Continue Reading

A Spring Garden Comes To Life

P. Allen Smith is Wonderful with Kids

Heaven “scent” ‘Nevada’ is blooming. When the wind whispers through its softer than angels’ wings petals, one has the allusion that butterflies are fluttering all about. Its a magic rose flower bush. Simply breathtaking. The cool spring continues in Central Illinois. This coolness allows flowers to last and bloom stages Continue Reading

Planning A Spring Rose Garden

Gene Boerner Magnificent Floribunda, 2013 spring bloom

Growing roses can be easy. Most gardeners tell me they want a rose garden. Time constraints today demand easy steps to see quick results and the considerable cost that we invest in our gardens require lasting success. When asked why they don’t grow roses most people tell me they think Continue Reading