Miniature Roses

Probably the easiest to grow, the miniatures can add a blanket of color to the garden. I grow then as undergrowth to the big roses, and have some in a flowerbed, and have planted several at graves at cemeteries. The flowers start in June, and continue to flower right through September into October. The miniatures need virtually no care, just keep pinching off the buds after they bloom and the planes will give hundreds and hundreds of flowers.

The yellow rose is from a variety called sun splash, it would flower in waves all summer. The bush would be covered in the deep yellow flowers, then they would all go away and a week or so later they would all be back again. The plant did not survive the winter of it's first season and never grew in the spring.

The reds are from a plant called Little Sizzler. There was never a time during the summer that there were not flowers on this plant. Even at the end of the season when the leaves started falling off the plant it was still flowering.

The pink is from a plant called Fairy Tale. Fairy Tale had so many flowers that at times you could not see the leaves through the flowers. The little pink buds were beautiful, as were the flowers when fully opened. It starts growing very early in the season.

Not to be morbid, the plant is a nice touch at the cemetery. Miniatures are available in just about every color, so you can use a favorite color. They require little care, and flower all season. They don't overtake the headstone, and best of all come back year after year.

I've tried the $3.99 potted plants without much luck when planted outdoors, they seem to do much better indoors. I've had very good success with the bare root plants from the mail order houses.