If roses are supposed to be high maintenance, dying to know about the Hampden, Baltimore variety. It has always amazed me how prevalent and hardy these 'bushes' are in every shade of the spectrum across this neighborhood, requiring absolutely no attention. In fact I'm guilty of bushwhacking a few, over and over, merely in attempt to get them to share the yard.. like constant like crowd control. Someone, please clue me in.

beautiful it looks like a boutique picked right out of my rose gardens here at the ranch : ) Annie

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens....."

Most antique roses, especially those pictured, are simple to grow, requiring nothing other than sun - or some sun (some of mine get by on less than you'd think is necessary), air (though my two dozen are more crowded than is recommended), a little rain (too bad mine are getting doused at their peak), and compliments (my neighbors have gotten used to me talking to my roses and giving them the occasional peck). Some old roses grow best neglected and in the worst conditions. Gruss an Aachen and Baltimore Belle are also two more favourites so simple to grow. There is never, ever a reason to spray chemicals (on anything). Blast aphids off with a hose. Better to lose a bush to some weird disease or bug or bad luck than poison your yard with chemicals - a no-brainer if you grow herbs and veggies, too. When black spot happens, simply pick off and pick up the leaves and dispose of them (in the garbage, not the compost pile). The bushes will quickly re-foliate, no matter how temporarily terrible they may look. I also have good luck with some newer rose varities, especially Tropicana (1963) and Coral Dawn (1952) - both rife with a heavy fruity fragrance - and David Austin's Molineaux (1994) - I am hoping heaven will glow exactly like its yellow and apricot blossoms.

There are still a few nurseries around that specialize in keeping some of the older rose bush varieties around. Some of these older roses will have a very high sentimental value for the person wishing to find them.