One of my sisters is a rosarian, with a certificate and all, and there is an officially-recognized way to reckon up your roses to prove that you really do not have too many.
First, any rose that has just been planted does not count, because you have no idea how it will do and if it will be a keeper.
Any rose that is not in bloom doesn't really count, because without flowers it's just a shrub.
Any rose you've had less than five years doesn't count--because it's not really established yet, and (see reason number one).
Any rose you've had fifteen years (or ten years, or seven years, depending on who's talking) or more doesn't count, because it's probably near the end of its productive blooming years and in danger of reverting to its rootstock. (Yes, we all know of roses much older than that which are doing fine. They don't count.)
Any rose that's not doing well doesn't count, because you may have to root it out.
Any rose you're thinking of moving doesn't count, because it might not survive being transplanted.
Any rose you have more than one of only counts once, because the extras are just back-up.
Some will claim that if you aren't sure of the variety it doesn't count, either, either because if you knew what it really was you might not keep it, or because serious rose gardeners always know their roses, and so if you don't know the variety, it can't be one of your roses.
If you ordered rose bushes for someone else, or for a public project, and an extra crept in there and you planted it in your yard, it doesn't count, because you totally did not buy that rose.
If someone gives you a bush or slip as a gift, it does not count, because it's not as if you went looking for it, really.
Also, if you plant it as, say erosion control on a slope or something like that, it's really just landscaping, and how can that count?
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momijizukamori
no subject
Date: 2009-06-11 12:30 pm (UTC)First, any rose that has just been planted does not count, because you have no idea how it will do and if it will be a keeper.
Any rose that is not in bloom doesn't really count, because without flowers it's just a shrub.
Any rose you've had less than five years doesn't count--because it's not really established yet, and (see reason number one).
Any rose you've had fifteen years (or ten years, or seven years, depending on who's talking) or more doesn't count, because it's probably near the end of its productive blooming years and in danger of reverting to its rootstock. (Yes, we all know of roses much older than that which are doing fine. They don't count.)
Any rose that's not doing well doesn't count, because you may have to root it out.
Any rose you're thinking of moving doesn't count, because it might not survive being transplanted.
Any rose you have more than one of only counts once, because the extras are just back-up.
Some will claim that if you aren't sure of the variety it doesn't count, either, either because if you knew what it really was you might not keep it, or because serious rose gardeners always know their roses, and so if you don't know the variety, it can't be one of your roses.
If you ordered rose bushes for someone else, or for a public project, and an extra crept in there and you planted it in your yard, it doesn't count, because you totally did not buy that rose.
If someone gives you a bush or slip as a gift, it does not count, because it's not as if you went looking for it, really.
Also, if you plant it as, say erosion control on a slope or something like that, it's really just landscaping, and how can that count?
And so on.