The subject is still roses

 

There was a college-town-idiosyncratic and decidedly rural feel to my first taste of the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days program. I visited two gardens and a private rose nursery in and around Ithaca, NY with Kathy/Cold Climate Gardening. I know that Susan has been awed by the apparent wealth of the properties in Virginia and Raleigh; that is not the primary impression one gets in Tompkins County, though certainly there are some well-heeled citizens here. Here are images from the whole day, but this post will just touch on one garden.

 

Lillian Gibson (1938)

The Der Rosenmeister nursery is just outside of town, and is run by avid rosarian Lee Ginenthal. His relatively modest house is surrounded by roses, in borders (with perennials), beds, and growing over structures. An area off to the side has rows of potted roses for sale. There are old roses, species, rugosas, Explorers, Kordes, and Griffith Buck roses, with the emphasis on hardiness. This is an area where May frosts can create 25 degree overnights. Ginenthal talked a bit about what he does for the roses, which is basically nothing. No spraying, no feeding, some shovelfuls of compost now and then and—more frequently—mulching. 

 

Ginenthal’s roses are nearly all of the multi-petaled, occasionally blowsy-looking old-fashioned variety. How old-fashioned? You can buy the Apothecary Rose, dating from 1400, the Rosa Mundi (1560), or the Ghislaine de Feligonde (1916), a lovely variety we saw growing along the border—just to name 3. There are hundreds. These are the types of roses frequently dissed by many exhibiting rosarians, who don’t like what they consider to be the messy form of the old roses, and don’t bother with species and explorer types at all

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Lee Ginenthal

Ginenthal also grows/creates bonsai, and has a fulltime job in the Ithaca school system. There are 10 Buckeye chickens on the property, who help keep Japanese beetles in check. Der Rosenmeister is open all summer by appointment; there are also workshops and an annual Open House takes place this Friday. Was I able to leave this place without buying a big climber I’ll be hard put to site on my tiny property? I was not. 

Comments

[commonweeder]

I can't imagine anyone visiting a rose nursery and coming away empty handed. I will go right to the link and see what I can order. I already have the three roses you mentioned. The Apothecary rose is running wild in a wet spot right next to where we park our car.

[Dee/reddirtramblings]

So which one tempted you? I love that you wrote this focusing on roses which don't need molly coddling. You know I don't do that with my roses, and I grow those which are not for exhibition. I'm afraid of the chemicals you need to keep blackspot in check in Oklahoma, and they truly don't bloom that much. I much prefer the beauties shown here and in your photo album. Thanks.~~Dee

[eliz]

Dee, I bought the Kordes Moonlight. It is a yellow/apricot climber that I thought would complement the other yellow climber I have in back of the house, on the alley. It is very difficult to choose here. Now that I know about this place, I am considering coming here whenever I want roses.

[EACH LITTLE WORLD]

SHE SAID: I only have one rose but it is this type and I don't do anything to it. Even in a fairly shady spot, it still flowers enough (see my Bloom Day post) to make it worthwhile. There is no fragrance like that of the old roses.

[Amy Greenan]

Ooh... this sounds like a place that I will need to visit someday. :)

[greg draiss]

Wonderful he is able to grow roses without spraying. Also what that says for newer high maintenance hybrids is keen.

Nice to see a dedicated gardener such as this

The TROLL

[Helen at Toronto Gardens]

Very much like his non-snooty attitude.

[Nikki Smith]

Happy National Rose Month!

http://www.whgmag.com/1123-national-rose-month-create-the-perfect-outdoor-space

[Kathy J, Washington Gardener Magazine]

I love the name "Der Rosenmeister" - some things just DO sound better auf Deutsch.