Why don’t my roses smell good?

Portland is full of roses at this time of year! Have you purchased a home with roses in the yard but now you find that they don’t have that beautiful rosy fragrance??  You’re not crazy- some roses have strong fragrances, while some don’t.  In this short post, I’ll try to set your garden on the path to fragrance wonderland.

Jude The Obscure, bred by David Austin Roses: my favorite for fragrance and the whole reason I started growing roses!

As you visit local rose gardens, or your own yard, and rose fragrance is lackluster, you are not alone. Home gardeners choose roses based upon the features that are important to them, just like we do with houses.  While some home buyers may want a 2 car garage, some may not care at all.  Similarly, the previous owner may have chosen roses for qualities they prefer. These can include thornless, shape, color, hardiness…  not always fragrance.

Even within the subject of ‘fragrance’, you’ll find different types.  Myrrh, Old Rose, Tea, Fruit and Musk are typically the five different categories of fragrance.  The best way to determine what you like is, of course, to smell some roses, and take note!

The very first rose that I fell in love with was along a sidewalk where I frequently walked.  It smelled so good, people would stop and smell them, and remark upon it.  Finally I ran into the home owner, and they shared the name of the rose with me.  It was Jude the Obscure, bred by English breeder David Austin.  This started a pandemic-era deep dive into roses.   There was a time when I didn’t want to plant anything prickly in my garden, but these roses won me over. They’re worth it.

 

 

 

Princess Charlene de Monaco: ruffly petals, long stems great for bouquets and a lovely rose fragrance.

Want inspiration?

I’ve added a few photos below of a few of my favorite fragrant roses!  And guess what?  Many modern roses are bred to be very easy to grow.  With a a few simple tips you will be a success: most roses prefer at least 6 hours per day of sunlight, and an occasional deep watering once established.   Also, most rose farms and growers will offer resources to help your success right on their website.

A good few good resources are:  Heirloom Roses, Menagerie Flower Farm and David Austin Roses.  If you’re into flowers, you’ll want to know about Floret Flower Farm too, although they don’t sell roses, they have amazing resource pages, including blogs about roses.

 

 

When to buy roses

You’ll find the best selection of roses at your local nursery in the spring. Springtime, after chance of frost has passed, but before roses have put out their new growth is the best time to plant and let your plant get established before the hot months of summer.   Now is the perfect time to check out other gardens, do some research and pick your favorites for planting next spring.  Fall is also a good time to plant, at least 6 weeks before frost, to allow a new plant to get established before winter.

Wishing you a good Portland rose season- and some good bouquets from your future roses.

 

PORTLAND LIFE: SPRING BREAK IS HERE!

SPRING BREAK!

Spring is here and whether you are laying low or taking a small road trip or grand vacation, it’s a great time to enjoy the great outdoors. For the last few months, we’ve been cozying up indoors with our loved ones, and now it feels good to get out! Take a look below at some fun ways to take a break this spring.

   

PORTLAND’S NATURAL AMENITIES

Portland proper and Oregon are teeming with amazing sites and sounds, thrills and natural beauty, great food, and fantastic entertainment. Oregon wine country, the mighty Pacific Ocean and majestic Columbia River Gorge, Mt Hood, and the high desert landscapes of central Oregon are just a handful of the wonders our state has to offer! No matter what outdoor adventure you have in mind, Portland is just a hop, skip, and jump away from all of these great destinations!

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PORTLAND GARDENS

Looking for a fun getaway without actually leaving home?
Visit one of Portland’s gorgeous public gardens!
Trip Advisor has a fantastic list of twelve local gardens that are perfect for strolling,
picnicking, falling in love, and more!
Discover the complete list HERE.

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About Us: Over the course of their professional partnership, Aryne + Dulcinea have helped hundreds of clients prosper in their new lives. During this time, they have prided themselves in their top-notch selling abilities, with homes outperforming market standards, consistently exceeding list price while most of their listings sell in under 7 days. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell, Aryne & Dulcinea will work in collaboration to guide you in investing in your future and reaching your real estate goals.

Sanctuary: Lan Su Chinese Garden

Lan Su Chinese Garden is one of many urban gardens in Portland that I love to frequent when I need a little respite from life and my mind, sanctuary. Located in NW Portland, I moved to Portland over 21 years ago when they opened their doors. The majority of the work was spent putting in the mosaic stone paths as the walls came over pre-fab. The smell of many gardenias are my favorite (winter daphne in photo also bursting with aroma)! Every year there is a duck family for visitors to enjoy along with the many koi swimming. The second floor of the tea house is a great spot to have a light bite where I can look over the entire garden.  The New Year festivities in early February are definitely worth catching.  Basic membership is $60/yr and well worth it to have year round access to see the garden change with the seasons.

If you want to live near this garden click here!