[.ca] Designing with Roses (ISBN 0711217149)

From Amazon.com:
Already known and appreciated for his books on borders and Sissinghurst, Tony Lord reveals yet another area of expertise here in Designing with Roses. A homage to "the queen of flowers," this is also a plea for an end to its misuse, with Lord demonstrating its versatility in borders or pots, on walls and fences, alone or in main or supporting roles. These sweeping concepts are then fleshed out with detailed information on shape, color, scent, foliage, immunity levels, form, and flowering times. He writes for a worldwide audience, taking into account local climates and native plants, and his attention to detail continues beyond the plants themselves. When he looks at pergolas, for instance, he is informative about possible sites, materials, proportions, and construction. Designing with Roses's well-researched, flowing prose is interspersed with the author's own stunning photographs. It will captivate readers of all levels of expertise, to whom Lord throws out a general challenge to develop a practical aesthetic of roses that balances design with nature. Finally, the bibliography, international list of nurseries, explanation of zones, and invaluable list of strain characteristics leave the reader full of inspiration and equipped with the tools for pursuing the dream. --Fiona Murphy

Not just pretty pictures:
This book has a lot of gorgeous 'rose porn' photographs, but the text is also very informative and gives good, specific suggestions for maximizing the beauty of roses in the landscape. I was able to get ideas on how to incorporate roses in beds of mixed perennials in a sophisticated way. I found the section on the history of the use of roses also very interesting.

If you love rose-gardening...this is a must-have publication:
I received an advance copy of Tony Lord's new book, "Designing with Roses". Besides being a wonderful rose feast for the eyes this 185 page book has some great ideas for various types of gardens and gardening techniques. This versatile offering has chapters lovingly decorated with lush photography of 'Roses for Structure', 'Roses as Punctuation', 'Roses in Mixed Borders' and 'Roses for Wild Gardens'. At the very end of the book is a wonderful listing of roses for special purposes that Mr. Lord describes as Pick of the Bunch. Here is a marvelous grouping of roses for ground covers, bush roses (short & tall), shrub roses, climbing, roses for arcades, pergolas, and catenaries, roses for autumn color, roses for bedding,roses for colored foliage, roses for conservatories, roses for cutting, roses for fences, roses for fragrance, roses for hedges, roses for pillars, roses for shade, roses for standards, and more. Thirteen pages of detailed information listing color, hardiness zone and class. Roses that have received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit as plants of excellence and easy culture are also indicated. In 185 pages I counted only about 10 pages that didn't have at least one picture on them. There are many double pages of photography that makes you feel as if your face was pressed against a window looking out into a wonderland of roses. Breathtaking close-up photography makes you think you can actually smell these beauties. The Pick of the Bunch alone makes this book a worthy addition to any roseaholic's library. If you are a Consulting Rosarian, these lists make it a lot easier to suggest roses for special purposes when you are asked by other rose growers.

Beautiful book:
This is a wonderful book with gorgeous color photographs of rose gardens that will make you drool. Although most of the gardens are in England, any gardener can gets ideas from this book. It is basically a "coffee table" type book and is one that you can get lost in on a rainy day. I would highly recommend it!