Book Review: "Roses Without Chemicals" by Peter Kukielski

Welcome to the Member Ideas area! This community feature is where our members can post their own ideas. These posts are unedited and not necessarily endorsed by the National Gardening Association.
Posted by @MargieNY on
The front cover of this book offers the synopsis: "150 disease-free varieties that will change the way you grow roses." I purchased this book because I wanted to be sucessful growing roses without the use of chemicals.

The front cover of this book offers the synopsis: "150 disease-free varieties that will change the way you grow roses. Peter's ratings for fragrance and disease resistance make it easy to choose the right rose for your garden. I wish I had this when I planted my rose garden twenty-five years ago. I am now about to plant another garden, full of wonderful rose varieties and I intend to follow Peter's advice wholeheartedly." -Martha Stewart.

I would like to introduce you to the author, Peter Kukielski.

- Peter was the former curator of the award-winning Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden at the N.Y. Botanical Garden.
- The following article appeared by the N.Y. Times about the 2007 renovation under the leadership of Peter.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07...
- In 2010, the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden received the Great Rosarians of the World Rose Garden Hall of Fame Award.
- The All-American Rose Selections (AARS) committee voted it "America's Best Public Rose Garden Display".
- In 2012, the garden received the Award of Excellence from the World Federation of Rose Societies.

His information is presented in a friendly and reassuring tone. He seems to have a clear understanding of the homeowner's frequent frustrations and disappointments with unsuccessful planting results. The preface reads: "(It's not your fault)". Chapters include topics on the evolution of roses, regional rose growing, what roses need, planting and pruning roses, diseases and pests. The reader can look up roses by color and class. The chemical-free directory consists of 150 roses.

As you turn the pages, you almost get the feeling you are on a rose walking tour with Peter as your guide. Individual spectacular color photographs, each with a rating system, are broken down by disease resistance, flowering, fragrance, and total rating. Along with interesting factual details about each rose, there is a section listing complementary companion rose selections.

I purchased this book because I wanted to be successful. Do you want to find roses that will need no spraying and satisfy your desire for gorgeous blooms? This book may be your answer - it surely has built up my confidence.

Below please find a few of the 150 roses from the book presently in my garden - anxiously awaiting a new shipment....Happy Gardening

Thumb of 2015-05-02/MargieNY/b11df1


Thumb of 2015-05-02/MargieNY/fcf7ba


Thumb of 2015-05-02/MargieNY/b4e9a4


Thumb of 2015-05-02/MargieNY/d1418a


Thumb of 2015-05-02/MargieNY/edb74a


Thumb of 2015-05-02/MargieNY/f33740


Thumb of 2015-05-02/MargieNY/05d75e

 
Comments and Discussion
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Thanks! by dmurray407 May 23, 2015 1:28 PM 1
Successful by pirl May 21, 2015 7:46 PM 4
Excellent! by gemini_sage May 21, 2015 5:39 PM 2

Explore More:

Member Login:

( No account? Join now! )

Today's site banner is by Zoia and is called "Volunteer"

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.