Graceful in habit and lush in bloom, with a sumptuous variety of color and scent, roses are perhaps the most pleasing element in any garden. In Designing with Roses, the remarkable versatility of these plants is at last fully explored. Whether in a mixed border or a pot, a flower garden or kitchen plot, an urban terrace or a rural expanse, Tony Lord dramatically illustrates the rose’s potential as an elegant climber, screen, enclosure, and container plant. Offering a careful explanation of the cultural requirements of roses in every situation, he provides expert advice on the optimum methods of planting, feeding, pruning, and spraying. Completing the book are a detailed directory of the best rose varieties for each purpose and site as well as a list of suitable companion plants. A welcome, long-overdue contribution to gardening literature. Tony Lord is an award-winning photographer and horticultural consultant; his previous books include Best Borders and Gardening at Sissinghurst. 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
