The Roses to Plant: Cultivars for Use in Colorado’s Post-Japanese Beetle Life

By Susan Wroble, May 2020 What’s a rose lover to do? Japanese Beetles invaded the Denver area in 2006 and have exploded in numbers ever since. While some home gardeners are ripping out their rose beds, Colorado State University’s Dr. Whitney Cranshaw had a much better plan. Dr. Cranshaw, a Professor of Entomology, undertook a … Continue reading The Roses to Plant: Cultivars for Use in Colorado’s Post-Japanese Beetle Life

PRACTICALLY PERFECT: Ideal Roses for Your Garden — and Their Secrets for Success

By Susan Wroble (Based on presentation by Tammy Jansen at the DRS 2017 SymROSEium) Like so many of us, Consulting Rosarian Tammy Jansen daydreams of the perfect rose. You know the one — its incredible form captures Queen of Show. It’s a disease-free, pest-free, non-stop bloomer. Of course, the perfect rose is thornless and self-cleaning. It has beautiful … Continue reading PRACTICALLY PERFECT: Ideal Roses for Your Garden — and Their Secrets for Success

Chris van Cleave: The Redneck Rosarian

Gardener, writer and speaker Chris VanCleave, also known as “The Redneck Rosarian,” was the Denver Rose Society’s guest speaker for the annual SymROSEium. “I’ve been growing roses all my life,” Chris said. “Roses are in my blood. And no matter where you are in your own life journey, no matter where you are in the … Continue reading Chris van Cleave: The Redneck Rosarian

Getting into Roses

My package had made it through the airport scanner, and the agent at Washington Dulles airport frowned. He took out his knife and sliced open my carefully taped box. Rummaging through the clothes and shoes and books, he pulled out a ziplock bag containing a wet paper towel wrapped around a muddy ball. “This” … Continue reading Getting into Roses

A Labor of Patience: Carol O’Meara on Japanese Beetles

Carol O’Meara is a horticultural entomologist and an extension agent in Colorado, but she grew up on the East Coast. When she and her siblings got into trouble, her family had chores for each kid. Carol’s job was picking Japanese beetles from the roses. “I spent a LOT of time picking off Japanese beetles,” Carol … Continue reading A Labor of Patience: Carol O’Meara on Japanese Beetles

A Climate For Immigrants

This article first appeared in the April 2017 issue of "The Rose Window," the on-line publication of the Denver Rose Society. By Susan Wroble Denver Rose Society’s March meeting featured a talk by Dr. Frank Krell, Curator of Entomology at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. He spoke on the creation of a welcoming … Continue reading A Climate For Immigrants