In the fall I start getting a bit frantic … trying to enjoy my roses ENOUGH. ENOUGH to make it last. ENOUGH to make it last until next May. That is a lot of enjoying.
And, this is the time of year, I sit in my potting shed and begin working on THE LIST of roses and rose companions to add next year. I pour through catalogs, look at pictures from my garden and listen to the advice of others who love and grow roses.

Participating in Twitter #RoseChat and #GardenChat, I have real-time opportunities to see first hand what others from around the world are growing and hear all the good stuff and the challenges … making it even easier to put together THE LIST.
Paul Zimmerman highly recommends Mme Bovary from Delbard from Roses Unlimited. A lovely mauve rose with a great scent. And, Dublin Bay … a climbing rose. Very hardy, and it’s a true red rose; lightly perfumed with a repeat flowering later in the season.
Brooke Kroeger says Our Lady of Guadalupe is the best, most disease resistant rose she has ever grown. My neighbor has a couple of these beauties … spectacular even in the drought!

Chris the Redneck Rosarian has tempted me all summer with pictures of Julia Child and Golden Celebrations. Two luscious yellow roses…


My Bourbon Queen was so beautiful this year that I feel I need another one.

And, my Roseraie De L Hay was so beautiful that I want more. Can you blame me?

Thanks to @Lara Lewis, I’m also taking a serious look at David Austin‘s, Munstead Wood. Munstead Wood was Gertrude Jekyll’s garden in Surrey where she worked on her many gardening books. I love Gertrude. Surely I should have the rose named for her garden.
It would be fabulous to add a few more minis roses from John’s Miniature Roses — like Cupcake and Seattle Sensation.
Just wait until the new catalogs start coming … THE LIST is sure to grow.
Sounds like this might be a good time to reread, The Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies!
What plants are on your 2012 list?
Where to begin…. Like you, I am already in “next year” mode…. Just last week I pre-ordered 6 roses: 3 – “Mustard & Ketchup” floribundas & 3 “All A Twitter” miniature roses. Just have to figure out where they are going to be planted…. Thanks for all you do!
I have enjoyed everyone’s rose gardens all summer long. I get panicky at this time of year too. I’m not done planting!! I have a list for next year started as well, but I usually wait until the dead of winter to pour over seed and plant catalogs. Of course I want everything too. I keep a running list on my computer titled Next Year’s Garden.
Susan, it is going to be hard to say goodbye to the roses. We will have to keep each other encouraged that spring will come!
Oh yes. I have a list of “what I am looking for” and a list of “what I have ordered online” and before I moved I had list of “non performers to be shovel pruned”.
I’m so glad I found your blog today (thanks to #gardenchat)! I have only a few roses and have been struggling with how to choose more. Your post is full of beautiful pictures and suggestions. Thank you so much for sharing! I’m looking forward to perusing the rest of your blog!
Hello Cynthia, So glad you stopped by.
Yup! SO many roses, so little room! I have a long list for next year already…and I admit I recently purchased 2 more (Buff Beauty and Mrs Doreen Pike) even though I have no idea where I am going to put them. So glad to know I’m not alone. 😉
I’ve seen so many temptations – Pink Knockouts, Pope John Paul II, and the Roseraie de L’Hay and Bourbon Queen look very tempting. Just have to figure out where. Hmm.