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Suggests further, hardy varieties of roses for Islanders

To the Expositor:

I much appreciated Dr. Joe Shorthouse’s article about one of the roses developed by Georges Bugnet, Legal, Alberta (‘Famous Canadian rose bush grows on Manitoulin Island,’ August 12, Page 19). Other Canadian developers of roses include Frank Skinner, Dropmore, Manitoba; Percy Wright, Saskatoon; and Felicitas Svejda, Ottawa. 

Readers of The Expositor may find that the best references for growing roses in our northern climates have been written  by Robert Osborne of Cornhill, New Brunswick. His first book, appropriately titled ‘Roses for Canadian Gardens,’ looked at over 200 rose varieties, all of which can be successfully grown in Canada, and assessed each in terms of disease resistance, winter hardiness, fragrance, colour, length of flowering season, flower shape, plant shape and height. He should know; he has owned and operated Cornhill Nursery for over 30 years and propagates and sells over 100 rose varieties.  

Regards,

Brian Matthews

Elliot Lake