Question
I'm beginning to go through the 2007 seed and gardening catalogs. I would like to start a rose garden next year. I can tell you that I do have lots of sun in the area it would be situated in.  Beyond that I don't know what else to consider.  Is this too much to begin with?  I need to know what and where to plant with them as far as perennials and annuals, too.  Please help me.

Answer
It would help if I knew where you are writing from and where you are going to be growing these Roses of yours. We'll start with "all of the above" and move on from there - please let me know what part of the country you live in so that we can avoid Roses that won't work for you.

2007 Members' Choice Award at the American Rose Society (http://www.ars.org/index.html) goes to.... "Hot Cocoa".  This being a "russet" it happens to be one of my favorite Roses, too.  Blue and Brown blooms are just plain irresistable to me.  This was the Rose that got the most votes nationwide among members of the ARS, which incidentally you can join for $37/yr and get a free Rose when you do if you sign up now.

But I digress...

The annual "All-American Rose Selections" (AARS) list is out for 2007.  Unlike the ARS distinction, All-America Rose Selections (http://www.rose.org/) is rose growers and breeders searching for "exceptional" Roses among the year's new introductions.

2006 Winners (http://www.hort.wisc.edu/mastergardener/Features/flowers/rose2006/rose2006.htm) included the lovely yellow Julia Child, Rainbow Sorbet, Tahitian Sunset and Wild Blue Younder.

I would try the Floribundas and perhaps a few Old Garden Roses at first.  Teas are lovely but the take so much understanding and sweat that the short bloom and ugly canes that dominate your best landscape may not be what you really want.

Spray like crazy before you see any black spots on leaves to keep any fungi from moving in.

These need ALL the sun you can give them.  Half day will not do. Get them full, unfiltered, clear sun.  Prepare the best possible bed for Soil that you have ever used.  The bed itself should have light, loamy soil, with some bone meal thrown in, humus and manure are always wonderful.

Not much of a secret here.

Keep me posted!