Question
I'm from TX as well, and quite frankly I avoid any kind of gardening site like the plague. When I first became ill six years ago, I just had this gut feeling that it could be a long battle. It was then I pledged that I would not be a burden to my family, and I would work at making my world small enough to manage. WEll, a bit of advice....it is never small enough to manage. I have three rare diseases, all neurological,and when my home burned down in 1995 I will hold in my heart that first spring as the roses sprung up from the ashes. There is just something about renewal that nurtures my perseverence. And unfortunately I've learned that any disabled person is the least equipped and yet the one saddled with being their own advocate. I see local docs about twice a month and I go to houston for hospitalization. I'm trying to convince the immunoligist that treated the boy in the bubble to take my case. Not only is being ill, exhausting, but I also must convince each doctor at each visit that I am worthy of saving. Other than a doctor the only person I ever see is the UPS delivery person and he has begun to start running if he seems me through the window......

Your words were so eloquent and just what I needed, although I'm not sure how I wound up at your post. If you were to pick four roses for a fellow texan to plant outside the bedroom window that is virtually maintanence free, could you reduce your fancy by that much? I have lived all my life in TX except for a five year stint in WA state at which time I thought I had grown a green thumb. yeah, right?
Bless you sincerely for touching someone today.

Answer
Hi Peg-

I am sorry to hear about your condition and I hope that a miracle happens and you are healed.

If I was to pick 4 roses to plant outside a window - it depends on how much sun it gets.  If it is on the northside of the window - and doesn't get much sun - I would pick the following roses: Knock out rose, Prosperity, Buff Beauty, and Penelope.  These are old garden roses (except for Knock out) and they need minimum attention and thrive in shady places, and bloom mostly spring/fall - with Knockout blooming almost 11 months a year. They are also more drought tolerant.

If the space by your window gets a good amount of sun without a lot of shade (6+ hours a day sun) - I would pick the following roses:
Belinda's dream, Knockout, Bonica, and Mrs. B.R. Cant.  These roses like sun also, and need a minimum amount of attention while granting you with lots of blooms.

If you will never water them or fertilize them - pick the following rose:

Knockout rose

You can order these roses online from:
WWW.Chambleeroses.com or WWW.Antiqueroseemporium.com

The roses at Chamblee's coming in 1 gallon pots and are easier to plant than the ones that come from Antique rose emporium - both Antique Rose Emporium roses come in larger pots (2-3 gallon) and are more mature size - so you can decide what size you want.

Remember - use a good potting soil or rose soil from local garden center (e.g. Lowes).

Have fun smelling the roses!

Carlene
aka the Flowerlady