Question
Dear Lynette,
My girlfriend and I have just bought our first home in Australia. We are both keen to have roses in the garden but are unsure of which type to go for. The house is on a N/S orientation with gardens at the front receiving morining sun from the East and rear garden getting sun in evening. What would you reccommend? In the front gardens we would like to have trellised climbers.
egards,
Gordon

Answer
If my memory serves me correctly, Australia is a very large continent. There are places where growing roses will be very difficult and others which will be a garden of Eden. Roses are like people and have bloodlines. Some roses revel in heat while others bleach out and blow quickly. Also many roses may be beautiful but under certain conditions get disease while others are tough and shrug disease off. As you are first time gardeners you will not want a rose which takes a lot of care to get the best of out if. I know the best nurseries in Australia so if you could please tell me where you are  It is always a wisdom to get rose pbushes from a nursery that specializes in only roses. They will only sell those cultivars that grow best in your area. Lynnette