Roses to Petunias
In 2014, when I started working at Stuhr Museum, older red carpet roses were in the raised beds on the bridge leading up to the main building. The blooms cycle about every few weeks, so there isn't a constant show of pretty blooms during the season. After a harsh winter, some winter killed and needed to be replaced in 2015. This was very expensive, but there was a grand opening event that summer and the pressure was on to make things look good. Some people complained during the season about the long canes with thorns sprawling out and catching their shirt sleeves or scratching their arms. If trimmed, there were no blooms. By 2017, about 75% of them winter killed. Roots competed with the mugo pine shrubs and ornamental grasses planted along side of them. The roses technically were not planted in the ground for overwintering success, but in a giant raised bed. It was time for the roses to go. I planted tidal wave red velour petunias in their place in 2017 to make a smooth transition. It was another pressure filled year because Stuhr was hosting the Total Eclipse. Same color of blooms, but less of a shock for the rose lovers.
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