Flowers of this rose have all the charm and grace of the old-fashioned, heritage roses. The classic old rose shape is very different from the modern high centered Hybrid Tea. Flowers are flat, double, and very fragrant. This rose flowers constantly, unlike most old roses, many of which bloom only once a year. Disease resistance and winter hardiness are good (USDA Zones 4-9). The plant grows to four feet tall and wide so give it room.

This rose was introduced by Desprez, in France, in 1842 and is classed as a Hybrid Perpetual. In the United States it is often sold as ‘Jacques Cartier’ and in England as ‘Marchesa Boccella’. It is sometimes also known as ‘Marquise Boccella’. However, if you want to exhibit the flowers under the rules of the American Rose Society it must be shown as ‘Marchesa Boccella’.

In the 2007 Roses In Review survey of the American Rose Society, this rose received a score of 9.0 out of a possible 10.0 putting it in the “Outstanding” category.

Old roses are rarely available in local garden centers, but it doesn’t hurt to askwhether they can special order it for you. Also, look for them online to have them delivered right to your door.

Growing your own food at home in these tough economic times is an easy way to ease the budget crunch for your family. Peppers, both the sweet bell pepper types and the spicy chili pepper types, are easy and productive choices that are loaded with vitamins and minerals. All kinds of peppers have strong flavors that enhance the flavor and color of your dishes without adding too many unwanted calories.

These are warm season crops so wait to plant till the weather is warm and settled. Start seeds indoors a month before planting out and be sure to check the seed packet labels for disease resistant varieties. The more disease resistant your food plants are the less you have to treat them with remedies. If you run into fungus or bacterial diseases on your plants, be sure to treat them with organic remedies. It’s important for the health of your family to only use organic remedies on the plants you eat.

Insects, like tomato hornworms or tomato fruitworms, can sometimes be a problem. Knock these critters into a jar of soapy water and they’ll die very quickly.

Peppers, especially the small fruited types can also be successful grown in pots indoors in a sunny window. You can enjoy these during the winter doldrums and use them to spice up your cooking.

 The Hybrid China rose ‘Mutabilis’ is a very old rose that comes to us from China. It is an “Outstanding” rose, ranking 8.9 out of 10.0 points in the Roses In Review program of the American Rose Society for 2007. The flowers open yellow and turn orange, then pink, and finally red as they age. The bush is very resistant to disease and produces flowers constantly. Its only flaw is that it has no fragrance. Winter hardy in USDA Zones 5-9.

The hybrid tea ‘Touch of Class’ is the highest rated hybrid tea, ranked at 8.9 out of a possible 10.0 points in the American Rose Society’s annual “Roses In Review” evaluation for 2008. This high rank puts it in the “Outstanding” category. Certainly it is outstanding in the exhibition quality of its exquisite buds. Flowers are orange pink with 30 to 35 petals and slight fragrance. It blooms constantly and is resistant to the fungus diseases black spot and rust. Its perfection is flawed, however, by susceptibility to two other fungus diseases, powdery mildew and botrytis. Botrytis attacks and ruins the gorgeous blossoms, a problem that makes this rose somewhat less than “Outstanding” for many of us.  It is winter hardy in USDA Zones 4-9. Other roses in all classes, some with stronger fragrance and some with better disease resistance, are the subjects of upcoming blogs.<!–[endif]–>