Landscape with roses

Low-maintenance roses? Yes, there is a new breed of shrub rose. These less-fussy plants inspired Cox to create a guide to designing garden plans where perennials contentedly consort with the queen of flowers. Although some rose lovers desire formal beds, others strive for an exuberant, free-form naturalistic style, so Cox shows ways to maximize the effects of repeat and once-blooming roses regardless of the garden layout. Pavia's photographs capture vignettes in private, primarily American, gardens where splendid varieties of old and modern roses reign. Cox looks for qualities like disease resistance, an attractive growth habit, and abundant flower production to base his recommendations for rose color and hardiness or to meet design requirements. Anyone new to rose gardening should appreciate the concluding chapters, with practical advice on how to select, grow, and prune roses. --Alice Joyce