5
Miniatures are for Collectors
A garden grows as deep as love as high as thoughts are high.
WILLIS EBERMAN (FROM THE POEM Dimensions)There are collectors of just about anything and everything imaginable. My mother collected different kinds of salt and pepper shakers. Other people collect coins, old glassware, bottles, dishes, dolls or stamps. Too often these collections become accumulations without rhyme or reason.
To have any real value and to give the greatest satisfaction, there should be a plan or objective to your collection. Collecting is fun, it's educational, and it can serve as a bridge to conversation and friendship.
Your first collection may be only an accumulation of a few plants, sometimes of similar varieties though more often of quite dissimilar kinds. You will derive far more pleasure from collecting miniatures if you make a decision on the type of collection you want. Is it going to be a representative crosssection of the various forms of miniature roses, or will it tell the history of their development? Will your collection be arranged by color, for example, all the shades of red or pink miniatures available? Or will it be a collection of all the fragrant miniature roses cataloged -according to types and degrees of fragrance. Still another avenue of opportunity would be collecting all the varieties of miniatures suitable for growing in pots.
3. Left: Single-flowered miniature rose 'Simplex' has white flowers.
4. Right: Double- flowered miniature roses like 'Lori Nan' are delightful in collections.
Whatever your special interest may be in collecting miniature roses, do start with a plan in mind. This doesn't mean you cannot change or modify this original plan, but it will give direction and purpose to your collection. It can also save you money for you will be careful to purchase only those varieties which will enhance your special collection. This is especially important when your growing area is limited.
If you budget the money you spend on your collection, check collections offered in specialists' catalogs. Many of these collections are marvelous for beginners as they include an assortment of basic, easily grown varieties. If you are an advanced collector you'll find money-saving collections of choice new kinds offered in these same catalogs.
Do not try to make a garden border from a collection of assorted varieties. Instead, grow your collection in pots or other containers and display them singly or in garden groupings. Pots are especially suitable for these roses; you can move and re-group potted plants any time you want to change the garden scene. As new varieties are added to your collection it is an easy matter to rearrange according to color or plant size.
In the garden various plans or patterns can be employed to arrange the many varieties into a pleasing and meaningful picture. A simple way of growing and showing a small collection is to plant several miniatures in a tub or box. As your collection grows it can be extended into several tubs or boxes. Container-grown miniatures also make great accent plants for other garden plantings.
Arrange plants in your all-miniature garden according to height and size. Use miniature tree roses and climbers for added contrast. Consider the growth habits of each variety you want for your collection by seeing it growing or studying descriptive texts so you will know how it compares with others in your collection.
When adding new plants to a collection do consider flower form, color, contrast and blooming habit, and the shape, size and color of the leaves. These guiding factors will help you design imaginative ways to display your collection.
To start a collection of miniature roses, select a few plants from a catalog or from a local nursery. For the largest selection of both old and new varieties, request a catalog from one of the miniature rose specialists. (See sources page 131.) Start with any of the catalog collections or choose single plants from the beautifully illustrated varieties and descriptions in the catalogs. These are but personal ideas; once you know the miniatures you will find your own enjoyable way of collecting them. As a collector you will experience complete satisfaction, continuing interest and an evernew source of enjoyment from your collection of miniature roses.
Return to Table of Contents
Back to Old Garden Roses and Beyond