The question, “What is this year’s book about?” has consistently been the most frequently asked question by devoted readers of The Prairie Garden.

The subject is roses. And the 2027 edition of The Prairie Garden, titled All About Roses, addresses the topic exceptionally well.

Over the years, select editions of The Prairie Garden have enjoyed bestseller status. Back issues have always been made available to The Prairie Garden’s loyal readers although some themes have proven more in-demand than others and have sold out.

I have no hesitation in predicting All About Roses will be The Prairie Garden’s next bestseller when it is released this month. I wouldn’t wait too long to obtain your copy.

This 188-page edition is an authoritative resource that will help you to grow your best roses ever. Inside, you will find basic definitions for rose terminology, tips for propagating and transplanting, fundamental techniques for troubleshooting pests and nutritional deficiencies, current rose-breeding trends and much more. The information is presented in an easy-to-understand format, designed to ensure rose-growing success. Advanced techniques for expert rose gardeners are also included. Richly illustrated, the 2027 edition includes more than 220 full-colour images.

Roses galore

From heritage roses such as the fragrant Double Scotch White Rose, hardy to Zone 2, to stunning new rose releases including Niagara Blush rose, the newest cultivar in Vineland’s 49th Parallel Collection, All About Roses shares with readers an incredible array of exciting possibilities.

Learn about the new generation of small roses, how to design a rose garden, and the amazing efforts that have gone into rescuing heritage roses. Journey through the incredible history of roses including the celebrated rose breeding at Morden Research Station and step into the future of roses.

The Prairie Garden is a Winnipeg-based digest continuously published since 1937. Dedicated to the advancement of horticulture on the Prairies, the publication, celebrating an impressive 90 years with its 2027 edition, boasts tremendous longevity as Western Canada’s only gardening annual.

The Prairie Garden’s appeal can be directly attributed to its focus on hardy plants and growing methods uniquely relevant to Prairie gardeners. This respected annual publication is not written by one author but instead features contributions from a who’s who of horticultural experts and knowledgeable gardeners. Indeed, articles in the 2027 edition are written by contributors from Cornhill, N.B., to Kelowna, B.C., and North Dakota.

Guest editor

Each year, the process of developing the themed issue is guided by The Prairie Garden’s volunteer committee and a special guest editor.

The guest editor for the 2027 edition is Rick Durand, a giant among plant breeders and tree researchers on the Prairies today. His plant introductions, including roses, trees, shrubs and perennials, can be found growing in countless gardens across Canada.

Durand was born in Winnipeg, but his roots are also in Dauphin where he spent his formative years as well as in Treherne and Portage la Prairie. He has spent decades evaluating woody ornamental cultivars that are hardy to the Prairies. He has developed numerous tree and shrub cultivars, including roses. One of his most recent rose introductions is Quartet, a compact, Prairie-hardy rose which features four transitional colours.

Today, Durand makes his home in Kelowna where he has worked as plant development co-ordinator at Bylands Nurseries. He grows dozens of roses in his home garden.

For the 2027 edition on roses, Durand selected a rose article from The Prairie Garden’s first publication in 1937. The piece is a fascinating step back in time when growing roses presented many challenges.

“Breeding has come a long way in 90 years,” said Durand in a recent interview. “Today, roses are much smaller plants, so they fit easily into the modern garden. You get a wide variety of colour and good performance. With today’s hardy roses, it’s almost guaranteed they will come up each year.”

The important thing, says Durand, is that far less maintenance is required for hardy roses. “Years ago, you had to use rose dust and all kinds of other things because of disease problems,” he says. “Some pruning is still involved but most importantly, you don’t have to spend so much time wintering roses in the late fall as long as you get good snow cover. But even when you don’t get a lot of snow cover, most Prairie roses survive because they are own-root roses (grown on their own roots rather than being budded or grafted onto a separate rootstock).”

Local advantages

Interestingly, the cold winters on the Prairies are a distinct advantage, says Durand. “It helps to control the size of the plants. In Kelowna, for example, where the winter is milder, Winnipeg Parks rose usually grows six to seven feet tall,” he says “It’s a lot more work and maintenance when a rose gets out of control. Size-control is a great advantage of the cold weather in Manitoba and on the Prairies. And, of course, you get a great amount of flowers when you prune roses.”

Roses also provide beautiful colour late in the fall. “That depends on a bit of management,” says Durand. “Be consistent and prevent rose hips from forming if you want to encourage re-blooming.”

Ariel Gordon is a Winnipeg writer and Free Press copy editor who enjoys reading The Prairie Garden. “My writing life is focused on the urban forest, but I’m a terrible gardener,” she says. “I subscribe to a method called ‘neglect gardening’ where I plunked hostas and ferns into my garden beds 15 years ago and have since left them to their own devices. Though I will never be a horticulturalist or a master gardener, I am so glad The Prairie Garden series exists. I appreciate its community approach, its mix of hard-won wisdom and enthusiasm. I always find something that’s right up my cul-de-sac, no matter that year’s theme. I hope it continues forever — and I hope to contribute an article someday!”

Thanks to its consistent quality, the dedication of the volunteer committees which have served The Prairie Garden throughout the years and a legion of loyal readers, the long-term success of The Prairie Garden is assured.

Come and celebrate the 90th anniversary of The Prairie Garden! The launch of the 2027 edition, All About Roses, will be hosted in the atrium of McNally Robinson Booksellers, 1120 Grant Ave., on Sunday, Nov. 22, at 2 p.m. The event will also be available as a YouTube stream. The book, priced at $19.99, will be available at retail locations throughout Manitoba. More details are available at theprairiegarden.ca.

colleenizacharias@gmail.com