In the September/October 2024 issue of FLOWER, Francie MacDougall talked with Gracie Poulson of Grace Rose Farm. Learn all about the farm and community the Poulsons created here.
Although Gracie compares picking a favorite rose to choosing a favorite child, she shares a few she recommends for their specific attributes.
Photo by Marcy Simpson
Ashley
Best In Arrangements
Ashley, Pink O’Hara, and Alabaster. The bright pink, light pink, and white reflect a color combination I love.
Photo by Marcy Simpson
Eustacia Vye
Most Dependable
Eustacia Vye. This David Austin rose has a really beautiful ombré pink, old-fashioned bloom.
Photo by Marcy Simpson
White O'Hara
For Gracious Gifting
You can’t go wrong with any kind of white rose, whether for a man or a woman. My go-to is White O’Hara. It’s beautiful and fragrant, and we sell both bouquets and bushes.
Photo by Marcy Simpson
Princess Charlene de Monaco
To Stop and Smell
Princess Charlene de Monaco. Its fragrance is intoxicatingly sweet.
Photo by Marcy Simpson
Francis Meilland
For the Novice Grower
Francis Meilland. It repeats several times throughout the season and rewards its growers with large blooms.
Photo by Marcy Simpson
Bolero
What I Grow at Home
Pope John Paul, Bolero, and All Dressed Up. They never fail to put on quite a show.
By Francie MacDougall
In Garden Roses: The Complete Guide to Growing and Arranging Spectacular Blooms (Artisan 2024), Gracie shares her incredible breadth of wisdom in a comprehensive guide to growing roses specifically to use as cut flowers. It includes detailed information on the best varieties in every possible hue–ones that can thrive in the home garden and bring gardeners magnificent blooms year after year. She also offers instructions for planting, year-round care, and harvesting, whether you’re growing roses in the ground, in raised beds, or in containers, and in every climate zone; plus styling and arranging tips, including bouquets in simple pitchers and urns as well as more elaborate tablescapes and floral arches. Buy the Book!
