- Maricopa County Cooperative Extension Home Horticulture:
Environmentally Responsible
Gardening & Landscaping in the Low Desert
The Heritage Rose Garden
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Created by the
Maricopa County Master Gardeners
The Evolution of a Garden Oasis, Now Used as a Teaching Tool
Located on the grounds of the University of Arizona, Maricopa County Cooperative Extension office, The Interpretive Trail was conceived to create landscaping examples illustrating beautiful, water conserving, effective and environmentally responsible design. One of the sections has become a site for the Heritage Rose Garden, featuring antique roses rich in beauty, history and fragrance.
 | Work began in May of 1996. Team leaders scheduled meetings and work parties, prioritized work events, procured materials and tools, and made final decisions necessary to keep the project moving. Decisions made at meetings were with majority approval and these included the garden layout, the sequence of work, the general timetable for work accomplishment, rose selections as well as fund raising opportunities | |
| Priorities were established for building the garden. First, a percolation test was done in two holes, 18" deep, and then cleanup of the site began. There were several trees on the site that had to be included in the garden: a very old orange tree and several fig trees that had become part of the University's agricultural history. The original garden was designed for an area 22' x 32'. As the work began, the garden expanded to 31' x 61' | |
 | After the entire garden area was cleared of debris, measured and staked, excavation began. A rototiller had to be used to loosen the soil and then the bed was soaked with water and rototilled again...and again....and again. | |
 | The beds were designed to be 2 - 3 feet deep to provide adequate drainage in tight clay soil, and were 3 - 4 feet wide for ample growth. The soil was totally removed and mixed with mulch, sand and perlite with amendments of gypsum, triple super phosphate and soil sulphur. | |
 | The irrigation system was designed, laid out and installed. Molded plastic edging was formed into rings to provide confinement of water around each rose. Wooden borders were constructed and leveled at installation time. | |
 | With the installation of a split rail fence, progress became more visible. The garden's three entrances each have an arch to support climbing roses and to add visual interest. | |
 | The overall design called for approximately 46 roses in the border beds with 21 roses in the center beds. Old garden roses grow extremely large, especially in our climate, so maximum growing space was allotted. Complimenting bedding plants were scheduled to be added upon completion, as well as a garden bench for visitors. | |
 | As the garden matures, it will be used as a hands-on teaching area for gardeners in training, a demonstrations garden for pruning presentations and a learning center for children. |
The Heritage Rose Garden is presently open to the public unguided at all times. Member are available at the garden to answer questions from the public between 8 am - 10 am on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month.
Other links:
The Rose Page, http://www.mc.edu/~nettles/rofaq/rofaq-top.html,
Yesterday's Rose, http://www.halcyon.com/cirsium/rosegal/welcome.htm,
World Wide Web Rose Pages ,http://www.mc.edu/~nettles/rofaq/rofaq-www.html
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Valley of the Sun Heritage Rose Society Demonstration Garden
