Ladies and Gentlemen, May I Present.. Sunny!!

Isn't it amazing that the acquiring of a much desired plant can create not just excitement, but actual giddiness within us? Last year I heard that a new Knockout Rose was due to hit the market. A beauty of soft yellow and I searched for her to no avail. As the planting season was heating up this year I again searched, Home Depot, Walmart, Lowes and came up empty handed. And then, just as I was about to go the internet route, a sea of yellow caught my eye as I passed a local mom and pop nursery. I slammed on the brakes, made an immediate U-turn and 30 minutes later was swimming in giddiness as I carefully transported 4 of the beauties home.

Meet Sunny, the newbie of the Knockout family. While she doesn't look like much right now, just give her a season to show her inner beauty. An added bonus, she has an intoxicating fragrance. A discovery I made when the perfume filled my car on the ride home. I love roses, but as an organic gardener the hybrid teas have proven too needy. The constant spraying of chemicals to eliminate disease was not something I was prepared to do. Not willing to forgo their beauty entirely I have concentrated on growing the hardy antique varieties and lean heavily toward those found on the EarthKind Rose List. The Knockout series of roses have made this list and for very good reason. They are not fussy, are incredibly disease resistant, grow like weeds and bloom pretty much nonstop until frost. You can find them in red, pink, mauve and now Sunny yellow. My fellow gardeners, run don't walk to your nearest nursery and grab yourself a couple of these beauties.