To everybody in Stuart Schulman's neighborhood, it is obvious that he enjoys growing roses. Most of his 300 rose bushes bloom in his front yard, transforming the space into a sea of pink, mauve, white, yellow, peach and red blossoms.

Carol Ann Schulman snips a rose in her backyard (Philip Groshong photo) | ZOOM |

        Experts advise planting roses where more people can see and enjoy them. When Mr. Schulman moved into his Madeira home, he had no choice but to to use the front yard. Roses do best in full sun. His back yard is heavily wooded.

        “This is all I have,” he says. “I did what I could.”

        Mr. Schulman knows his rose bushes by name: Crimson Bouquet, Dolly Parton, Veteran's Honor and Barbra Streisand, to name a few.

        “I just love growing them,” says Mr. Schulman, who owns a food processing company.

        He and his wife, Carol Ann, like to bring the fragrant blossoms inside.

        “I enjoy them,” Mrs. Schulman says. “I pick as many as I want.”

GETTING STARTED

Stuart Schulman suggests novice rose growers learn from experienced gardeners.    “Come to a Greater Cincinnati Rose Association meeting,” he says. “Association members enjoy teaching beginners about roses.”    For information about the rose association, call Sue Smith at 489-6545 or visit www.geocities.com/cincyrose.    Here are some basic rose-growing tips:    • Plant most rose bushes in full sun.    • Apply an organic fertilizer twice each year — in early spring and after the first blooms have faded.    • Apply a liquid fertilizer every two to three weeks.    • Water every other day.    • Spray the bushes once a week to control black spot and insects. Mr. Schulman uses different chemicals, changing the mixture so insects and other pests don't become accustomed to the treatment.

ABOUT THIS FEATURE

Know a gardener daffy over daffodils? Partial to petunias? Perhaps she loves shade plants, or he likes lots of yard art.    For a biweekly feature, we're looking for Tristate gardeners who display their love for a special plant or a special way of decorating their gardens.    Nominations to: Wild About, Tempo, The Cincinnati Enquirer, 312 Elm St., Cincinnati 45202; fax: 768-8330; e-mail mfuqua@enquirer.com.

        She also helps with the rose garden's upkeep. One day earlier this month she spent five hours cutting the spent blossoms off bushes.

        Mr. Schulman's fascination with roses started after a friend planted several bushes in his former Pleasant Ridge yard many years ago.

        “I knew nothing about roses,” he says.

        The late Joe Carabin, a serious rose gardener who lived down the street, befriended Mr. Schulman.

        “He took me under his wing and I became his protege,” Mr. Schulman says. “To honor his friendship, I started learning about roses.”

        Many other Greater Cincinnati gardeners also guided him.

        “He's got a great rose garden,” says Dr. John Pottschmidt, well-known Tristate rose expert. “He's got it laid out nicely for viewing, and he has a tremendous variety of plant material that is exquisitely taken care of. You can't do any better.”

        About 80 percent of Mr. Schulman's roses are hybrid tea roses, known for delicate blossoms on straight stems. He also grows floribunda and grandiflora bushes, which bloom continuously, often with clusters of blossoms on each stem. Climbing rose bushes add color and fragrance along a fence.

        “I don't have a favorite rose,” Mr. Schulman says. “Each one has its own personality. Some smell good. Some have perfect form. Some bloom profusely.

        “They're just like people,” he says. “Each rose is totally different.”
       

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