This intensely lush Kaleidoscope rose shows off the seductive qualities that make otherwise humble Bay Area gardeners try to grow roses in spite of the difficulties. Wednesday's Chron focuses in on rose-growers:
• Not a bed of roses: "I was not at all sure I wanted to grow anything that required special instructions for each month," says Margee Robinson, and her disappointing foray into rose gardening bore out her uncertainty.
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What novice rose grower did wrong: Rayford Reddell takes apart Margee Robinson's account of her doomed roses and prescribes a book, "Growing Roses in the San Francisco Bay Area and Other Maritime-Influenced Climates."
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Hardy rambler rose thrives in Bay Area climate: Demetra Bowles Lathrop to the rescue with 'Felicite Perpetue," a rose variety that's apparently easy to grow here.
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HOT STUFF: More fun light fixtures from former Bay Area designer
Jim Schatz (known for the egg lamp), plus
Visors, special new patio umbrellas that shade more than the folks directly underneath them.
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Keep list of college necessities short: "Whatever you think you need, bring half." Good advice for most endeavors.
