Rose "Mardi Gras"

Why didn't you grow them before? Or is it rude to ask?

It,s a beauty !

Spritz, when we built our house here we had to clear out so many briars, and when I started adding flowers and bushes my husband told me "Just nothing with thorns, like Roses !". I don't know why he said that because I was the one to clear out most of the briars ! So I guess I just waited 14 years for him to forget about the briars. I did ask him........or I guess I should say I told him that I was getting a rose. He said ok so then I got another !~ HA !

Well done! You got there in the end. More now?

Diohio, I sympathise with your husband.
About a month ago I cut back the berberis growing across/below my Mother's dining-room window. She offered me a pair of leather gardening gloves which I declined because they were too big. I used my cotton ones which weren't up to the job. I extracted the last thorn from my hands yesterday. Berberis are attractive plants but only in gardens I don't work in :-)
That said, roses are one of the best gems in a garden in my opinion.

Maybe so Spritz ! I love the two I have. People that have roses cherish them and now I know why !

Oh no Xela, I have a baby berberis ! Thanks for the warning. It's only about 2' tall so I havn't had to do anything with it yet.......but I'll remember your pain and have my leather gloves handy (they've saved me from the briars time and time again).

I guess the gardeners with adverse reactions to berberis are legion! I took out a berberis HEDGE for a friend....excrutiating! Don't learn lessons, apparently, because I bought an old rose Therese Bugnet and it is wicked! Must be careful when pruning, wear a complete suit of armour, don't drop any prunings cause if you step on them later, in your bare feet...you will suffer terribly!... BUT ...this rose blooms from spring to fall if I deadhead, grows into a tree eventually, and scents the whole neighbourhood..(best viewed and smelled from a reasonable distance!!lol) I think I might look for Mardi Gras next spring...and was considering looking for the thornless varieties...