The key to appreciating antique roses is not to grow them like roses. Grow them like landscape shrubs. “We have 8 acres of demonstration gardens set up around our store to show people how to use these plants in the landscape,” says Mike. “We don’t have rose gardens, we have gardens with roses.”

Mike even is experimenting with breeding his own roses. He’s been crossing antique and modern varieties to create large-flowered, repeat-blooming roses that still have the tough traits of antique roses. His new group is called the Pioneer series, named after early Texan plant pioneers. One of the best is ‘Thomas Affleck’, an upright 4-foot-tall shrub with magenta pink, 4-inch-diameter, repeat-blooming flowers.

Through Mike’s efforts any old rose worth its salt will find life again in the retail trade. It’s all about fulfilling his mission of searching and rescuing old forgotten roses.

Visit the Antique Rose Emporium Web site at www.antiqueroseemporium.com.