Hips Hips Hips
Living in the San Francisco Bay Area, I somehow arrived at the erroneous conclusion that roses in mild climates do not set hips that are as plentiful or as colorful as those from colder regions. Now I know that the show of hips can be lovely. In 2001, I was not able to prune, strip or deadhead my roses. Some roses, like Bonica, simply put on one flush and then called the season to an end. But many kept on blooming. In late January and early February 2002 I finally deemed the frosts and winter storms to have done enough of the hard work to make it worth my while to prune and strip the roses. I was stunned at the display of hips. I didn't really have time to conduct an exhaustive photo catalog, but I took a few digital images. Since then I've enjoyed keeping track of different shaped hips.
Francis Dubreuil or whoever he really is - probably a hybrid tea, 'Barcelona'
So here's the bottom line: don't be afraid to let your roses go native. They'll teach you about themselves. That includes their natural beauty without excessive primping and fussing. If you give them a chance, they'll also teach you where they want to be pruned...but that's another story.
