The Hardestys moved to their Victorian homestead in New Gloucester in 1972. After their children left home (mostly), and the sheep were sold, gardening satisfied an on-going need to nurture. Although both worked full time at their professions, they both made time to plan and plant new flower beds. Vaughn is the Rosarian, and Phoebe maintains the perennials.

Following battles of epic proportions in his attempts to winter over hybrid teas, Vaughn wisely turned to the hardier varieties. He now has five large beds supporting shrub roses, including rugosa, Buck, David Austin, and Agriculture Canada roses, plus Old Garden roses such as Damasks and Albas. Two years ago, Vaughn took another plunge and turned to organics, for all fertilizing, and pest and fungi control.

Phoebe surrounded the house with perennial beds, and just recently opened up a 50-foot swath on the back lawn for a lily bed, as well as a second bed of shade-loving plants nestled beneath the lilac hedge.

“In about another ten years we’ll have completed our design,” they say, “but it’s the getting there that’s fun!”

Vaughn describes his reasons for growing roses organically at www.mainerosesociety.com/rosesorganically.html.

Note: If you would like to have the thumbnail sketch of the photograph enlarged, click on it. Then when you want to go back to the garden, click on "Back".

	Starting out, by the corner of their home, a large Victorian house are the Alba roses. In the center is Celestial flanked by Chloris, both are light pink.
	South of the house, Alexander MacKenzie, a red Canadian Explorer Series, shows above another white Alba.
	Continuing in the same Southbed, partially protected by a stone wall is a mixture of David Austin and Griffith Buck rose bushes.
	In a mixed bed of roses and other perennials is another view of Alexander MacKenzie in the background (tall, red). Beside A. M. in the background is the light pink, Jacques Cartier. John Davis is the pink bush in the foreground, another Canadian Explorer rosebush. Beside John is Astrid Lindgren, a light (almost white) pink. In the middle is Louise Odier, a pink Bourbon with an 8.5 national rose rating.
	The Arbor Bed is dominated by a three year old climbing rose, Lever Kusen, a very light yellow covering the arbor. Damasks and Albas are planted on either side of Lever Kusen.
	Between the house and the road is a major rugosa hedge. Linda Campbell shows her true colors, (red), surrounded by a white Rugosa Alba.
	The rugosa hedge continues with Rosa rugosa rubra and Magnifica (both mauve) along with some other rugosas.
	The Alba, Semi-plena which is about 8ft tall
	another Abla, Great Maiden's Blush.
	Phoebe's Lily Walk with over 50 lilies, assorted perennials and only 4 roses
	Bourbon, Mme Isaac Pereire
	Alba, Mme Plantier
	Damask Rose, Celsianna

Back to MRS Members Rose Gardens Page