By Jeri Jennings

THE WORLD OF ROSES abounds with "coffee table" books. Large, lush photographs of "The Queen of Flowers" fill countless glossy pages--generally to the exclusion of anything resembling informative copy. They're beautiful, these books, and they tempt me. But over the years, I've found that the books I turn to are the least illustrated, and the most filled with information about the roses.

When I picked up R is for Rose, I assumed that the author Carolyn Parker had brought us another lovely "coffee table" book. I set it aside, making a mental note to explore it "later." Pressed (as always) for time. I didn't pick the book up again until I'd read glowing recommendations of it in a couple of rose forums. My mistake--but an error easily mended.

R is for Rose is, certainly, a glossy book. It is lushly illustrated with beautiful photographs (made by the author). And it is large enough to look impressive on a coffee table. But it is more. It offers text--and good text at that.

I thought the concept of designating 26 roses, making an alphabet of letters formed of roses was a little too "twee" for me. To my surprise, I found myself looking ahead to see what roses Ms. Parker might have selected for which letters, and how she formed each letter. I was no end pleased to see "U" represented by UNKNOWN allowing a chapter in which the author pays tribute to Rose Rustlers, Rose Rustling, and Found Roses.

Not every rose covered in this book is one I would grow in my garden, but it led me to consider again some of the roses I have grown in the past. Some of them, I think, might better succeed here now, than they did in my days of rigorous pruning and spraying. Others wouldn't but it was pleasant all the same to revisit their virtues. Yet others are roses I have not grown--but I thid.nk I shoul

Celebration of Old Roses

The "R" chapter of the book introduces the reader to ROULETII, some questions of identity, HRG founder Miriam Wilkins, and the annual HRG Celebration of Old Roses. For that chapter alone, I would buy the book.

Rose arranging

Parker ends the book with a detailed chapter on arranging--an art which continues to elude me, but which I value in others. There is also a very nice chapter on resources, which lists rose nurseries, societies, public rose gardens and other rosey riches.

R is for Rose is a lovely book, and well worth a space in your (growing, I hope) rose library. It is also a great book for someone who is teetering on the brink of involvement with roses. This might be just the impetus needed to push a deserving friend into the world of roses and rose lust.

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