June's Flower Babies-Roses & Honeysuckles

Are roses truly red?

We're all familiar with the passionate proclamation, "roses are red!" And,  arguably,  June's most recognizable flower child is the red rose.  However, the ancestor of the red rose was probably yellow. Researchers discovered that the genus Rosa first appeared around 30 million years ago. It took millions of years for genetic mutation to produce today's rainbow hues, including red. Currently, it's believed that there are over 300 rose species and tens of thousands of cultivated varieties of the beloved perrenial.   

  Honeysuckle - friend or foe?

Nothing says summer like sweet-smelling honeysuckle. Catching that first whiff of the intoxicating fragrance can be nostalgic and mood-enhancing.  However, only native North American  species, like trumpet honeysuckle, should be cultivated in yards and gardens. Non-native species, like  "Asian bush honeysuckles, are ecological nightmares that choke out native plants, block vital sunlight, and prevent tree regeneration." To learn more, see the section below, "Focus on Ohio Native Flora."