The All-America Rose Selections (AARS), a non-profit association of rose experts, has announced the 2008 winning roses: Dream Come True™ and Mardi Gras. Both were considered easy to grow, and excellent choices for gardeners.

According to their Web site, "A winning rose embodies all of the characteristics consumers desire in a garden plant. Every AARS winning rose completes an extensive two-year trial program where it's judged on everything from disease resistance to flower production to color to fragrance. This sophisticated evaluation process guarantees that only the best of the crop make it into your garden."

The AARS is comprised of rose growers and "introducers," who work to create and promote exceptional roses. They "operate a nationwide network of 20 official test gardens dedicated to evaluating roses on all of the characteristics consumers desire in a garden plant. Every AARS winning rose completes an extensive two-year trial program in these test gardens located throughout the country and representing all climate zones. New rose varieties in the AARS trials receive only as much care as would be given in the average home garden. This sophisticated evaluation process results is a new crop of AARS winning roses each year, guaranteeing that only the best make it into your garden.

AARS evaluates roses on: vigor, fragrance, disease resistance, foliage, flower production, growth habit, bud and flower form, opening and finishing color, stem, and overall value."

The AARS seal of approval has signified outstanding new rose varieties since 1938, which I think makes them the opinion to trust in regards to roses. I'm going to call around to find out which garden centers carry the Mardi Gras variety, my favorite of this year's winners.

• Do you grow roses?
• Which variety?
• Got any tips on successful blooming?