Think of June, think of roses.

When did the human love affair with roses begin?

We know that these flowers existed before people, as rose fossils have been found. Early in our era, there was evidence in China of the flower’s use in gardens and decoration.

Ancient Middle Eastern peoples gardened with roses. Flowers were used in perfumes and flavoring, as well as medicine.

Native roses have been found in a temperate broad band around the world, taking in Asia, Europe and North America.

Originally, there were only single-flowered types. Then humans discovered that they could breed roses, to produce double-flowered kinds. They also tinkered with blossom colors and shades of color. Growers noticed bushes that stretched and used them to create climbing roses.

All this began before some parts of the world were known, one civilization from another. When trade routes became established (and conquering armies had made some of these possible), merchants and adventurers began to travel and learn about other peoples. Sometimes, roses were used in trade or as gifts.

Yellow roses from China were a fairly new introduction; before that, the flowers bloomed pink, red or white.   

Once, in the most temperate parts of their range, these plants blossomed only in late spring into early summer, and sometimes (not as profusely) in late summer-into-fall. Then, rosarians (those who work with roses) began searching for ways to stretch their blooming season.

Nowadays, many kinds of roses flower throughout summer, often with short rests between flushes of bloom. For Maine gardeners and others in the cooler parts of the continents, many roses have been bred for great hardiness.

When growers learned to graft tender rose cuttings onto the tougher roots of compatible shrubs a century or two ago, many more kinds of roses became available to rose-lovers. Now, those plants have even been bred to survive on their own roots.

From Wisconsin have come the “Knock-out” roses. In Texas, the British David Austin roses have their American branch. That’s not the whole story; find plants from Canada, Pennsylvania and Washington state, among other sources.

As you tour gardens this summer, take notes. These should help you make autumn-and-winter choices of roses to try next June.