What better way to celebrate both our first Birthday and our 50th episode than with a podcast devoted to a beloved plant, the Rose. Most of us have at least one in our garden, they feature in bouquets, in perfume...but how do you possibly choose which one to grow? And what are the tricks to getting the best out of them?

This week Alan Gray and Thordis are joined by someone who knows his Roses inside out - Rosarian Michael Marriott. From his favourite varieties for fragrance, form and flower to tips for avoiding Blackspot and life-changing pruning advice, we've got as many bases covered as we could fit into the hour (and you'll notice we went over a little!) If you're looking to add Roses to your garden, you need look no further than this podcast and its plant list...

PLANT LIST

Rosa rugosa

Rosa 'Kew Gardens'

Rosa 'Mortimer Sackler'

Rosa 'Graham Thomas'

Rosa 'Rambling Rector'

Rosa 'The Lady of the Lake'

Rosa 'The Albrighton Rambler'

Rosa 'Open Arms'

Rosa 'Warm Welcome'

Rosa 'Francis E. Lester'

Rosa 'Wickwar'

Rosa 'Vanessa Bell'

Rosa 'Desdemona'

Rosa 'Lady of Shalott'

Aster x frikartii 'Mönch'

Rosa 'Buttercup'

'Aspirin® Rose'

Paeonia lactiflora 'Sarah Bernhardt' 

Dracunculus vulgaris

Rosa 'Adélaïde d'Orléans'

Rosa 'The Generous Gardener'

Rosa 'Eustacia Vye'

Rosa 'The Shepherdess'

Rosa 'Phyllis Bide'

Rosa 'Maigold'

Rosa 'Koko Loco'

Rosa 'Munstead Wood'

Rosa 'Florence Mary Morse'

Rosa 'Climbing Pompon de Paris'

Rosa 'Gloire de Dijon'