See How They Grow

Wandering through Vigneau's garden is not only a visual and aromatic treat, it's also a walk through history. The ancestors of her roses come from different corners of the world and span the centuries. The white Posterity that graces one arbor dates from 1919; the pink Margo Kostner from 1928; the fragrant Sombreuil from 1850. "I even have one garden rose, Souvenir de Malmaison, whose root stock dates back to Napoleon's wife, Josephine," says Vigneau. "She had him bring back roses from everywhere."

Vigneau, now vice president of the Greater Fort Myers Rose Society, can explain the difference between old English garden roses and the newer hybrid teas, between single and multiple petal miniatures, between the damage done by spider mites and thrips. She knows that planting society garlic in between the rose bushes helps to keep down the spider mite population and why it's important to cut bushes back to outward growing budeyes. Sitting in her gazebo, sipping iced tea, Vigneau talks about the many uses for roses-in potpourri and cooking, to make stationery and jewelry. "Roses will bloom throughout the year here," she says. "I just love them."