"Rose! Thou art the sweetest flower / that ever drank the amber shower, even the Gods, who walk the sky, / are amorous of thy scented sigh," wrote Thomas Moore, a 19th century Irish poet.

Roses have been loved for centuries. Recently, the lushness of the flower's bloom has been magnified with the aid of environmentally unfriendly chemicals and pesticides.

Fortunately, with proper care, roses can be grown organically, and the result will be equally beautiful.

A healthy rose is less susceptible to pests and diseases. Consequently, if roses don't get enough sun, water or nutrients, they are prone to problems. So how can you keep roses healthy without chemical-based fertilizers and pesticides?

First, pick varieties resistant to common problems, such as rust or powdery mildew.

Jack Shoultz, a pre-eminent local organic rose expert, chose five varieties of roses that thrive in North County. Shoultz's suggestions are Gemini, Secret, Fame,Memorial Day and Tuscan Sun. Gemini and Secret are especially suited for growing along the coast because of their superb disease resistance and ability to bloom through June gloom.

Gemini has orange-pink, perfectly shaped flowers, and this hybrid tea rose blooms all summer long.

Secret is a hybrid tea rose with pale pink petals edged distinctly in dark pink. Secret is one of the most bulletproof roses. It even blooms during inland heat waves.

Fame is a hardy floribunda with large clusters of dark pink flowers.

Memorial Day is another fail-safe rose. It has frilly
lavender-pinkish flowers loaded with a traditional damask-rose fragrance. Memorial Day enjoys heat, making it perfect for inland locations.

Tuscan Sun is a robust rose with coppery pink flowers. Armed with spicy scent, this rose also offers glossy dark green foliage and excellent disease resistance.

Beyond picking durable varieties of roses, there are other things you can do to retain a rose's health. For the most hardy plants, grow roses where they get six hours of sun, and make certain the soil is rich and full of organic matter.

Perhaps you have roses already planted and have no desire to dig them up and start over. Shoultz has simple steps to get started using organic practices on established roses.

He suggests putting down a 2- to 4-inch layer of good quality organic mulch.

He explains, "Mulch helps to conserve moisture, inhibit weeds and adds nutrients to the soil if it is of good quality. And the finer the particles of mulch, the better, so it can break down quickly."

He emphasizes the importance of watering properly. Shoultz advises deep watering once a week to wash out the salt and mineral buildup from our imported water. You may need to do surface watering more often, especially in the summer, but deep watering makes for healthier roots and, therefore, a healthier plant.

Shoultz also reminds gardeners that proper pruning in January and February helps promote strong new growth throughout the year. The essential thing to pruning is to remove all old or tangled growth, but leave at least three main canes.

In addition to pruning, mulching and watering, gardeners frequently wonder how to give their roses the nutrients they need for maximum bloom without using traditional chemical-based fertilizers.

Wonder no more because there are great fertilizers specifically designed for roses that are biodegradable and earth friendly.

Companies such as Whitney's Farms and E.B. Stone make quality organic rose fertilizer. Shoultz recommends using a combination of Dr. Earth Rose Fertilizer, Biosol, and John and Bob's Soil Optimizer.

For details and his month-by-month organic rose care calendar, go to Shoultz's Web site, www.organicrosecare.org.

The other problem facing gardeners growing roses organically is pests. The main culprits are aphids and caterpillars. But you can thwart pests and eliminate pesticides, which get into our water tables.

Substitute nontoxic, biodegradable sprays such as Safer Insecticidal Soap Insect Killer and Jungle Rain for pesticides.

Shoultz suggests knocking bugs off the top and bottom of leaves with a hard spray of water or garlic tea spray.

Fellow rosarian Brenda Landers-Smith has created a garlic tea spray recipe.
To make the spray, blend three tablespoons of finely chopped garlic in a blender or food processor until pieces are tiny. Then pass garlic through a sieve, saving the juices, and add to one gallon of water.

You also can try growing companion plants that lure pests away from roses. These include Queen Anne's lace, marigold, spearmint and fennel.

Why not take the plunge and go organic? You need not start your rose bed over - only adapt some green methods and get healthy roses without guilt.

Master Gardener Aenne Carver has been a docent with The Flower Fields in Carlsbad for more than a decade.  Send your gardening questions to aenneherb@aol.com, and include your name and city of residence. Photo provided by Aenne Carver.