From a practical standpoint, the watering system was outdated and wasteful, and the infrastructure of bed borders and paths was crumbling. With considerable help from the Albuquerque City Council, the Library Board, the Inez Neighborhood Association, and generous donations of roses by local and national nurseries, a completely new garden was created, following a design by Campbell, Okuma and Perkins Associates. Soil from the previous rose beds, gradually enriched by the decomposed bark mulch of numerous applications, had become a deep black loam. This was heat treated, heavily amended with additional organic materials, and placed in the new beds. The resulting rich soil has produced remarkably vigorous roses, most of which are now in their fourth season of bloom.
Water is precious in the desert.
An efficient drip system supplies most of the irrigation water to the roses. However, an overhead spray system was installed in order to wash dust from the plants in a brief daily shower. We borrowed this idea from John Wareing of the Scottsdale Rose Society and have found such a combination ideal for the desert climate. Except for a few prized specimens, otherwise unobtainable, all of the roses in the old garden were offered to the general public in late fall 1994. All but one particularly vigorous Climbing Peace were sold.