Go there to check out what the garden catalogs can't tell you about bloom color and shape and fragrance. But prepare to be swamped by inspiration. It's not possible that every one of the many thousands of roses in the world is on display here in the bountiful Bronx. But the Botanical Garden claims there are at least 3,000, and I wouldn't argue. You'll see roses commonly seen in our own gardens, along with their wild rose ancestors. But you'll also see their recent descendants, created by cloning and other human plant-breeding technology.

For example, there are dozens of the David Austin roses that do such a good job of bringing 19th century bloom shape and divine fragrance to glossy green-leaved multi-petaled marvels that are completely free of 21st century black spot and mildew. The photo pictures my favorite, the Austin rose named Abraham Darby. It's not a bad likeness. But the real thing, sitting on the desk next to my computer, is . . . different. Creamy peach. Pink with the slightest touch of blue. Pale, pale yellow. And scented.