Rose Haven: A case history.
by Temecula Valley Rose Society and Designed II...

In 2006 the Metropolitan Water District offered grants to various groups and organizations who thought they could create a garden best demonstrating how to be water-wise. One of the recipients was the Temecula Valley Rose Society. 

They already had the use of a three acre piece of property in Temecula, where about 2½ acres was still undeveloped.  The other half acre already had hundreds of their roses on display in an existing garden. Unlike almost all of the other grant candidates, who largely did gardens of California natives, and arid, "cactus-y" southwest kind of presentations, the Rose Society wondered if they could have something designed that would be compatible with their interests and somehow, hope against hope, create a municipal rose garden that is water-wise! 

They acquired the assistance of Designed II... a company that also owns an open-to-the-public, 20-plus acre nursery of rare and cutting-edge plants: Daylily Hill, just off the 15 Freeway and Highway 76 in north San Diego County.  Owner, Tom Jesch, assured them that a lush and flowery garden could be created with no compromises, at the same time being as water-wise as the most conservative drought resistant applications around.  People were skeptical, but the result has been a dramatic surprise for everyone!

Wave after radiant wave of brilliantly flowering shrub-roses are planted en masse, stair-stepping down the slope of the main hill in an amphitheater-like presentation, and can be viewed from the two roads that frame the bottom corner of the garden. Carefully selected heritage trees—oaks, redwood, fern-pine, and gingko—are growing to create a park-like setting near the gazebo that overlooks the whole garden and 80-foot reflection pond.