I have never done roses...don't have the patience for all that work.
Bulbs work best for me.
I haven't touched my garden this year.
On the other hand, I am not fond of cooking. Everyone has her own favorite things to do.
If you want a garden that looks good all year, plant spring bulbs, Shasta Daisy Becky, daylilies that bloom at different periods of the summer, and hardy mums. Throw in forsythia, lilac, and vibernum, and voila...a pretty good garden without a lot of work.