If you're willing to put a bit of effort into startup to make watering incredibly easy later--I have all of my flower beds covered by drip heads. The 1/2 inch black tubing is easily available and inexpensive, HD sells it for $40 for 500 ft. I use 2 gallon flag style drip heads because that type are easy to handle and push into the 1/2 inch pipe, the end can be closed up with zip ties. They can be hooked up to any outdoor spigot with a simple compression fitting that has a female hose end (also available at HD or Lowes). If you only have a few heads on a line you'll want to put a pressure reducer at the spigot end. This set-up doesn't have to be buried, I have mine on top of the ground but under mulch so it doesn't stand out much until the mulch decomposes. It can be left in place over winter as long as the spigot end is disconnected (you can remove the zip tie at the distant end also, I haven't ever bothered), I've had no issues with split lines in my zone 4B/5 garden, just have to watch it the following year to make sure none of the heads are forced out by freezing. I have well over 100 peony plants, daylilies, several types of lilies, penstemon, agastache, bellflowers--all growing with the benefit of drip lines, just different gallons/hour heads to account for the amount of water each variety needs. This method works well here in Colorado because we absolutely need mulch to keep moisture in, probably wouldn't be pleasing to the eye if it couldn't be covered, but have no problems with mildew or fungus because the leaves only get wet if it rains.
Oldgardenrose, your rose bush is beautiful, wonderful find! Congratulations on the rescue of that gorgeous plant!
