Roses Representing

roserep1My little collection of roses is starting to “represent”, as my Texas friend would say.  I only grow a few.  The dwarf climber Jeanne LaJoie is perfectly hardy and willing  for me; it does not mind at all being planted with the electric meter.  Mini-Jeanne  is paired with a voluptuous large flowered climber named Eden-the flower is so beautiful, and the plant is  so-so for me, although the foliage seems healthy.  This large flowered climber, also known as Pierre de Ronsard, and bred by Meilland in 1987, hasn’t flowered yet-but it is showy.

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I grow the shrub rose “Carefree Beauty”  for good, and sentimental reasons.  Griffith Buck bred very hardy, very sturdy shrub roses-this is one of my favorites.  I alternate this with his rose “Earthsong”.  Some say its better than “Carefree Beauty-I can’t tell. But if your interest is in a low maintenance rose, these qualify.  The tall ,English bred shrub rose “Sally Holmes” has gorgeous peach buds, and large single white flowers; I have been growing it for years. One year it died back almost entirely to the ground, but came back.

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I am not a rosarian by any means.  I am not really crazy about rose gardens either. But I do like roses in a mixed border. Roses are such prima donnas-they sulk if there’s anything growing at their feet.  So I try to keep my white Japanese anemones, and boltonia out of their hair.  I wouldn’t want to do without a few roses.

Comments

  1. Thanks for sharing your photos…I primarily do vegetables, but once primarily gardened with flowers. Some of the lovely Blotanical blogs I’ve been reading have me longing for more of a mix in my garden!

  2. Reading your blog is one of my favorite things to do to start the day. After reading I can’t wait to get out in the garden myself.
    Thanks.

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