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| So, I was out doing some too long postponed clean-up, weeding, etc. etc. in the garden this afternoon. Getting tired, etc., when a rose miracle cheered me up, and made me not be tired anymore. Years ago we had what turned out to be two enormous old old Le Vesuves growing in our garden (see pic - courtesy of Cass). Long story short, I rooted one, and then we had three enormous Le Vesuves. I think the original one was around 100 years old. Short tragedy - over a period of 5 years, all three died from what I now think was downy mildew. I still had a plant off the original one, because one of them had tip rooted and made a baby rose, which I potted up. It is now in a large pot, and about 2 ft tall by 2 ft wide. I was really happy to have a clone of the original one from my husbands' ancestors. So, my plan was to try and banish the downy mildew from the rose bed - treated it with all sorts of things when I knew what it was, plus put on lots of compost, and let it sit for over a year. However, I did not want to risk my one remaining clone back into the dirt until I had more rooted cuttings. So, there are bags full of cuttings (no roots so far) sitting on my back porch. What happened this afternoon is that I noticed a tiny baby rose emerging from the exact place where I got the other tip rooted baby 2 years ago. I excitedly compare the leaves with those on my one remaining plant, and they are an exact match - I am presuming somehow a healthy root bit grew into another rose! I potted it up and am now contemplating it with much satisfaction - I knew you guys would understand - my DH is making soothing noises, but I know he thinks I am getting too excited about this - Jackie |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| well hey, how fantastic that you have this continuity - do you ever imagine those ancient hands, tending the very same rose? What the gardener was thinking, their hopes and fears. I love to imagine an unbroken line of gardeners, stretching back into a long ago time - a chain of knowledge and care, passed down from mother to daughter, parent to child, neighbour to neighbour. I know the provenance of every plant in my gardens - where they came from, when they were sown, even why I chose them. They are not just plants but reference points in my gardening life, attached to particular memories, places or ideas. For sure, this is not just the miracle of a little rootlet, sending up leaves.....but the fact that it is a truly venerable phoenix rose, rising again for a new generation. |
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| Oh, that is wonderful news, Jackie! I can't wait to see your new babies when they look like that gorgeous picture! |
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| Jackie -- Such continuity in a garden as you have is a rare and wonderful gift. The history is almost as wonderful as the rose. Jeri |
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| Could be true, Jackie, and how wonderful. In the past month I have picked up three (3!) resprouts from the previous site of an Alliance Franco-Russe (bless his mildew-y soul) that I "removed" 2 years ago. I had waited 7 years for him to get past the powdery mildew thing, to no avail, so he was fairly well entrenched it seems. Your Le Vesuves were there a lot longer than that... |
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| Completely understand your excitement! I get the same reaction when I try to explain roses to my DH. He has no idea why I get so excited when a box of roses or cuttings comes in the mail...or when a rose blooms for the first time...in fact, I think he may be planning an intervention.... Glad to know I'm in good company here :) Wonderful picture too Jackie! Tammy |
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| That is AWESOME!! I am very happy for you and Le Vesuve. Anne |
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- Posted by mendocino_rose z8 N CA. (My Page) on Fri, Mar 15, 13 at 9:45
| I'm so happy to hear that Jackie. I've had some rose miricles this spring too. There were some things I had to cut severely that I thought wouldn't make it back but I am seeing the miricle of basal breaks. Last year was horrible for Downy Mildew. I think it rained almost every day of March. |
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- Posted by jacqueline3 9CA (My Page) on Fri, Mar 15, 13 at 11:59
| Thanks for the understanding. I rushed down this morning to make sure that the 3 inch high little rose I potted up yesterday was OK (had visions of having somehow killed it). It is fine - actually looks more perky than when I found it - probably because it hasn't rained here for 2 1/2 months, and of course it got a lot of water yesterday. Funny thing - right after I wrote this post, we went over to visit some friends who actually live in the house (in the same town) which my DH's ancestors moved out of in 1905 when they moved to what is our home now. They lived in that house from 1890 to 1905. The people who own it now rescued it from literally falling down - they have done a great job restoring it, and the 1 acre garden & fruit orchard that are still part of the property. We were admiring some blooming pear trees, which, because of 80+ years of neglect, have grown to be over 30 feet high. Blooming madly, and accd to the owners make wonderful pears (but you need a VERY long ladder!). It suddenly occurred to us that, since we know that the property was totally neglected from 1905 until these folks saved it in about 1998 (long story), and we know that my DH's great grandfather who lived there planted fruit trees everywhere he went, he probably planted them! Very wonderful and sort of spooky feeling. What Camp said about thinking about the generations of gardeners, except that we do not have to guess - know all about him, his life in Germany, immigrating here in the 1870s with his wife, raising 3 boys, etc etc. It really makes me realize that some plants live longer than people! Jackie |
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| What a gorgeous picture!!! |
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| Wonderful story. I love that kind of history. Anne |
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| It makes me happy to read a story like this one. All the best for your young Le Vesuve starts. May they grow and thrive! Rosefolly |
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| Fantastic! I'm so happy for you! What a thrill to be able to enjoy such a heritage. I've moved around all my life & so have my folks so I can only envy living around plants my grandfolks planted. Though I DO have some maidenhair fern from my great aunt's yard, a callanchoe (sp?)from grandmother's. I was insanely happy to get a cutting of an old spineless prickly pear from one of my childhood homes. Ya just have to love plants to empathize with the delight that comes from having these family heirlooms. Glad you posted, too--such a happy story. |
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- Posted by sherryocala 9A Florida (My Page) on Sat, Mar 16, 13 at 22:54
| What a wonderful miracle, Jackie! I hope you have another one when you get rid of the downy mildew. I hope my Le Vesuve perks up after losing half of itself. Don't know why. Sherry |
Here is a link that might be useful: If only sweat were irrigation...
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- Posted by zeffyrose_pa6b7 6b7 (My Page) on Mon, Mar 18, 13 at 23:33
| Jackie----your story brought tears to my eyes----I haven't been here very much lately (health reasons)and I was thrilled to read your story---Anyone who knows me knows how much I love old things especially family stories like yours--and especially a rose story---You are so fortunate to have this connection with your DH ancestors--Thank goodness I stopped here tonight----you made me very happy-----the rose is glorious .. I agree with Camp---just thinking about all the loving hands that tended to and loved this rose gives me chills---Please keep us posted. Florence |
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| As a family we have moved around a bit but we still have an old passed down "cast iron" rose. It is medium pink, unscented and once blooming, but it is ours. What I have been trying to track down for years is a peony from the other side of the family. It is pale pink, very double, late, large, with sturdy stems and the scent of old roses. No other rose that is so described, that I have found, has had as true an old rose scent. Both my sister and I who are not wild about pink loved it. I have not found it yet but have found some lovely peonies in the quest. Cath |
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