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Tue, May 6, 14 at 10:39
| The once-blooming old roses are now coming into flower, rather earlier than usual, and I've been out cutting flopped-over yard-tall grass with my shears so that I can see and get to the plants. DH is out cutting as well with the motor scythe, but with the ground so steep and difficult in various ways, it calls for considerable manual work. The slide bed, located alongside an old slide, hence the name, is in full sun with the roses growing in meadow grass, a tangle of grasses, clover, poppies, geraniums, chicory, and assorted weeds. 'Russelliana' is beginning to stretch out; a rose that I believe is the summer Damask (it's supposed to be 'York and Lancaster' but is uniformly pink) is in full bloom; a rich pink HP-looking moss has its first flowers; 'Blanche Moreau', suckering generously, is showing white in its buds. This bed houses 'Juno' and 'Richardii'; also 'Belle Isis' and 'Ispahan' if I remember correctly, and others. It's exciting checking the progress of these mostly once-blooming old roses, including a number of beauties whose names I don't know. The Hybrid Chinas and Bourbons are flowering now: 'Louise Odier', the first flowers of 'Gros Choux d'Hollande', and, particularly magnificent this year, 'Duc de Fitzjames'. Normally I don't rank these roses as high as the roses of purely European/Mediterranean origin, but they're putting on a show right now and they sure do smell good. 'Louise Odier' is showing the benefits of the renewal pruning I gave her last winter. The warm climate roses continue to flower and are recovering from the spoiling effects of a week of rain. They've been blooming since March and looking fine. But the once-bloomers are really exciting. So I'm loving all these marvels and the recent blue skies. But I wish I had plant-, garden-, and rose lovers to share them all with. I think you all would enjoy seeing the garden as much as I would enjoy showing it to you. Melissa |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| It sounds just gorgeous. I'm happy that I did get to see it once upon a time. I can fill in with my imagination! I know you've been planting a lot since then. Folly |
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- Posted by jacqueline3 9CA (My Page) on Tue, May 6, 14 at 12:34
| Pictures, please! Jackie |
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| Melissa, I second Jackie, but I've gathered that you and your camera are not soul mates. With your large property and many roses I imagine there are hundreds of photographic opportunities. I know you're constantly working in the garden which doesn't leave much time for anything else. But, maybe, one of these days...... Ingrid |
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| Melissa, thanks for tickling our imagination with the descriptions of your magical garden. Diane |
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- Posted by harborrose 8-Puget Sound/PNW (My Page) on Wed, May 7, 14 at 7:19
| I wish I were there to see your garden also, Melissa. It is such a joy to share this beauty with others who will also love to gaze in wide eyed wonder at the fragrances, the colors, the shape and softness of the petals. Such a miracle of beauty. I'm right there with you, albeit 10,000 miles apart. Gean |
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- Posted by nikthegreek 9b/10a E of Athens (My Page) on Wed, May 7, 14 at 8:01
| If I take the morning flight to Milano I can be there by lunchtime. How's your cooking? lol Awaiting the pics... |
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- Posted by mendocino_rose z8 N CA. (My Page) on Wed, May 7, 14 at 8:47
| I'm so glad to hear of all this beauty happening for you. It seems like it is always better shared. |
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| wish I could meet you and your roses. I've loved and looked forward to reading your posts over the years. Luxrosa |
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| I would love to see and smell all those wonderful once bloomers. They sound marvelous! --Anne |
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- Posted by melissa_thefarm NItaly (My Page) on Thu, May 8, 14 at 1:43
| Thanks for all the good wishes, folks, and I really do wish you could come. I thought about putting in a postscript that I don't take pictures: as Ingrid remembered, the camera and I are not good friends. The season of once-bloomers, the time of year, are just enchanting: the maturity, the pinnacle of the gardening year. (August is nadir.) Nik, as it happens I'm a decent cook, though I don't do meat. Care to pay a visit? You might find the garden interesting, in itself and compared to your own growing conditions. We'll probably have things in bloom until the end of May, then the garden will shut down until it starts to rain again in fall. By late summer a considerable portion of the garden looks like a desert: I don't even go there. Lux, thanks. Melissa |
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| I love to hear about your roses, Melissa. I keep myself so busy, and do not have that much room, that i do not grow once bloomers. It must be so exciting. Sammy |
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