Here's climbing American Beauty blooming, the other roses and clematis around it and in front of it are still sleeping though.

:-)

~Christopher

Ingrid

Here is one more showing Quatre Saesons Royale in the foreground.

What you describe in bloom appearance makes everyone in the east feel better.

(Did some of your peonies choose not to bloom this year or is it just mine?)

:-)

~Christopher

Ann, almost all my peonies bloomed except for a few I had transplanted or newly planted last fall which hadn't settled in.

Christopher, I got my Quatre Saesons Royale from Sherando roses which is no longer doing business. Randy thought it was slightly different from the Four Season Rose hence the name, but I now forget what the difference is and don't have the other to compare. This one stays small (it does suffer from blackspot later on and is runty) and I just snap the buds off and not prune it back, but I could try to take some cuttings for you.

Gringo, I think Munstead Woods is my favorite red! I would recommend it.

Thanks La vie.

My roses have picked up in my absence and are almost fully bloom now! Here's a shot with Cornelia, Constance Spry, and The Generous Gardener

There's nothing much to take pictures of this year in my garden with the heat and drought. You're going to have to take my place and show us all the beautiful roses in your garden to satisfy our cravings.

Ingrid

Sammy

This is my 25th year in my house and about 18 years growing roses, but the garden has undergone a lot of change and redesign in the past two-three years. In some areas it still has mature plantings (such as the big climbers) and elsewhere newly established, so I'm very pleased that it still has some charm even with its transplants and winter-dieback issues.