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ingrid_vc

Roses Can Be Very Cunning

I mentioned somewhere along the line that I was thinking of getting rid of William R. Smith because for the last two drought years it had done almost nothing except guzzle water and refuse to bloom or even look presentable. Since it was going anyway I cut away a lot of the ugly old leaves and used them as mulch under other roses and in the process shortened some of its branches. I also gave it only cursory water, not wanting to waste any on this loser.

So what does Bill do? He sends out a bunch of new shoots and leaves all over his miserably thick branches (it would have been quite a job to dig up his tree-like trunk). Scalped and chopped down, deprived of water and this is the result? I no longer understand roses, maybe I never have, and I don't think I ever will. I don't know what the final outcome will be, but if he continues with this outrageous behavior he's obviously going to stay. Can plants think and read our minds? Beginning to wonder.......

Ingrid

Comments (18)

  • Vicissitudezz
    9 years ago

    Ingrid, have you seen that 'Nature' documentary on PBS called "What Plants Talk About"? It's pretty amazing.

    How long have you had Old Bill? Maybe he was just getting ready to shape up anyway, but it's quite possible that the 'ship out' alternative was somehow a known factor? Who knows- maybe he is lurking on this forum? Very cunning, indeed...

    Virginia

    Here is a link that might be useful: 'What Plants Talk About' on PBS' Nature

  • ms. violet grey
    9 years ago

    The documentary is fascinating.

  • seil zone 6b MI
    9 years ago

    I've heard plenty of stories about roses that were threatened with the shovel who suddenly put on a spectacular show, lol. Obviously Bill took your threat serious!

  • true_blue
    9 years ago

    Ingrid, my wife and I have the regular "march or die" conversation with our under performing plants, roses included.

    Some plants can be quite surprising and some well, they get kicked out. Though I normally put them in the back alley, in case a neighbour would like to have a free under-performing plant, which they do :-)

    Bob

  • ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    William was so cunning that until I was out just a little bit earlier I wasn't aware that there were three flowers on the other side of the bush, hanging out over the edge of the hill. I cut them and brought them inside, and they're exquisite, although much smaller than usual. It's dark now but I'll try to take a picture tomorrow.

    Ingrid

  • mendocino_rose
    9 years ago

    I've been told "If you want something to grow, prune it" Once my Susan Louise was a very awkward plant. It was broken in half by snow and grew back wonderfully. When a rose looks entirely hopeless I try cutting it to the ground at pruning time. More often than not beautiful new canes result. Lately I've taken to doing a light pruning after a flush of bloom, which encourages new growth and more blooms. Otherwise I'm not a heavy pruner at all, but sometimes it's just the thing.

  • prickles
    9 years ago

    St. Cecilia responses to threat. I went outside with pruner in hand and was going to cut her down yesterday, but then, to my surprise, she seemed to have shaped up, i saw her with three perfect blooms and a few more buds. How delightful was that! She even appeared to have cleared up her flaws of mildew and rust, nearly no rust! Now I have to rethink of possibly relocating her to a sunnier spot, but Mr shovel is ever ready to dig her up!

  • ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    mendocino rose, I think you're right. In addition to my beautiful and prolific SdlM in front of the house I have another one in the back, in an admittedly bad spot. I decided one short flush of bloom and then nothing wasn't worth the water I was giving it. I cut it way down in preparation to my husband digging it up and then forgot about it for perhaps two weeks. The next time I looked it had a bushel of beautiful new leaves on it and not long after that, buds! I've never seen a rose clean up its act so quickly. It gets a second chance now and we shall see.

    Ingrid

  • jaspermplants
    9 years ago

    Ingrid, those are so beautiful. There is just nothing like a tea rose.

  • muscovyduckling
    9 years ago

    Ingrid, I blame you (and Jackie) for my newfound obsession with teas. And those local Tea Ladies didn't help the situation one bit.

    Gee, he's a stunner!

  • true_blue
    9 years ago

    Lovely rose Ingrid. good you had the talk with it!

  • mendocino_rose
    9 years ago

    What a beauty. I'm glad you gave it another chance.

  • Vicissitudezz
    9 years ago

    Beautiful flowers, Ingrid. If I had more sun, I would be planning a Tea garden for sure.

    Hmmm... ARE there any shade-tolerant Teas?

    Thanks for the eye-candy,
    Virginia

  • ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Thank you all for the complements. When it was flourishing, this rose was one of my favorites because of its large silvery pink, gorgeous blooms and I'm so glad that it somehow revived enough to convince me to save it. It would have been such a loss since it's a mature rose.

    Virginia, I would say that in a warm enough climate almost any tea or China can stand some shade, preferably morning sun and afternoon shade. My Mutabilis in the winter gets only a few hours of morning sun and the rest of the year not much past noon but still does very well. I would try one or a few before you decide that they won't grow in your garden. I don't know which are the best to recommend but that might be a question for you to ask here.

    Ingrid

  • Vicissitudezz
    9 years ago

    Thanks, Ingrid- I have a young 'Mutabilis' that I rooted from a cutting earlier this summer- I am very much looking forward to having its "butterflies" in the yard. It's good to know that it can handle some shade, since most of the yard is bright shade.

    I was curious about how old your rose was- perhaps he just needed to lose some old growth that he couldn't continue to support under your stricter watering regime? Hard to say, but I'm glad he gets to stay and provide you with more of those lovely blooms.

    Enjoy!
    Virginia

  • jerijen
    9 years ago

    This is when it would be nice to have a "LIKE" button!

  • ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Virginia, William is 4 1/2 years old. I'm beginning to discover that tea roses close to that age do respond to trimming in a positive way. I also had the same experience with the China, Mutabilis. Light pruning seems to wake them up in some fashion, even William, who had not been given his regular dose of water. He was mulched, however. I've had the same experience with Le Vesuve, Mrs. Dudley Cross and Miss Atwood. Some people feel that teas should barely be touched, but at least in my climate and in my garden that has not been the case.

    Jeri, I'm very glad you LIKE! I'm learning that before giving up on roses one can try several things such as moving them or cutting them back and removing old, tired leaves. After all, one has nothing to lose with a rose that may be facing shovel pruning!

    Ingrid