Friday, June 4, 2010

Flowers on Friday ... Is this the Last Hoorah?

The midsummer-like temperatures of the past few days have hastened the demise of the last of the flowers on the spring-blooming old garden roses and ramblers.  These guys don't take too kindly to searing 90+ degrees with bright sun and high humidity.  Now that I think about it, I don't take too kindly to it either. 

We had a big thunderstorm yesterday evening, with high wind and pelting rain.  Let's take a walk through the garden and see what I still have left out there to show you.  It might be a challenge.

The Rambler Fence is pretty much finished blooming.  There is a flower or two left on some of the roses that aren't too bad.  With the heat predicted today, I doubt they'll last till tomorrow.


Aviateur Bleriot, blooming in the weeds


Ghislaine de Feligonde


Poor, soggy Albertine


Dr. W. Van Fleet, on the front fence, is hanging in there ... with half a dozen or so flowers this morning.  All of the other Van Fleet bred roses on the fence are finished.

Dr. W. Van Fleet


There were only a couple of Old Garden Roses left in the Rose Field.

Apothecary's Rose, with a bee


and a soggy cluster of Charles de Mills


Since she blooms later than the rest, poor Pink Baltimore Belle/Arcata Pink Globe had a particularly short bloom period this year.  No sooner than she hit full bloom, the heat came and dried out her beautiful flowers.  (Have I mentioned lately how much I love this rose?)

Arcata Pink Globe


Minnehaha also blooms late, but she has the advantage of afternoon shade cast by the cherry tree in the Rose Field, so she's not burned to a crisp.

Minnehaha


Baron Girod de L'Ain is technically a repeat bloomer, but his repeat is paltry at best.  Spring flush is definitely when he does his best work.  Isn't the white trim on his fresh flowers heavenly?

Baron Girod de L'Ain


I'm always sad to see the spring-blooming roses finish each year.  The show of flowers they produce is something that just cannot be duplicated with the more-modern repeat-blooming roses.  If you live in a climate that can give them the winter chill they need, I can guarantee that your garden will be better for having them.

Let it be known that I saw my first Japanese Beetle of the year this morning.  (I tried to get a photo of him, but he flew away).  We'll see what kind of a Beetle season we're in for.

(written by Hartwood Roses.  Hartwood Roses blog)

9 comments:

  1. Connie,
    The heat is something else, isn't it?

    We were in your area yesterday, picking up the dogs from boarding in Goldvein. If we hadn't been in such a rush, I would have made contact and stopped to see you and the roses in person.

    The roses still look pretty good, despite the heat and stormy weather.

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  2. Baron Girod de L'Ain is beautiful. Gorgeous picture of Aviateur Bleriot too.

    The JB season seems to get longer each year. Here it used to only be the month of June, and now it lasts 3 months.

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  3. Our roses are still doing good here in Florida. And I find a lot of beauty in the rose after all the petals have fallen off when you just have the center. Your roses are still pretty even after the rain.

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  4. I don't hand the heat well, at all. Give me my AC. Poor roses. I love the one with the white edge. I'm not even going to try to remember the name. Stay cool!

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  5. Aviateur Bleriot and Ghislaine are beautiful - daughter kate thinks i dont grow enough yellowy roses, so i have bought a few more this year, but i do love your photos, i will have to try those two I think for next year. Weather here in southern England is extremly hot too, was wet and windy the other day but is scorching hot now, all new rose buds are hanging their heads rather. But musnt complain, had a long hard winter this year, best wishes betty xx

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  6. Beautiful roses! The roses in this area are also in their last flush of blooms, due to the heat and a few thunderstorms. I hope to visit the Ritter Park public rose garden tomorrow. It was chosen as one of the top public rose gardens in the nation!

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  7. Sorry about your beetle sighting. We don't usually see them until the 3rd week in June. This is one insect I don't squishing by hand - the little bastards.

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  8. I see the bees love your roses. My roses are just coming back nicely and with out the thrips!!

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