Sunday Snapshot ... American Pillar

I mark the stages of rose season with the appearance of flowers on certain roses.  The first rose of the season this year was on 'Sarah Van Fleet', followed closely by 'Old Blush'.  Mid-season is marked by a riot of flowers in every part of the garden.  It's difficult to know what happened when or where to look, there are so many flowers.  One of my most eagerly-anticipated roses popped its first flower a few days ago ... yes, folks, 'American Pillar' is in full bloom, spilling dark pink flowers from high up in its cedar tree!

I hoped this would happen, years ago when I planted that tiny little 'American Pillar' at the base of the dripline of this tree.  We had a couple of years of false starts, as the long canes would get blown out of the tree by strong North winds, but I kept at it ... returning the canes to the tree and tying them in place when necessary.  Patience and tenacity paid off, and this is the result!

Happy Sunday, Everyone!

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Sunday Snapshots are posts that are devoted to a moment in time that represents a slice of life in Hartwood, or wherever else I happen to be at the time.

Open Garden Day Reminder

This is a reminder, so you don't forget that this year's Open Garden Day is Saturday, June 7, from 10am to 4pm.

'American Pillar' is in full bloom across the fence and WAY up into that cedar tree.  A photo doesn't do it justice ... you have to stand there and see it in person to comprehend the size and spectacle of this rose.

For the past two days, I have been working in the front yard, weeding the roses in the final bed in the hybrid tea garden and filling holes where roses have died with replacements from the pot ghetto.  Making great progress!

Before

During ... it will be a while till I can get a true 'After' photo.

I feel really good about showing off the garden this year.  It's still a horrible embarrassment in some places, but it's better than it was last year.  The mess and weeds don't stop me from welcoming folks to the garden.  With all the roses to see and smell, who cares about the weeds.

Sunday Snapshot ... Open Garden Day

My garden will be open today, from noon to 5pm.  The weather is going to be perfect, and the roses are absolutely gorgeous ... I'm biased, though, you understand.  Almost every rose in the garden is in full bloom right now.  Our long spring, with its adequate rain and mild temperatures, allowed the roses to put on lovely, healthy new growth.  Every one of them is totally FILLED with flowers.

Here is a little sneak peek at what you will see if you come to visit:

1.  Old Garden Roses suckering and totally obstructing the paths in the Rose Field.  Hard to complain when they are as beautiful as this.

2.  Roses in trees.  These are once-blooming roses.  Every year when they flower, I see that they have climbed higher and filled more of their trees than the year before.

'American Pillar' in a cedar tree.

 

 

'American Pillar', close up.

 

'Paul's Himalayan Musk Rambler' in a mulberry.

 

3.  The Rambler Fence is at peak bloom right now, and it is an absolute spectacle.  I have been a bum and let the roses go for the past two years.  They are growing like thorny haystacks on the fence and are creeping along the ground through the weeds.  All this growth has fueled a profusion of flowers like no other.  (and the fragrance!!!) 

From foreground to background, the roses on the fence are:  'Jean Guichard', 'Leontine Gervais', 'Awakening', 'Albertine', "Peggy Martin", 'Rene Andre', 'Aviateur Bleriot', 'Paul Transon', 'Alberic Barbier', 'Silver Moon', and 'American Pillar'.   (The roses are planted 24' on center ... do the math, that's almost 300' of fence packed with thousands of flowers.)

It's warm and breezy today, perfect for spending an hour or two walking and talking and visiting the roses.  (I hope to really get busy with my camera in the next few days, documenting this season's flowers to put together a virtual tour ... so those of you who cannot visit in person will get a taste of what it's like.)

Happy Sunday, Everyone!  It's a beautiful day to be in the garden.