This is French Lace, a beautiful cream-colored floribunda rose. It always reminds me of my rose friend Diana. I will always be grateful to her for helping me unlock the mystery of how to propagate roses from cuttings. It is her method, with the milk jugs and soda bottles, that I demonstrate in the tutorial on my web site. French Lace, this exact rose, is the first one I ever successfully rooted.
Is there anyone who doesn't love Mutabilis? The one in my garden was a gift from my friend Rick. It grew in his mother's garden in Florida, and he transplanted it to his own garden after she passed away. Two years ago, as he was reassessing his roses, he decided that Mutabilis was too large for his suburban back yard ... and it now lives with me. Rick is my mentor and my partner in crime. I am proud that he thinks enough of me to trust me with his mother's rose. I promise I'll take good care of it.
"The Elegant Gallica"
Bella Donna
These two roses will always remind me of Dennis. They came from Tufton Farm at Monticello two years ago. Dennis is one of the most knowledgable old garden rose guys I have ever met, and he is THE most humble person I know. Our schedules don't allow us to get together as often as I would like, but I did get to spend the day with him last Saturday at Tufton (photos and more to come soon ... maybe for tomorrow's Friday Flowers?) It was a good day.
Banshee
Shailer's Provence
I will always think of Robert when I look at these roses. He gave them to me as suckers that he dug from his garden the first day I met him. He kept offering me cuttings of roses, but I hadn't learned to root them at that time. So, he gave me suckers ... have I mentioned how generous gardeners are?
Robert and I have like minds when it comes to old roses. He is always ready to hop in the car and accompany me on whatever adventure I have in mind. We have traveled the countryside rustling roses, and visited countless nurseries (remind me one day to tell you how many plants we stuffed into his BMW) Most of all, we enjoy each other's company.
This photo represents a new friendship. I met Kat from her blog (Low Tide High Style), and I instantly knew that we could be friends. She and I got together last month, for a wonderful day of shopping and sharing in her neck of the woods. The violet and the bowling pin are two things I brought home from that trip ... the best thing I brought home was a new friendship.
What things do you have that remind you of friends?
(written by Hartwood Roses. Hartwood Roses blog)