Portland from Glendora. This is the rose that started the out-of-control collection that is my rose garden.
In the fall of 2002, two of my garden friends were going to Sherando Roses (outside Waynesboro, Virginia), and they invited me to come along. I didn't grow roses at the time, because I had almost no sunshine at the house I was living in. We had just bought this property where I am now, with its 9 acres of sunny old-farm soil, and my friends decided that I should grow roses.
This was Sherando.
I say "was" because the owner retired three years ago and closed the nursery. It was the loss of Sherando (our only old-rose source in the whole area) that prompted me to open Hartwood Roses ... but I digress.
"Portland from Glendora" was one of three roses that I brought home with me from that first-of-many trips to Sherando. (The other two were Frau Dagmar Hartopp and R. Eglanteria.)
I noticed "Glendora" blooming in the Rose Field while I was out on my beetle hunt on Wednesday. This got me distracted (so what else is new) and I started photographing her beautiful pink flowers in the perfect overcast light that afternoon.
"Glendora" is a big girl. She wants to be about six feet tall, and she supports herself quite nicely.
She is a Portland rose ... a small class of roses developed in the second quarter of the 19th Century. Like other Portlands, "Glendora" smells WONDERFUL! She gets a bit of blackspot, so a little fungicide is probably necessary to keep her looking her best.
Now to the Giveaway part of today's post. One lucky Hartwood Roses reader will win "Portland from Glendora" for their own garden.
To enter, simply post a Comment here and tell me about something in your garden that makes you happy. No need to become a follower (though I would sincerely appreciate it if you do).
This giveaway will end at 11:00 pm EDT, on Thursday, June 25. I will announce the winner during Friday Flowers here on June 26.
(Because this is a giveaway for a live plant, there are a few little 'fine print' issues that I have to address. I am not licensed to ship to CA, OR, WA, AZ, AK, HI, or anywhere outside the US. I have a lovely alternate prize if someone from one of these states is the winner.)
Fertilizer Friday
Remember, I have cancelled tomorrow's on-site nursery hours because I have to go out of town to attend a funeral for a friend who passed away last week. Regular hours resume on Saturday, June 26th, from 10am - 3pm.
Be sure to visit tomorrow, when I unveil our Family Room for the 'Where Bloggers Create' feature.
(written by Hartwood Roses. Hartwood Roses blog.)