The archway that leads to Rick's rose garden.
Cajun Sunset
Hybrid Tea
Rick's house is on a quarter-acre lot, in a wooded subdivision. His backyard is the only place with enough sunshine to grow roses. When people tell me that they don't have the room to grow roses, I use Rick as an example. He has at least 150 roses, all of which are in his back and side yard.
I know he's going to blush when he reads this, but I'm going to say it anyway. I consider Rick to be one of the driving forces behind my own rose addiction. He is one of the most generous people EVER ... always ready to share his knowledge, experience, and techniques to help others grow roses successfully. Get me going, and I may even use the word 'mentor' ... perhaps, more than once.
Pink Simplicity
Shrub rose
Poulsen's Pearl
Floribunda
Rick is an active Master Gardener, a Certified Rosarian, and an accredited Rose Judge, with tons of rose show trophies and ribbons to his credit. He also works full time, fishes whenever he gets the chance, and maintains this beautiful garden by himself.
There's no way to pigeon-hole Rick OR his garden. He loves modern Hybrid Tea roses, and he loves the lovely, fragrant Old Garden Roses just as much.
Marilyn Monroe
Hybrid Tea
Marie Pavie
Polyantha
I think Rick has won the Dowager Queen trophy in the Colonial District shows (the top award for an Old Garden Rose) more times than anyone else!
Champneys' Pink Cluster
Noisette
Reve d'Or
Tea Noisette
I stopped by Rick's house last Thursday while he was at work, to leave him a lotus for his pond. I had my camera with me, of course, so I could spend time taking pictures of his beautiful roses. It was a bright sunny day ... which is good for the roses, but bad for taking decent photos. Some of his loveliest roses were in brilliant sunshine, which made getting good photos of them completely impossible.
I darkened this photo a bit, and the other ones that show large expanses of his garden, to tone down the bright glare from the sunshine.
Monarch butterfly on Buddleia
(I didn't do anything to this one. It was perfect as is.)
Kimberlina
Floribunda
Rick and I also share a love of cars, along with our love of roses. He has a new Mustang, I have an old Mustang, and we both used to own old Corvettes.
He and I are going to a rose society picnic in a little while. I thoroughly enjoy his company, no matter where we are or what we're doing, it's always a good time!
Have a great Sunday!
Connie