Rose Overload!

The past two weeks have been a blur!  As soon as spring weather arrived, I spent every available bit of time for weeks, working in the garden and getting the roses ready for their big show in May and June.  I try to do what I can to have the garden look its best when visitors come.  Whenever I'm outside, I have my iPhone in my pocket ... which is really handy for taking photos.  

Here is a selection of roses that have been photo-worthy so far this year ... in alphabetical order, because that's how they end up being arranged in my blog photo file.  This post is a long one.  Settle in, and ENJOY!!  (Highlighted rose names are links to take you to the rose's description page on Help Me Find, the best rose reference site on the web.)

'Alchymist'

  

'Alida Lovett', Hybrid Wichurana rambler. 1917.

'Annie Laurie', Floribunda, 2001.

"Arcata Pink Globe", Hybrid Setigera rambler, found rose.

'Augustine Girault', Hybrid Wichurana rambler, 1907.

'Baby Betsy McCall', Miniature, 1960.

'Climbing American Beauty', Hybrid Wichurana rambler, 1909.

'Coral Creeper', Hybrid Wichurana, 1938.

"Dennis's Not-Anemone Rambler", Hybrid Setigera Rambler, history unknown.

'Fabvier', China rose, bef. 1829.

'Garisenda', Hybrid Wichurana, 1911.

'Ghislaine de Feligonde', Hybrid Multiflora, 1916.

'Glenn Dale', Hybrid Wichurana, 1927.

'Gold Coin', Miniature, 1967.

'Golden Arctic', Large-flowered Climber, 1954.

'Golden Glow', Hybrid Wichurana, 1937.

'Grace Seward', Miniature, 1991.

'Green Ice', Miniature, 1971.

"Green Mount Red", Noisette, found rose.

Detail of front yard Hybrid Tea garden.  The pink rose in the front is 'Mme. Joseph Bonnaire'.

'Janna', Miniature, 1970.

'Mary Guthrie', Polyantha, 1929.

'Mary Washington', Noisette, bef. 1890.

Detail of Miniature Garden with Ramblers on the fence.

Detail of the Miniature Garden with Ramblers on the fence.

Detail of Miniature Garden with Ramblers on the fence.

'Moonlight', Hybrid Musk, 1913.

'Mrs. Robinson', Floribunda, 2008.

'New Dawn', Large-flowered climber, 1930.

'Orfeo', Large-flowered Climber, 1963.

'Paul's Himalayan Musk Rambler', Rambler, 1916.

'Pink Pillar', Large-flowered Climber, 1940.

'Robin Hood', Hybrid Musk, 1927, and 'Maid Marion', Hybrid Musk, 1930.

Unknown China with Virginia provenance, grown from cuttings from Sacramento City Cemetery rose garden.

"Setzer's Noisette", Noisette, found rose, said to have been taken cross-country from Virginia in the 19th Century.

'Shailer's Provence, Hybrid China, 1799.

'Shailer's Provence', Hybrid China, 1799.

'Silver Moon', Hybrid Wichurana, 1910.

"Single Pink China", China rose, found rose, thought to be a sport of 'Old Blush'.

'Verdun', Polyantha, 1918.

'White Quill', Mini-flora, 2003.

I can honestly say that my roses have never looked better.  My efforts to attend to things before they become a huge problem (like weeds and blackspot) are really making a difference.  Our rainy, cool spring helped, too.

In case this wasn't enough for you, there's still more to come.  Stay tuned!

The Star of Saturday's Open Garden Event ... American Pillar

Visitors to my garden on Saturday were treated to one of my favorite roses in full, glorious bloom.  American Pillar, a rose introduced by Dr. Walter Van Fleet in 1902, is a rambler rose that I have planted as a feature at the end of the Rambler Fence with hopes that it will climb into the adjacent cedar tree. 

This plant has been in this location for four years.  A couple of times during the year, I take canes and guide them toward the tree ... tying them in place where I can, hoping that they will continue to grow into the tree.  Because the tree is green, and the canes are green, I cannot tell how successful I have been until the rose is blooming.

This year, I am overjoyed at the progress.

Do you see the pink flowers WAY up in the tree?  Those canes have snaked through the branches seeking the sun, exactly the way they were supposed to.  I had no idea that the rose had reached such heights already!  This is so exciting!!

See how beautiful American Pillar is against the rough structure of the cedar tree?

Saturday, Mother Nature treated us to beautiful weather ... warm temperatures with a slight overcast throughout the day provided a perfect atmosphere to view and smell and photograph the roses.  Many visitors brought their cameras with them, and I hope them left with photos they can be proud of.

Isn't American Pillar stunning???  These flowers are about 2 inches in diameter, and there are probably thousands of them on the plant.

Most of the visitors came with a shopping list, having visited the nursery web site ahead of time to weigh the pros and cons of the roses that I have in stock.  Even with this type of thorough advance preparation, more than a few folks were tempted by American Pillar, and quite a few American Pillars left here on their way to new homes with beaming new owners.

There's a new cane coming emerging from the top of the pile!  As soon as it gets a little longer, you can be assured that I will tie it to the tree so it can continue its journey to the top.