Rose Season Begins
Applejack was one of the first roses we planted at the End of the Road. It is the first rose to greet people as they come up to the Annual Rose Viewing, and the last to leave its image in their rear view mirrors.
Applejack is one of Griffith Buck‘s hybrids. Buck attended Iowa State University after serving in WWII and went on to teach there, and hybridize roses that were hardy and disease resistant. Last summer I added another Buck rose.
Carefree Beauty produced huge blooms, even though the plant stayed quite small. I can’t wait to see what it will do this year. Carefree Beauty is also an EarthKind rose which means it has been tested to be hardy and disease resistant, the kind of rose that does not need fussing, spraying or dusting with poison.
This morning I ordered two more Buck roses from Chamblee Rose Nursery.
Hawkeye Belle is a lovely pale pink that will become a fairly large shrub with large blooms. It is a repeat bloomer. It is hardy in Zone 4 and is described as being fragrant. One of its parents is the Queen Elizabeth rose which makes me very happy. I love Queen Elizabeth, but she never lasts very long on my hill. Too tender.
Quietness is said to be extremely fragrant, is a repeat bloomer, and about the same size as Hawkeye Belle. It is hardy to Zone 5.
I have other rose nurseries listed in the links column. I will buy a couple of other roses, but so far I haven’t decided which. They will have to be hardy and disease resistant, that much I know. The rose season has begun.
You might be interested in these other posts:
- Quietness – and Her Sisters Quietness is a Griffith Buck rose I saw last fall at the New York Botanical...
- My Hero, Griffith Buck Dr. Griffith Buck (1915-1991) is my hero because when he was working at the Iowa...
- Griffith Buck and His Hardy Roses Applejack is the first Griffith Buck hybrid I planted and it has thrived, greeting visitors...
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By Tinky, January 19, 2010 @ 3:42 pm
Encouraging! It’s lovely to see the rose pix at this time of year……
By Lisa at Greenbow, January 19, 2010 @ 6:10 pm
These are just gorgeous. I can almost smell Quietness. Oh no, that is snow I am smelling.
By Ramble on Rose, January 19, 2010 @ 8:41 pm
I have heard so many good things about ‘Carefree Beauty’, I think I may have to invest in one!
By Frances, January 20, 2010 @ 8:06 am
Hi Pat, is is cheering to think about the roses blooming when the weather warms. Carefree Beauty must be one of the very top performers on every list I have seen, from all over the world. We added Carefree Sunshine, I love the yellows, a couple of years ago and we expect this, the third year to be the best. Isn’t it something like, first year they creep, second year, don’t know, third year they leap? Do you know that saying?
Frances
By Flaneur, January 20, 2010 @ 1:28 pm
Your photos of roses offer just about the only sign of hope emanating from Massachusetts today. So off to the greenhouse to hybridize brilliant and sunny pale yellow blossoms (Earthkind, I hope) to be named “Progress,” “Hope” and “Change”. As for the voters who cast ballots against their own self-interest, it’s the compost heap!
By Pat, January 21, 2010 @ 8:51 am
Tinky – roses cheer in every season, but especially now.
Lisa – Snow is the only fragrance in my air as well.
Ramble – Carefree Beauty is defintely a carefree beauty. This winter has not been harsh so farm, so I think she will be in good shape in the spring.
Frances – I have not heard that phrase, but it explains a lot. A hint not to put off buying perennial plants and shrubs. Or trees.
Flaneur – I am in total agreement.
By Connie, January 23, 2010 @ 4:01 pm
We have eerily similar taste in roses. Applejack was my first Buck rose, followed shortly thereafter by Quietness. Carefree Beauty was a gift from a friend two years ago. Last year I added Golden Unicorn and Gentle Persuasion … both lovely.
By Pat, January 23, 2010 @ 4:49 pm
Connie – I’m going to have the happy pleasure of trying to catch up with you!