Rosa setigera

Rosa setigera, otherwise known as the Cherokee rose or Prairie rose is the only climbing rose native to North America.  Its range is from Canada to Texas, as far west as Nebraska and Kansas.  I bought my plant at Nasami Farm in Whately last year. My rose collection was calling out for a native American rose.  I was told that although this is listed as a climber most people let it just grow into a mounded tangle.

R. setigera foliage

I didn’t really know what this rose would look like, but the foliage was quite different from the usual rose foliage.

R. setigera

This spring the rugosas started blooming in early June and the other varieties followed. We had a good show  for the Annual Rose Viewing the last Sunday in June. But no Cherokee rose.  I wondered if I had watered it enough; it is in quite a dry spot.  Then when I finally got my feet under me after my return from Buffalo, there it was, in full graceful bloom. The single blossoms in shades of pink are about two inches across on arching branches.  I don’t know if this late bloom date is typical, or another manifestation of all the odd weather this year.

Quietness

Quietness is a Griffith Buck rose I saw last fall at the New York Botanical Garden. I knew I had to have it.  I ordered it from Chamblee Roses,  planted it this spring, and it is just starting to bloom.  The pale color and beautiful shape are perfectly serene.  I will be serene because Buck roses are very hardy.  Other Buck roses in my garden are Applejack, Hawk eye Belle, Prairie Harvest and Carefree Beauty.

Carefree Beauty

I planted Buck’s Carefree Beauty last year. It has not grown very much, but it does bloom – huge blossoms.

Hawkeye Belle

Hawkeye Belle was planted on the new Rose Bank this spring and is settling in. She also has delicate pink flowers. Hooray for Dr. Griffith Buck. He had an eye for roses, and compassion for gardeners who wanted a hardy disease resistant rose.

Rosa Mundi 6-30

Rosa Mundi is an ancient striped gallica rose – rosa gallica versicolor.  A good friend gave me this rose many years ago and has proved its hardiness by surviving this long. It has not increased in size, but it returns to bloom every June.  It is listed as hardy to Zone 4, so why hasn’t it thrived?  If I am honest I must assess the planting site. Although it is said to be tolerant of some shade, I think this spot next to the Cottage Ornee is too shady. Nor does it get the water that roses love because it is too close to the Cottage which has a fairly deep overhang.  I keep thinking I should move it to a more congenial spot.  I am starting a list of plants that should be moved this fall.  Rosa Mundi, possibly named after the Fair Rosamund, mistress of Henry II who lived in the 12th century must be moved.  This fall I will give the fragrant Fair Rosamund a better bed.

Pink Grootendorst Rugosa

We are making the final preparations for the Annual Rose Viewing tomorrow afternoon. I haven’t finished dead heading, but here is a preview of some of the roses in bloom.

Ghislaine de Feligonde rambler

Fantin-Latour alba

Ispahan damask

Red Meidelland landscape rose

Madame Plantier alba

These roses and more will be awaiting admirers at the Annual Rose Viewing at the End of Knott Road in Heath, Sunday, June 27, 1-4 pm. Take some time to smell the roses.

We all know that many roses, as well as other plants like dwarf fruit trees, are often grafted onto sturdier rootstocks. It doesn’t happen very often, but sometimes that sturdy rootstock decides to take on a life of its own again.  The deep red roses here are from the rootstock grafted onto my alba rose, Passionate Nymph’s Thigh. The passionate nymph’s roses are a delicate flesh pink – as appropriate for a Maiden’s Blush, as for a rowdier sister, but the rootstock hints at darker doings.  This particular rose bush sends up rootstock shoots every other year or so.  I cut it back as soon as it identifies itself, but I left this a little longer so I could get a good photo.  Some nurseries will note that their roses are Own Root, which means this would not happen.

Dart's Dash rugosa

In the cool of the early morning I wandered down The Rose Walk and  found that Dart’s Dash has put out its first blossom. Rugosas are the first roses to bloom in my garden, but this is especially early. I’ve been watering which the roses love and temperatures in the 80s and today in the 90s have persuaded the roses that summer might almost be here. Dart’s Dash is a low growing rugosa, but has the rugosa’s vigor and tendency to spread. It is at the end of The Rose Walk and marks the entry to the Potager. Wonderful fragrance.

Passionate Nymph’s Thigh has been delighting gardeners, and possibly lovers, ever since the 15th century. Possibly longer. The color made the French think of  a passionate nymph’s thigh and called it Cuisse de Nymphe, but the English found that excessive and vulgar. Maiden’s Blush was their reading.  This is a perfect alba rose, blushing pink, a delicious perfume and slightly blue grey leaves. She has amazing vigor and stamina, having survived under the roof line of our New England house where ice has crashed down on her for nearly 30 years .

She will be enjoyed at today’s Annual Rose Viewing, OR you can click on the Virtual Rose Viewing page.

Applejack

Applejack was one of Dr. Griffith Buck’s first successes at hybridizing hardy roses at Iowa State University. By the time he retired at 70 in 1986 he had created about 90 hybrids, many of which are still available.  I planted my Applejack in 1981. Other Buck hybrids I planted did die, but I think it was probably improper planting on my part. Last year I planted Carefree Beauty and it has just bloomed.

At first I thought it had quite a different flower form from the old fashioned roses in the Rose Walk.  The opening buds promised a rose much more like the florist’s roses. But then, the rose fully opened -

and the blossom was flatter, like the old fashioneds, but fully  four inches across.  It seems espcially big right now because the bush intself in not even two feet tall.

There should be several blooms by Sunday, June 28, at The Annual  Rose Viewing.