The Generous Gardener smells so good! Had a sniff this afternoon while I did a bit of deadheading (just a bit as it was so cold!) and again this evening while fixing part of a fence post that had blown off.
It’s just a lovely scent. It’s definitely a favourite rose in my garden.
I’ll have a look at helpmefind and upload some of my photos etc. I’ve used it several times to check ratings and pictures.
@Mr. Vine Eye I really like my The Generous Gardener too (though not fond of the clunky name, worthy though it is), sooo pretty, delicious-smelling, healthy and vigorous. Unfortunately today I joined the broken TGG basal club. Just a slight push on a 5ft cane and it went. I have splinted and sent up a prayer to the basal cane gods.
Phew!! Just got through a marathon catch up on this thread, it moves fast. I do not recall seeing any photos of Blue Moon. Does anyone grow this rose? It is a rose that I would like for sentimental reasons and would be interested in any opinions.
..gosh, I haven't had that one since about 1987.. I remember a strong fragrance but that's about all... everyone bought it back in the day.. sorry I can't be of more help..
@edhelka ...Anne Boleyn had a gap of about 5 weeks between flushes this year.. it may be speeded up with watering, as they do at the DA gardens, but not in my dry conditions.. the 2nd flush wasn't nearly as good either, but it's a vigorous healthy rose with good foliage..
@Ffoxglove ....you need to get rid of all that grass around your rose.. it'll never thrive in those conditions ...
5 weeks gap is more than I would like. Although for example, Gertrude Jekyll has an even longer gap (6-8 weeks) and I still like her because the flushes (2 full flushes + some autumn blooms on new basals) are long and with many well-lasting flowers.
Last year, I prefered roses with some blooms on them all the time, this year I like roses blooming in distinct strong flushes more. A rose covered in blooms is beautiful even if it needs longer to repeat.
I would like to know what everyone here considers as a good repeat. Three flushes? Four? Are two with some scattered blooms between them OK? Or is it more about the proportion of time with blooms vs without? What are your best and worst repeaters?
@Marlorena...I've a couple of Thomas a Becket's, one about 4 years old, of which I very rarely see the blooms because of the droop, and a new one this summer (struggling, but coming on). And I've come to the conclusion the only way I'm going to see the flowers is by using some sort of support next year.
@Marlorena, Oh well, thanks all the same. About then would be the last time I saw it too. It is still listed in Beales catalogue, so presumably it is still in some demand. Do growers develop or improve older rose varieties at all or would it still be as it was all those years ago?
@owd potter ..yes it's the same rose.. it may be more black spot prone nowadays, as it's been around since the 1960's, and we've had successive Clean Air Act's in the UK since then.. ...I suspect the breeder's most recent offering 'Pacific Blue' is an improved form of this rose, but that's not available here as yet, and it doesn't appear to have great black spot resistance.... most people these days, wanting a rose of this colour, choose 'Blue For You'..
@Ffoxglove ..yes you would have to remove all the grass in your picture.. or move the rose to another spot... unless the cultivation is improved it will never be a good rose..
@peteS ..yes, way to go... a rose best looked up to I think.. it can even be trained across rope..
@poppyfield64 ..I couldn't help but notice your posting to HMF.. thanks for doing that, lovely pictures.. just what we need more of from UK rosarians..
..to answer edhelka's question regards best blooming roses... of the 200 or so I've had here in the last 10 years, the one that repeated quickest and with most flushes, was 'Benjamin Britten'.. 5 flushes a season right into late autumn.. one after the other,.. as soon as one was finished the next was ready to go... very impressive performance, and I don't think I've had another quite like it... I just didn't like the colour of the flowers..
@edhelka, I do have a distinct summer break, as you mentioned earlier, when temperatures hit the heights of July/August, many roses stop blooming altogether so during that period I can go up to 8 weeks with no blooms on some shrubs. Others continue to bloom sporadically but with a lower petal count. As to repeat/flush frequency, I am trying to find a balance between those that either give a good initial flush (accepting there won’t be much after) and continuous bloomers that can fill the gaps. My main issue is that I rarely get the ‘full flush’ effect anyway, my best is usually a half full flush. Best repeaters are, naturally, floribundas, Julia Child being the exceptional example and I hope Stormy Weather will be be another. LEH is usually an excellent, fast repeater, but not this year for some reason. Munstead Wood’s first flush was better than ever, then it pretty much gave up.
Overall, I am sure my bloom count is lower for the exact same rose, I rarely get the spectacular flushes of the UK or indeed warmer US climates, if photos on here and other forums are anything to go by. I am hoping that my newer, better-researched roses, including a selection of OGRs, will, in time, plug the gaps more effectively.
So why the overall lesser blooming? My soil is good now, greatly organically-amended clay, topped up every year, plus the roses are fed sufficiently, I think. Although, due to my warmer temps and longer season, I am sure I do water more than most, an unmetered private water supply/summer rains mean it is not a problem here, but some roses do not respond no matter how much water I give them.
Apart from a cull of the worst performing roses, next year, I am going to try a combined alfalfa tea + other natural amendments recipe I found. Otherwise, I will have to accept that is what my humid climate produces and simply enjoy the blooms I do get.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
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It’s just a lovely scent. It’s definitely a favourite rose in my garden.
I’ll have a look at helpmefind and upload some of my photos etc. I’ve used it several times to check ratings and pictures.
Just got through a marathon catch up on this thread, it moves fast.
I do not recall seeing any photos of Blue Moon.
Does anyone grow this rose?
It is a rose that I would like for sentimental reasons and would be interested in any opinions.
@edhelka
...Anne Boleyn had a gap of about 5 weeks between flushes this year.. it may be speeded up with watering, as they do at the DA gardens, but not in my dry conditions.. the 2nd flush wasn't nearly as good either, but it's a vigorous healthy rose with good foliage..
@Ffoxglove
....you need to get rid of all that grass around your rose.. it'll never thrive in those conditions ...
How big an area? X
Oh well, thanks all the same.
About then would be the last time I saw it too.
It is still listed in Beales catalogue, so presumably it is still in some demand.
Do growers develop or improve older rose varieties at all or would it still be as it was all those years ago?
..yes it's the same rose.. it may be more black spot prone nowadays, as it's been around since the 1960's, and we've had successive Clean Air Act's in the UK since then..
...I suspect the breeder's most recent offering 'Pacific Blue' is an improved form of this rose, but that's not available here as yet, and it doesn't appear to have great black spot resistance.... most people these days, wanting a rose of this colour, choose 'Blue For You'..
@Ffoxglove
..yes you would have to remove all the grass in your picture.. or move the rose to another spot... unless the cultivation is improved it will never be a good rose..
@peteS
..yes, way to go... a rose best looked up to I think.. it can even be trained across rope..
@poppyfield64
..I couldn't help but notice your posting to HMF.. thanks for doing that, lovely pictures.. just what we need more of from UK rosarians..
..to answer edhelka's question regards best blooming roses... of the 200 or so I've had here in the last 10 years, the one that repeated quickest and with most flushes, was 'Benjamin Britten'.. 5 flushes a season right into late autumn.. one after the other,.. as soon as one was finished the next was ready to go... very impressive performance, and I don't think I've had another quite like it... I just didn't like the colour of the flowers..
So why the overall lesser blooming? My soil is good now, greatly organically-amended clay, topped up every year, plus the roses are fed sufficiently, I think. Although, due to my warmer temps and longer season, I am sure I do water more than most, an unmetered private water supply/summer rains mean it is not a problem here, but some roses do not respond no matter how much water I give them.