ROSES - Spring/Summer Season 2021

Mr. Vine Eye · August 2021

@Fire - I left a sawfly-damaged cane on the Generous Gardener and on Malvern Hills because at that stage if I'd removed them that would have taken out half of the plant. They've both grown well on those canes and don't seem to have suffered any ill effects from the wounds which are getting harder to spot now. I can replace them eventually with new growth.

So I think it depends on whether it looks infected, festering or to have caused significant structural damage to the cane.

It could be it has no effect at all - just a scar.

Fire · August 2021

Thanks @Mr. Vine Eye

"I'd removed them that would have taken out half of the plant."

That is my position too. The plant - a Crimson Glory - has gone very woody looking, dark and crusty. I tend to over-prune, no doubt. They are newsh plants, so I should probably just leave them be. If it looks like there is any blackening, I will think again.

Fire · August 2021

The second rose flushes are starting in a small way.

Barkarole. The first of these came in the heat wave in June and went over very fast. Now in the cooler weather, hopefully they will last longer. Petals like leather, in a good way.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/cz/qjv91rc2vr3h.jpg

- - -

Guinee

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/dg/adcaughv2k0y.jpg

Looking at where my back garden is at the moment, I can see that if I can plan for structure and foliage through the year, the blooms are a bonus. It has not be a floriferous rose or dahlia year (an odd year for most of us) but there has been some rose or dahlia blooming continuously (in a small way) since May, and I have come to appreciate that. I am more into having some colour somewhere instead of a big June blow out.

It's similar for cut flowers. There are always stems to cut through the season. Not loads, but enough to make a good bouquet at any time, and I appreciate that. And always flowers for pollinators.

As a gardener with a lot of health issues I am consciously trying to balance energy, wildness, growing for wildlife, colour and low-ish maintenance planting. This has not been a good year for me healthwise, and I can see it in my garden - I have let more go than normal. There have also been a ferocious amount of slugs, which is also causing a re-think on part for the future; some lovely ideas for plants are just too much work to pull off and not much fun, as the whole thing becomes more like a plant rescue and survival mission.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/6k/u3ynlm6d6f44.jpg

Next year will be year three or four for a lot of my newer roses and the garden should be more filled out with 'leaping' plants and good height. Nearly all the garden is surrounded with climbing roses now and it is starting to feel like a wildy space enclosed by roses, which was kind of the plan. I like the foliage a lot and the promise the plants offer all year around.

Mr. Vine Eye · August 2021

@Fire - it looks great! I hope you have a better time of it health-wise looking forward. I'm excited for next year, as like you almost all of my roses except Lady of the Lake will be three years or older.

Just realised on saying that, that I forgot to feed her yesterday.

Just did some watering of all the pots before we're away for a few days. Since putting in the new waterbutts I haven't had to use the tap once.

Here's a good morning to everyone from The Ancient Mariner...

...and Malvern Hills

Nollie · August 2021

Good save @peteS, it’s great when they pull through. I still have a few looking dodgy.

That’s a terrific pot @JessicaS and CPM too. I confess my first persica, Eyes for You is not thrilling me and the scent is still unpleasant overripe fruit, it must be the heat here since nobody else gets that. You had another with purer white outer petals, I recall that I really liked from you photos, can you remind me which one it was?

A judgement call re sawfly damaged canes for me too @Fire, if it’s near the top of the cane it comes off with annual pruning, otherwise I wait and see.

Excellent re-bloom on MH @Mr. Vine Eye, that is one stonker of a rose.

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I have so much more out than I normally do in August, when my roses usually take a break. The weather is heating up again though, so I’m enjoying it while it lasts.

Mari Pavie looks as if she has been here for years, not months. I love the neat shape, healthy foliage, sweet blooms and wafty scent. A perfect pot rose:

Mme. Isaac Pereire:

Guy Savoy, the camera makes it look more garish than IRL, not a prolific bloomer yet but always has a few:

Next flush on Ebb Tide just starting:

Nollie · August 2021

And some yellows..

Julia Child aka bloom machine:

Golden Beauty actually golden. Very stiff, splayed habit, teenage awkwardness?

Golden (or Buff) Celebration:

Graham Thomas:

Omori · August 2021

Not much worth showing here rose-wise, but here’s Eglantyne with a hover fly photobomb. Lovely seeing everyone's roses.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/uf/ikrxk6iauwnq.jpeg

JessicaS · August 2021

@Nollie Thank you! Eying a few more potted... yep, it was my other older persica "Angel Eyes" you liked, its not as common for some reason. No scent but just as prolific and healthy. Its actually pink, but changes colour as it ages, couple of pics below.