No rain yet, though the weather forecast says 20% chance of rain. It is very much needed for the plants. They were all wilting in the heat yesterday evening. Also the second flush of the roses seems to have just started, they need water. Lots of deadheading and clearing up of the debris needed in the garden, will have to do over the weekend. Chandos beauty Cecilia, Royal Celebration, Munstead Wood, Darcey Bussel below.
Oxford. The City of Dreaming Spires.
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils (roses). Taking a bit of liberty with Wordsworth
Nice to see munstead wood. Mine have been very quiet this year whereas Jude the obscure which doesn't flower that much usually has been in flower most of the time this year. Makes me think we can't judge roses with only our experience, it changes so much with weather and growing conditions.
Hope you have seen off the worst of the heat in the UK everyone that’s affected. It’s interesting to see which roses are proving resilient and which are not. I thought I would be safe with teas and chinas, but some are proving too tender for my winters and others are crisping like everything else.
@dabolem, my roses were gearing up for a second flush when this latest heatwave hit, unfortunate timing! I would normally have had the second flush by now and, like you, roses would be into summer dormancy, but a cold spring and late frost damage threw the whole cycle into confusion.
These three are NE facing, so afternoon shade…
My LoS, also crisping:
Alister Stella Gray, unaffected - brown blooms have simply gone over:
@Newbie, yes it is a big effort, hence thinking of retiring to near the coast sooner rather than later. There the winters are generally frost-free and summers mostly below 30c (except at the moment but consistently 5c lower than here at least). However, since it’s heating up everywhere, might end up joining @Marlorena in Berwick upon Tweed instead 😆
Oh and the other way ‘round, the red growth is more a Prince than a WS characteristic, at least on mine, so I think yours looks promising, finger’s crossed.
Rose downsizing, this is where I am currently at:
Gone or definitely going:
Diamond Eyes - terrible BS and bored with itty-bitty small leaves and blooms.
Graham Thomas - constantly defoliated, always chlorotic, very weak growth
Duchesse d’Auerstadt - sadly too tender for my winters, one for the coast
Alexander - it’s coral, poor rebloom here
Deep Secret - dead secret, no regrowth or rebloom
Noella Nabonard - a good, vigorous rose for hot climates, but just not wowing me
Warm Welcome - all but one cane died, lost vigour. Loved it so may get another
Francis Dubreuil - constant mildew and generally too fussy
Paul Neyron - I actually really liked this freebie rose but I have too many pinks
Gloire de Ducher - a nice (freebie) rose for the right climate but that’s not here
Maybe Going:
Super Trouper - [argument with OH coming] horrible coral brown blooms in heat
Mutabilis - I so wanted this but it’s doing poorly in shade, might try in sun.
Cramoisi Superieur - good bushy growth but surprisingly poor in full sun/dry heat
La Rose de Molinard - needs to go for so many reasons, but that divine fragrance..
Folle de Courtisane/Dee-Lish - the latter is currently winning the duel for one spot, as it’s perked up, but crisping still a concern. FdC blooms go a coral in heat, ugly habit.
Mme. Isaac Pereire/Catherine Guillot - one needs to go, MIP is vigorous but goes crispy and gets BS, CG is weak grower so far but deserves another year. In the Bourbon trials, only Mme. de Sévigné has impressed so far.
Excellenz von Schubert - I really love this exquisite rose, but blooms are currently only 1/2” across and turning white even in dappled shade. Possibly not one for hot climates.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Great to see the number of roses still looking good.. cooler today and windy here, but a fresh wind... thank God that's over for now.. last night was unbearable, I actually slept in the garden for part of the time..
@Nollie I shall take your advice next time, thank you again, and others too.. Happy to be neighbours in Berwick Nollie... see you there !
'Dee-Lish' / 'Sweet Parfum'..etc.. got frazzled in the heat, but lots of new blooms coming out.. ..chameleon 'Lady of Shalott' with shades of pink in hot conditions.. I rather like it for a change... Holds up well.. I got one or two crispy blooms yesterday. 'Desdemona' fries above 90F but always producing.. 'Bring Me Sunshine' between flushes, but I do like the foliage and growth habit, I shall be keeping this one ... 'Cornelia' can stop in drought, so nice to see a few clusters...
@Marlorena sadly, I would have a mammoth task on my hands trying to persuade OH to move back to the UK! I’m so glad it’s cooled off for you and I know exactly what you mean, there is a palpable relief in letting go. I will always love and have roses but I was letting my obsession rule my life.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
I think this is something that affects all rose people, we expand, contract, expand etc. until eventually we reach an equilibrium... and then we expand again..
I know that feeling of relief after we let go, I got that when I let go of hostas, dahlias and perennials which I couldnt save from slug/snails. If it comes to downsizing I would let go of mostly everything in pots except 2-3 roses. Anyway not doing it this year, will think about it next year.
Posts
Chandos beauty
Cecilia, Royal Celebration, Munstead Wood, Darcey Bussel below.
@dabolem, my roses were gearing up for a second flush when this latest heatwave hit, unfortunate timing! I would normally have had the second flush by now and, like you, roses would be into summer dormancy, but a cold spring and late frost damage threw the whole cycle into confusion.
My LoS, also crisping:
Alister Stella Gray, unaffected - brown blooms have simply gone over:
Buff Beauty, shrunken blooms immediately crisping:
Very shallow Gertrude blooms:
Oh and the other way ‘round, the red growth is more a Prince than a WS characteristic, at least on mine, so I think yours looks promising, finger’s crossed.
Rose downsizing, this is where I am currently at:
Gone or definitely going:
Diamond Eyes - terrible BS and bored with itty-bitty small leaves and blooms.
Graham Thomas - constantly defoliated, always chlorotic, very weak growth
Duchesse d’Auerstadt - sadly too tender for my winters, one for the coast
Alexander - it’s coral, poor rebloom here
Deep Secret - dead secret, no regrowth or rebloom
Noella Nabonard - a good, vigorous rose for hot climates, but just not wowing me
Warm Welcome - all but one cane died, lost vigour. Loved it so may get another
Francis Dubreuil - constant mildew and generally too fussy
Paul Neyron - I actually really liked this freebie rose but I have too many pinks
Gloire de Ducher - a nice (freebie) rose for the right climate but that’s not here
Maybe Going:
Super Trouper - [argument with OH coming] horrible coral brown blooms in heat
Mutabilis - I so wanted this but it’s doing poorly in shade, might try in sun.
Cramoisi Superieur - good bushy growth but surprisingly poor in full sun/dry heat
La Rose de Molinard - needs to go for so many reasons, but that divine fragrance..
Folle de Courtisane/Dee-Lish - the latter is currently winning the duel for one spot, as it’s perked up, but crisping still a concern. FdC blooms go a coral in heat, ugly habit.
Mme. Isaac Pereire/Catherine Guillot - one needs to go, MIP is vigorous but goes crispy and gets BS, CG is weak grower so far but deserves another year. In the Bourbon trials, only Mme. de Sévigné has impressed so far.
Excellenz von Schubert - I really love this exquisite rose, but blooms are currently only 1/2” across and turning white even in dappled shade. Possibly not one for hot climates.
@Nollie
I shall take your advice next time, thank you again, and others too..
Happy to be neighbours in Berwick Nollie... see you there !
'Dee-Lish' / 'Sweet Parfum'..etc.. got frazzled in the heat, but lots of new blooms coming out..
..chameleon 'Lady of Shalott' with shades of pink in hot conditions.. I rather like it for a change... Holds up well.. I got one or two crispy blooms yesterday.
'Desdemona' fries above 90F but always producing..
'Bring Me Sunshine' between flushes, but I do like the foliage and growth habit, I shall be keeping this one ...
'Cornelia' can stop in drought, so nice to see a few clusters...