My roses are nothing to write home about. They suffer from benign neglect and I don't understand the arcana of pruning roses. I have three rose bushes: two Christian Dior hybrid tea roses. Two survived out of the three I planted and an unknown white rose. This year, I pruned the Christian Dior roses at the wrong time, some of the canes died back, but others took their place. The white rose, I was too lazy to prune so I took the hedge trimmer and lopped it down to about two feet. I hope no one is aghast.
There wasn't much in the way of Spring blooms. But as I've previously mentioned, we've had some late monsoonal rains and the white roses look better than they ever have . They're not xeric, but I planted them under a downspout in the hope of rain supplementing my watering.
I had difficulty photographing the white roses. White and red flowers challenge me the most as an amateur photographer. I photographed the rose above on my second outing outside. (Crouching Gardener, Hidden Rosa)
I tried to trick my camera by using the snow setting for the roses. Alas, the camera was not fooled by my guile. The remaining roses were photographed on my third trip outside after the sun had receded some.
But the recent rains are not going to seduce me into buying more roses. I know that this was an anomaly and have killed many a rose bush discovering this.
Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day this October. Special thanks to Carol at May Dreams Gardens for hosting.
There wasn't much in the way of Spring blooms. But as I've previously mentioned, we've had some late monsoonal rains and the white roses look better than they ever have . They're not xeric, but I planted them under a downspout in the hope of rain supplementing my watering.
I had been thinking of pulling this rose bush out because it was such a poor performer, but it got a reprieve.
Third trip was the charm. Your white roses are lovely.
ReplyDeleteReally lovely. You managed to get some lovely photos. I am always challenged with a camera.
ReplyDeleteI've thought about adding a couple more Roses in the Spring. :)
Cher Sunray Gardens
@Nell Jean - Thank you. It's the white swan echinacea, daisies, and white roses that are a struggle to photograph.
ReplyDelete@Sunray - Cher, thanks for always stopping by and leaving a comment.
I love roses, but I don't think roses love me. :( I look forward to seeing your roses in the Spring.
Beautiful shots. And I even forgive you the 'Crouching Gardener, Hidden Rosa' line. Chortle.
ReplyDeleteGlad you didn't got rid of this white rose. It's definitely a beauty. I find capturing the beauty of flowers quite a challenge too which is why I focus on critters instead. :)
ReplyDeleteYours photos turned out beautifully.
What a beautiful rose! Roses are like that - if they think you're going to get rid of them, they start performing! :) I can't photograph red roses, either. But you captured the beauty of this white rose very well. Love its form.
ReplyDeleteI have 2 climbers that I was definitely going to replace. They have been outstanding and one I actually pulled must have had a few roots left because somehow it has returned with gusto...I love your white rose...red is one of the hardest colors to capture...
ReplyDelete@Dave - Sorry, I was on the fence about that line, but sometimes I can't help myself with really bad plays on words.
ReplyDelete@One - Your flowers are so beautifully photographed. I like how you integrate the two.
@HolleyGarden - I don't think I appreciated its form until I started reading yours and Masha's blogs. They've taught me a lot about rose appreciation. :)
@Donna - I've done the same thing. Once I pulled out a rose that was grafted because instead of Cecile Brunner rose, I had a shrub rose that it had been grafted on. And it returned also after I thought I pulled it out.
Generally I'm pretty unsentimental about roses, believing that they have to earn their keep, i.e. not be too high maintenance. Lopping off a rose the way you did? Seems sensible.
ReplyDeletePrzecież ładne zdjęcia róży zrobiłaś i dobrze, że jej się nie pozbyłaś, bo jest ładna. Pozdrawiam
ReplyDelete@Patricia - I think I might try it again next year. Even in long sleeves I manage to get lots of cuts and scratches with pruning this rose bush.
ReplyDelete@Giga - Thank you. It took a while, but I got some lovely photos.
Pruning roses with a hedge trimmer is actually approved by the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) in the UK so you were doing just the right thing! The white rose looks like it could be a New English rose maybe Winchester Cathedrale. Christina, PS do post your foliage next week.
ReplyDeleteTwo of your talents shine here: rose-growing and rose photography. Beautiful, both.
ReplyDeleteThey are quite pretty! I love the shape of them.
ReplyDeleteI don't know much about roses as well - thankfully the four I got this year have at least survived the summer. We'll see if they get through the winter as well!
@Christina - Good to know that the hedge trimmer is an approved pruning practice. I should start getting my foliage photos ready.
ReplyDelete@Lee - LOL at the rose growing part. I killed many a rose in my back yard because it was a different USDA zone than my front yard. Glad you liked the photos.
@Indie - I didn't notice rose shapes much until I started reading blogs about roses. Hope you have good luck with your new roses!
You would never know from these photos you were having trouble with roses. These shot are beautiful! XOL
ReplyDeleteWhite is a challenging color to photograph. Your roses are gorgeous despite your care. ;) Happy GBBD.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos, beautiful roses! I don't have much luck with roses, but they sure are pretty!!
ReplyDeleteLovely photos...I actually have trouble with the same thing...white and red flowers continue to defy me!
ReplyDeleteYour roses look lovely.
ReplyDeleteI would write home about those Roses! And they look like they have a heavenly scent! Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of capturing the white roses at this time of year. Yours look so lush and inviting. I am tempted to touch them, if I could.
ReplyDelete@HHUK - Thanks Laura. Usually they're full of aphids and don't open up. I think the heat kept the aphids away this year. :)
ReplyDelete@Lisa - Thanks for stopping by. I'll never be a rosarian that's for sure.
@charlie b. - the roses around town seem to be getting they're second flush of blooms despite the late season.
@Scott - I think it's the brightness of the white flowers. I'm still not sure what it is about the reds.
ReplyDelete@Kristi - Thanks so much! It's the first time. :)
@PlantPostings - Maybe just this once!
@The Sage Butterfly - I feel like that too sometimes when I'm looking at photos online. I'll see a photo that so tactile or evocative that I feel like I'm there.
OMG, I think it looks gorgeous, glad that you didn't pull it out.
ReplyDelete@nina place - I'm glad I didn't pull it out either.
ReplyDelete