Wednesday, March 9, 2011

The Rose Season is Open!

The race is on, and the first rose to open in my garden, surprisingly, is a small potted plant of a found rose called 'Benny Lopez'. It is a Damask Perpetual with a muddled bloom form and a heavy, sweet damask fragrance.



Benny Lopez is the person who found this rose growing among the citrus trees in the yard of the house he bought in the 1960s. This variety is, unfortunately, not in commerce now, and I owe my plant to a dear rosarian friend who generously shared a cutting.


This rose has hundreds of petals, and my little plant had trouble pushing them open during our recent cold spell, so the bloom does not look perfect, but I wish I could photograph the fragrance! The bloom color of an established plant is a deeper, "madder" pink, and I plan to grow mine next to the pale lemon-yellow Marechal Niel. I can't wait to see them blooming together.





I am so happy to have finally joined the ranks of bloggers from warmer climates who have been posting pictures of their rose blooms for weeks making me green with envy:). No more. I do enjoy looking at pictures of roses very much, but it is nice to finally have real roses to look at too!
Posted by Masha at 1:00 AM
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43 comments:

  1. A Work In ProgressMarch 9, 2011 at 5:17 AM

    So beautiful. I can't wait for my roses to bloom. You're so lucky!

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  2. sweetbayMarch 9, 2011 at 6:41 AM

    There is nothing so beautiful as a rose with a sweet damask fragrance. :)

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  3. MashaMarch 9, 2011 at 6:57 AM

    Thank you, Shannon, I had a long wait too. Spring will come to you also, and I am looking forward to your pictures of it.

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  4. MashaMarch 9, 2011 at 6:57 AM

    Sweetbay, you are right, rose fragrance is something I have missed the most in winter. I am glad to be able to enjoy it again.

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  5. organicgardendreamsMarch 9, 2011 at 7:45 AM

    Congratulations to your first rose of the season! It is always such a special moment, when the first bloom opens and smells after the long winter rest. I wish, I could inhale 'Benny Lopez' damask fragrance. It is sad to me that such a beautiful rose is not in commerce, but maybe through people like you, Masha, posting about it, the demand will rise and it will have a comeback. You can always hope, right?
    Christina

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  6. DarlaMarch 9, 2011 at 8:15 AM

    My roses are leafing out nice and shiny...shouldn't be long before I can post a bloom or two. Yours is beautiful.

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  7. TheGardeningBlogMarch 9, 2011 at 8:20 AM

    Your Benny Lopez is beautiful! Lucky girl!!

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  8. MashaMarch 9, 2011 at 8:49 AM

    Thank you, Christina! I will always share with you if you want it:). Let me know.

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  9. MashaMarch 9, 2011 at 8:50 AM

    Darla, thank you. Don't roses look so gorgeous with brand new foliage still unmarked by disease or heat stress? This is the best time.

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  10. MashaMarch 9, 2011 at 8:50 AM

    Thank you, The GardeningBlog. I am glad you liked it.

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  11. p3chandanMarch 9, 2011 at 9:32 AM

    Can almost smell the lovely rose Masha with your great shots of them! I wish I could for real though!

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  12. Mother Nature's Garden EvolutionMarch 9, 2011 at 9:58 AM

    You are so lucky to have them blooming now. Our foliage is out but now blooms as of yet.

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  13. AnonymousMarch 9, 2011 at 10:21 AM

    So pretty, always a joy to come here on a cloudy and gray day.

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  14. MashaMarch 9, 2011 at 10:47 AM

    Thank you, p3chandan! I know you have a lot going on in your garden too.

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  15. MashaMarch 9, 2011 at 10:48 AM

    Yes, MNGE, I feel lucky too. I also mostly have foliage now, and even that makes me happy already.

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  16. MashaMarch 9, 2011 at 10:48 AM

    Thank you, Donna. I am glad to have cheered you up a bit.

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  17. HolleyGardenMarch 9, 2011 at 10:50 AM

    Roses already! I'm so jealous! :) I've been looking at mine, but I don't think they'll be blooming for another month or so. Beautiful rose! It's as if that hot pink cries out to say "hey, look at me! I'm blooming!". Loved this post.

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  18. MashaMarch 9, 2011 at 10:52 AM

    Thank you, HolleyGarden, for such true rosarian's enthusiasm. Most of my roses are also a month away from blooming. It is coming though!

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  19. GigaMarch 9, 2011 at 11:07 AM

    I znowu się nawąchałam . Na zapachy moich muszę poczekać. Pozdrawiam

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  20. MashaMarch 9, 2011 at 11:09 AM

    Thank you, Giga.

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  21. CatMarch 9, 2011 at 12:27 PM

    Hi Masha, Thank you for stopping by my blog today. I've enjoyed looking over yours. Your rose is especially lovely as it was gifted by a friend and it was your first bloomer!

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  22. Wife, Mother, GardenerMarch 9, 2011 at 12:35 PM

    Beautiful!! Thanks for the update!
    Take a whiff for me
    Julie

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  23. MashaMarch 9, 2011 at 12:39 PM

    Thank you, Cat, for such a nice comment. You are right, it is a very special rose.

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  24. MashaMarch 9, 2011 at 12:39 PM

    Thanks, Julie, I will!

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  25. Phillip OliverMarch 9, 2011 at 6:40 PM

    Absolutely beautiful! It reminds me of Charles de Mills, a rose I once grew.

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  26. LaurenceMarch 9, 2011 at 7:24 PM

    Quelle chance d'avoir déjà des roses en fleur ! En belgique, il faut encore attendre le mois de juin... Heureusement, il y a des blogs comme le tien où on peut admirer de si belles photos ! Merci !

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  27. MashaMarch 9, 2011 at 8:29 PM

    Thank you, Phillip. It is not so deeply colored as Charles de Mills, but the shape of the bloom is very similar.

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  28. MashaMarch 9, 2011 at 8:30 PM

    Merci, Laurence. Nous devons attendre aussi, j'ai juste un fleur...

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  29. Southern LadyMarch 9, 2011 at 8:32 PM

    The color of that rose is beautiful! Carla

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  30. AlistairMarch 10, 2011 at 5:46 AM

    Masha, your first rose and a perfumed Damask, does it get any better.We are still celebrating the arrival of the Snowdrops and Crocus, wont see the first Rose until June. You may well be instrumental in the resurrection of Benny Lopez.

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  31. MashaMarch 10, 2011 at 7:14 AM

    Thank you, Carla. I am glad you liked it.

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  32. MashaMarch 10, 2011 at 7:15 AM

    Thank you, Alistair. Our main flush is in April, so mostly we are waiting here too. Teas begin in March though, so almost there...

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  33. thibaudMarch 10, 2011 at 12:50 PM

    From you have I been absent in the spring
    When proud-pied April, dressed in all his trim,
    Hath put a spirit of youth in everything,
    That heavy Saturn laughed and leaped with him....

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  34. Olga PoltavaMarch 10, 2011 at 1:22 PM

    What a beautiful and unique rose! I love your photographs!

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  35. MashaMarch 10, 2011 at 2:13 PM

    Thank you, Olga. I am glad you like it, spring is almost here!

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  36. DonnaMarch 10, 2011 at 4:03 PM

    that is a gorgeous rose...I am now green or pink with envy...I have nothing growing...just snow...

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  37. MashaMarch 10, 2011 at 4:05 PM

    Thank you, Donna. I mostly have nothing too, just this one bloom...

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  38. jennifer@threedogsinagardenMarch 10, 2011 at 5:46 PM

    What a gorgeous start to the spring season! I adore deep pink roses.

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  39. MashaMarch 10, 2011 at 8:06 PM

    Thank you, Jennifer, me too!

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  40. sherryocalaMarch 10, 2011 at 8:53 PM

    Wow! That is one gorgeous rose. You're off to a great start, Masha. 'Benny Lopez' is one I'd love to try. The color and the Damask fragrance have to be on top of my list. He'll be spectacular with Marechal Niel.

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  41. MashaMarch 11, 2011 at 6:50 AM

    Thank you, Sherry, maybe I can send you a cutting when mine grows a little.

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  42. hephMarch 11, 2011 at 7:31 AM

    beautiful rose

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  43. MashaMarch 11, 2011 at 8:10 AM

    Thank you, heph, and nice to meet you.

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I am so glad you have stopped by!

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