Tuesday, April 10, 2012

A New Lavender And Some Roses

My spanish lavender collection is growing faster than I anticipated.



I stopped by a local nursery this past weekend to get some compost for my tomato bed, and stumbled at the last second upon four miserable wilting lavender plants. They were unusual in having sky-blue flowers, chartreuse bracts and a very strong lemony fragrance.



This variety is called Tiara Blue. My plant was terribly root bound, and I had to cut the bottom of the root ball off completely because I couldn't pry the roots loose even after I made the customary cross cut through the bottom... It didn't seem to mind at all, and is looking better and better each day, with more flowers opening and bracts growing bigger and fluffier. It goes wonderfully with the more common purple varieties.


My roses are slowly opening, and I caught a few blooms on camera before the rains started again. Devoniensis, a tea, finally matured enough to give me some gorgeous flowers, even if they only look so good in spring. In summer, the size and petal count go down substantially...


Purple Pavement, a rugosa, is beginning to bloom. I love its spicy clove fragrance and round red "tomato" hips. My plant is own root and so happy it sends suckers as far as 5 feet away from the main plant!


And here is a self-seedling of Purple Pavement, my very own white semi-double rugosa. The blooms seem to be slightly bigger but otherwise it is identical to its parent. It is also strongly fragrant.



And another rugosa, Roseraie de l'Hay. It has wonderful color and fragrance, but rebloom is less than spectacular, and hip production is not as good as that of Purple Pavement.



Elie Beauvilain, a tea-noisette, is blooming with abandon. I will have to remember these flowers till next spring: while I do see occasional blooms throughout the rest of the year, they are nothing compared to its spring display.





The Imposter's flowers always cheer me up. The rebloom on my two plants is very fast, and they continue blooming even while producing abundant hips.






Sophie's Perpetual, a china, is blooming with some ground cover erodiums. This rose has a very horizontal growth habit so far, but is very clean and completely prickle free.



Mme Berard, a climbing tea, is beginning to bloom too. I love the perfect shape, the strong fragrance and smooth canes. It does have a bit of mildew, but not too bad.



It is very hard for me to photograph the colors of Condesa de Sastago which can be blindingly bright but I seem to have finally done a good job with this opening bud catching bright red blending with hot pink on the outer edges of this Pernetiana rose.



And here is a satiated (I hope) ladybug. I have seen a lot of them in my garden this spring, and there are very few aphids. Now I wish they could do something about the mildew too :).

25 comments:

  1. Dobrze, że lawenda ma większy "dom" i pięknie kwitnie oraz pachnie. Róże cudownie już kwitną. Są piękne. Szczególnie mi się dzisiaj spodobały te z "nakrapianymi" płatkami.Ostatnie zdjęcie jest urocze. Pozdrawiam serdecznie.
    Well, that lavender has a larger "home" and the beautiful blooms and smells. Roses bloom wonderfully now. They are beautiful. I particularly liked those of today, "nakrapianymi" płatkami.Ostatnie picture is cute. Best regards.

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  2. What a beautiful share. your capture of Condesa de Sastago is awesome.

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  3. You've captured the beauty of those flowers so well. I really envy you the interesting lavenders - it does not grow well in my area (heavy soil + ample rain + cold winter = lavender kaput). Your roses look awesome! If only I could smell them from here...

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  4. Masha it's always a pleasure to visit your blog. Such beautiful colors and flowers.
    May I ask you what kind of lense you use to make this sharp photograph's
    Warm wishes
    marijke

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  5. It's always a treat to come here and see your gorgeous photos and beautiful flowers. Your new lavender is a great find. It's so lovely and unique-looking.

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  6. Masha your roses are absolutely beautiful, shown off to perfection in your photos!!
    PS: I like your lavender collection. Lovely.

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  7. I really like Imposter! What interesting petals! And Mme. Berard is lovely. I love that soft color. What an unusual Spanish lavender, too. That color would go well with so much! Love the picture of the bee on it!

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  8. Beautiful roses and beautiful lavenders - what a winning combination!

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  9. Masha you take the most incredible pictures of these flowers...the spanish lavender is something I want but it is not hardy for me...

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  10. Beautiful beautiful roses and i love the new lavendar its not unlike a salvia i have which is called limelight

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  11. Dear Masha, Your beautiful captures are so.o.o perfect ... I swear I can actually smell the lavender and the roses!! P. x

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  12. I love your photos! Beautiful as always. I really wish I could grow lavender here in NC. -Carla

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  13. Beautiful! I love that Spanish lavender! The chartreuse color in it is fantastic. Your roses are gorgeous as well. I don't grow too many roses in my garden, sadly, as I am constantly fighting mildew or blackspot (and of course the varieties I am attracted to are more susceptible). I really like your Imposter, though - it's looks more unusual, and prickle free is always a winner!

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  14. Your garden must smell divine! Beautiful, Masha!

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  15. That photo of Devoniensis is... there is no word to express what I feel watching it ! Thanks Masha ♥

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  16. Nice roses! your white double seems to be "Blanc Double de Courbet". I've got this one, is very hardy, I do not cover it for winter.

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  17. Thank you!

    Isabelle, thank you especially for commenting on my favorite rose. I am thinking of potting it up because the blooms all hang down where I have to lie down to see them.

    Nadezhda, this is actually a seedling of Purple Pavement, but I agree it does remind one of some named varieties - that's why I think it is not especially valuable :(.

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  18. Your photo's and roses are absolutely stunning! I feel as though I can touch your roses...just beautiful.

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  19. Absolutely stunning photography, Tiara blue is practically jumping off the screen. Wonderful.
    Paul

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  20. Hi Masha
    Wow, your roses are gorgeous. And I love this wonderful lavender! Of course you couldn't have resisted it :o).
    Have a nice weekend.
    Alex

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  21. I love visiting your roses. I can never pick a favorite rose because each one is beautiful in its own way. I must say your Devoniensis and Mme. Berard are outstanding! My roses and lavender are also in bloom and making each day a thing of beauty.
    Enjoy a wonderful new week.

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  22. Hi Masha, your Spanish lavender collection is quite impressive! I love your new one. Have never seen a lavender like this. Your roses are very stunning, too. I especially love Devoniensis, Mme. Berard, and Elie Beauvilain. What is really exciting is your white self-seedling of 'Purple Pavement'! A breeder couldn't have done any better. Do you have plans to observe it and maybe try to introduce it into commerce? How about 'Masha's White Pavement' ;-)!
    Christina

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  23. Thank you!

    Christina, I am glad you like the little rugosa. Thank you for suggesting a name for it too :). I hope you can see it in bloom when you come to the Bay Area again.

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  24. Wonderful photos! I adore late spring! It's filled with a lot of my favorite flowers! Just now I keep my window open and the smell of lilacs invade my room and despite the cold outside I just can't close the window! thank you for sharing with us!

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I am so glad you have stopped by!