The weather has been wonderful (it actually rained), and roses are still blooming (pictures coming), but first, a brief update on a few projects.
Some of you know I have had a problem this spring with one of my two William Shakespeare 2000 shrubs. It has been in the ground for at least 6 years and growing very well.
This year, something seems to have gone wrong. There were several possibilities (a few very scary ones), but I couldn't put my finger on anything definite.
My mind kept running in endless unproductive circles, and I decided to post some pictures on the rose forum to see if anyone had any suggestions. I realized it would be even more difficult for people to try to pinpoint the problem just looking at pictures and I appreciated greatly the effort some posters made to come up with ideas. At the end of the day, someone pointed out that my rose had a lot of blind shoots (growth not resulting in flowers), and I should prune harder. I pruned harder. Gulp.
Having survived the agony of subjecting an innocent rose to such drastic surgery so late in the year, I decided to tackle my next big project, Maréchal Niel. It is a lovely tea-noisette that, unfortunately, does not perform well on its own-roots for most people. Mine was absolutely beautiful for the first two years, with gorgeous blooms and clean, almost evergreen foliage.
It actually reached the top of a 7-foot arbor and then started on a slow but relentless decline. The blooms balled all the time, there was almost no foliage and no new growth either. I thought I would dig it out and pot it up. Maybe it will grow for me as a big potted shrub, maybe not. My husband took it out today and, in preparation for potting it up, I washed the soil off the roots. Impressive root ball, isn't it?
Another thing that kept me busy today was trying to put together my last order for roses with Vintage Gardens. This nursery has been an amazing source of rare roses and kept my collector's spirit alive for years. There are so many treasures that I enjoy in my garden solely due to the efforts folks at Vintage made in sharing these roses. Thank you, Vintage.
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| William Shakespeare 2000 in its better days |
Some of you know I have had a problem this spring with one of my two William Shakespeare 2000 shrubs. It has been in the ground for at least 6 years and growing very well.
 |
| This time last year |
This year, something seems to have gone wrong. There were several possibilities (a few very scary ones), but I couldn't put my finger on anything definite.
 |
| This spring: very little growth, small leaves going senescent, few and small blooms |
My mind kept running in endless unproductive circles, and I decided to post some pictures on the rose forum to see if anyone had any suggestions. I realized it would be even more difficult for people to try to pinpoint the problem just looking at pictures and I appreciated greatly the effort some posters made to come up with ideas. At the end of the day, someone pointed out that my rose had a lot of blind shoots (growth not resulting in flowers), and I should prune harder. I pruned harder. Gulp.
 |
| I took out a few old canes, and brought the bush down quite a bit (after cutting out blind growth most remaining canes did not have viable bud eyes until this far down). Gardeners of sound mind do this in winter.... |
Having survived the agony of subjecting an innocent rose to such drastic surgery so late in the year, I decided to tackle my next big project, Maréchal Niel. It is a lovely tea-noisette that, unfortunately, does not perform well on its own-roots for most people. Mine was absolutely beautiful for the first two years, with gorgeous blooms and clean, almost evergreen foliage.
 |
| In its better days |
It actually reached the top of a 7-foot arbor and then started on a slow but relentless decline. The blooms balled all the time, there was almost no foliage and no new growth either. I thought I would dig it out and pot it up. Maybe it will grow for me as a big potted shrub, maybe not. My husband took it out today and, in preparation for potting it up, I washed the soil off the roots. Impressive root ball, isn't it?
 |
| How did it manage to climb 7 feet? I still potted it up :) |
Another thing that kept me busy today was trying to put together my last order for roses with Vintage Gardens. This nursery has been an amazing source of rare roses and kept my collector's spirit alive for years. There are so many treasures that I enjoy in my garden solely due to the efforts folks at Vintage made in sharing these roses. Thank you, Vintage.
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Mme Bérard, my favorite Vintage rose
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| Ulrich Brunner, fils |
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| Prinzessin Marie von Arenberg |
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| Surville |
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| Mme Plantier |
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| Julia Child and Wild Blue Yonder |
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| Schön Ingeborg |
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| Wild Blue Yonder |
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| Souvenir de Mme. Boullet |
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| Lyda Rose, 'Benny Lopez', Penelope, Crépuscule, Rosette Delizy |
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| Regensberg |
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| Sharifa Asma |
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| Penelope and Crépuscule |
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| Pretty Jessica |
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| Sharifa Asma |
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| Rosette Delizy |
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| Climbing Cécille Brunner with a spray of Lyda |
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| Pat Austin, Buff Beauty on the fence behind, and 'Secret Garden Musk Climber' trying to eat the house |
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| Jude the Obscure |
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| Memorial Day with Buff Beauty |
