The Tears of a Rose
Parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say goodnight till it be morrow.
– Bill
I’m taking a break for several weeks, so will see you all again next month.
Keep well and have fun while I’m gone and I’ll catch up with you later.
Cheers Scifi.
Orson 1
Rose Bud does not care that it is the middle of winter here.
Nor that I hacked her almost to death very recently. (See I Thought I’d Killed You.)
She just does her own thing, regardless.
Orson 2
The whole stem that you can see here has grown from the tiny stalk that remained.
On the left is new growth from the larger pink rose bush.
Due to the angle of the sun, the shadows of the rose buds and leaves on the wall behind, do not entirely match those that you can actually see, creating an abstract effect that I love.
And if you wonder why my Rose Buds are always called Orson; check out Orson Welles’ excellent movie, Citizen Kane.
New Rose 1
Thank goodness you’re still alive!
I found my rose bushes covered in black all over their leaves.
As I deemed this too severe to treat by spraying, I hacked away all the diseased branches.
Floribunda
I have three rose bushes in a little section all together: a pink floribunda, that is very well established, with many thick branches, producing multiple blooms throughout the year; and two smaller red rose bushes, precariously established, with one or two spindly branches, producing only one or two roses per season.
Red Red Rose
It was only afterwards, as I raked up the cuttings, that I realised, that in heavily pruning the floribunda rose bush, I had cut back the one and only branch of my deep red rose bush, that was growing in amongst the floribunda.
Shock Horror!
This poor rose bush is barely established and I molly coddle it all the time. It may produce only one bloom a season, but that is a beautiful, deep red rose with such a heavenly scent.
I silently said “Sorry” and “Goodbye” to this straggly rose bush.
So imagine my delight when I noticed the other day that it had survived.
Floribunda 2
New Rose 2
Above you can see one hearty thick branch from the floribunda rose bush, on the left, and on the right, the entire deep red rose bush.
New Rose 4
It is one little twig; with the brand new twiglet growing off from it. Down at the bottom in these two photos you can also see the top of the life-support-irrigation-system. (Plastic milk bottle!)
New rose 3
The other small red rose bush was also still alive and beginning to sprout new growth.
I hadn’t killed them after all!
“So what?” you may ask.
So, it is autumn here: June 21st is our winter solstice.
I would not normally prune my rose bushes till spring; 15th August to be precise. (I have this date from an elderly resident who grew the most wonderful roses. Everyone around our neighbourhood waited till she pruned her rose bushes, then we pruned ours!)
No-one prunes their rose bushes at the beginning of winter! It would be like those of you in the North hacking away at your plants in November! (You might even have to clear snow off them to do so!!)
I really thought my little rose bush was done for!
But here it is, sprouting away with healthy new growth.
New Rose 5
Hooray for my plants: that survive despite me!
Red Red Rose
The Young, the Mature and the Ancient!
From the Left: A rose bud emerging in the background, the glorious fully opened rose and behind it, the last petals falling from an old bloom.
New Feature
Your FAQs answered here, before you even ask. Saving you time; saving you trouble!
Yes it is a rose in my garden.
Yes I did take the photo myself.
It was taken at the end of December last year; the bush is now dormant.
It does have a scent; a magnificent heady fragrance that fills the air around it.
You’re Welcome!
Rose 1
Ethereal and delicately pale; this last rose of Autumn.
My daughter’s floribunda rose bush has continually produced pink blooms since the start of Spring, six months ago.
Rose 2
This is what it looked like then, in October last year.
I thought it interesting that these two photos, taken so far apart, were so similar; the position of the rose and buds being almost identical.
Although my Autumn rose is a little faded now, all it needs is dead-heading one last time before it has a little siesta.
Then it will be back in business for its winter blooming!
Rose – photo credit M the Greek
Haiku 41
Good enough to eat?
Nature’s confectionery
Strawberry Mivvi
.
Rose
Haiku 40
When life gets you down
Take a walk on the wild side
Commune with Nature
.
