It is time for roses here.
High time to display a big confection of them in a Monday Vase.
There is St. Swithun...
...and the marvelously fragrant William Shakespeare 2000.
James Galway lends its unique ruffles to the mix...
...while helping to set off the gentle simplicity of Wollerton Old Hall.
Above all, there is the redoubtable The Alnwick Rose, which is once more outdoing itself in the garden and now in a vase.
The only other material in this one is a handful of Cerinthe major purpurea (or in some cases, not so purpurea, but still excellent).
Roses and honeywort are combined in my handthrown stoneware vase.
I don't expect the roses will last long; in really warm weather they always feel a bit limp when I bring them in and usually fall to pieces within a day or two. "Old Time is still a-flying..."
But at least I have realized at last that the crispy edges that kept appearing were due to lack of water rather than thrips. The blooms have done much better since that discovery!
Many thanks to Cathy for hosting this wonderful meme at Rambling in the Garden.
Weather Diary: Fair with light haze; High: 89 F (32 F)/Low: 68 F (20 C); Humidity: 7%-28%
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Nomads By Nature (Tuesday, 25 April 2017 06:57)
Those roses are just exquisite! I love all the fluffiness!!!
Loree (Tuesday, 25 April 2017 10:29)
WOW...those are over the top gorgeous.
Brian Skeys (Tuesday, 25 April 2017 12:23)
They are a beautiful confection.
Kris P (Tuesday, 25 April 2017 22:57)
You're not kidding about it being rose season! They're all gorgeous. All of my roses have been withered in place by the wind and low humidity - your old English roses seem to take low humidity in stride!
Cathy (Wednesday, 26 April 2017 01:49)
Beautiful roses Amy! And to think they are growing in a desert garden makes them quite something!
Cathy Thompson (Wednesday, 26 April 2017 01:51)
What superb roses Amy - I love them all (unfortunately)! And the pot and background are just right to show off their characters. Interesting what you say about the Alnwick Rose - do you think it copes particularly well with heat? If so, might be one for me to try as well. Thanks for your vase!
Cathy (Wednesday, 26 April 2017 10:58)
All those petals - it seems almost an overabundance of them if that could be possible! I especially love the photo of Wollerton Old Hall, which has a bit of the Old Masters about it. Thank you for sharing your gorgeous roses, even if it has left me thinking if there is possibly anywhere else I could add another rose...
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Wednesday, 26 April 2017 12:01)
NbN - Fluffy is just the word for them! Glad you enjoyed them! :)
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Wednesday, 26 April 2017 12:03)
Loree - Thanks a million - just love being able to grow these (with no black spot!) ;-)
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Wednesday, 26 April 2017 12:04)
Brian - Thanks so much! It did seem like something with sugar in it... ;-)
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Wednesday, 26 April 2017 12:08)
Kris - Fortunately we've not had the really hot winds yet... but they're coming...! As soon as this flush of bloom is over, I'll be encouraging the rose bushes to go semi-dormant for the summer. But so far, so good, except that some suffered from my not increasing the watering fast enough to support that burst of bloom! Live and learn... ;-)
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Wednesday, 26 April 2017 12:13)
Cathy@Words and Herbs - Thanks so much :) To be honest, it is sooo nice not to struggle with black spot, that I will forgive all the extra angst about watering correctly! There are advantages to growing them in the desert! ;-)
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Wednesday, 26 April 2017 12:26)
Cathy Thompson - Many thanks! :) I definitely think The Alnwick Rose is particularly good in the heat, and anyway, it is such a beauty... ;-) Wollerton Old Hall has also been excellent, as have Crown Princess Margareta and St. Swithun. DA has a listing of roses recommended for hot climates, but I can only find it in their US print catalog, not on the website. But I wonder if they have something similar for European gardeners? And if you like, I can get you that list :)
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Wednesday, 26 April 2017 12:34)
Cathy@Rambling in the Garden - Well, IF you find you have some room, I will happily recommend Wollerton Old Hall as I think it's one of the best - it's been such a good grower, and both flowers and shrub are pretty as can be. ;-) But be warned; it's fairly vigorous! But it ties up nicely as a climber too... Thanks so much, Cathy! :)
Anna (Thursday, 27 April 2017 06:42)
so, so pretty!I am eagerly looking forward to rose season here in the UK, especially as I am growing a few new ones this year ...
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Thursday, 27 April 2017 13:23)
Anna - That will be so wonderful! :) I'll have to encourage mine to go semi-dormant for the hottest months, so I will be looking forward to getting summer rose photos from cooler climes... ;-)
Hoe hoe grow (Friday, 28 April 2017 13:35)
Amy, you have used some of my most favourite plants in the whole world in your vase. 'Woolerton Old Hall', 'St Swithins' and 'William Shakespeare' are 3 of the best English roses. Seeing yours have really whetted my appetite - mine here in the uk are just beginning to bud.
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Saturday, 29 April 2017 03:15)
Jane - I'm amazed at both the beauty and vigor of the roses! I do think Wollerton Old Hall in particular belongs among the best of the best. I'll definitely be looking forward to seeing yours come into bloom; I've decided it really is best to encourage some dormancy through the hottest months here, so mine will be winding down soon, I think...! I'll get through summer on pictures... ;-)