The garden has been very kind. Despite my relative neglect lately (it's been hard to think what I'm doing without my little gardening companion), the garden has gone ahead and bloomed in full measure this April. Hippeastrum, Iris, and Trichocereus flowers have been among the most spectacular, but nowhere is the goodwill more in evidence than with the roses. They need to be mulched, and they need a good feeding, but many are flowering well anyway.
So today, let us celebrate the arrival of roses with In a Vase on Monday!
They come in sugar icing colors such as the pale apricot of Wollerton Old Hall, accompanied by stems of self-seeded Cerinthe major purpurescens...
...the lavender tones of Sterling Silver...
...and Angel Face...
...the deeper apricot of Crown Princess Margareta, and the sugar pink hues of The Alnwick Rose.
As well there are the much deeper crimsons of William Shakespeare 2000.
My dark-glazed stoneware vase was just the right size for this confection.
I must say that it's not just a visual feast, but one for the nose also, with Sterling Silver taking the cake (please pardon the pun) in terms of scent... at least to my nose. But each of these roses is amply fragrant.
Happy May!
Weather Diary: Fair; High: 81 F (27 F)/Low: 67 F (19 C); Humidity: 16%-40%
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Jane (Tuesday, 01 May 2018 06:55)
What a lovely combination of gelato colours and perfect blooms.
Libby (Tuesday, 01 May 2018 07:16)
These are SO gorgeous! I am not a rose person... but oh that Princess Margareta is stunning.
Marcelo (Tuesday, 01 May 2018 08:09)
Amy, you know I adore Roses, and yours look splendid! Crown Princess Margareta is definitely a Rose I want in my garden, the nursery where I bought the Austins I have told me they'll bring more varieties by June or July, I just can't wait! Happy may!
Kris P (Tuesday, 01 May 2018 11:50)
Your roses always surprise and astound me, Amy! Your climate is so much more difficult than mine, yet your roses perform so much better, a testimony to your care.
Cathy (Wednesday, 02 May 2018 16:03)
Like Kris, I am always amazed at your pristine roses! You certainly do have a special knack with them and it is so lovely to see a vase full of them! Happy May!
Cathy (Thursday, 03 May 2018 02:22)
Sorry to hear about losing your dog, Amy; 15 years os a long time.
Your roses really are a confection - and it's good to see your Sterling Silver and Wolleeton Old Hall again as I find them both most most appealing and recognised their presence immediately. It's always nice have a fragrant vase too! Thanks for sharing, Amy
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Thursday, 03 May 2018 17:08)
Jane - Thank you so much! I've put a lot of strong colors in the garden, but somehow most of the roses are in these very soft colors - somewhat to my surprise... ;-)
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Thursday, 03 May 2018 17:09)
Libby - I don't think there's a more beautiful rose than Margareta! Thanks so much! :)
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Thursday, 03 May 2018 17:11)
Marcelo - You will love Crown Princess Margareta, I'm sure! She is everything a David Austin rose should be... and good in the heat! Thank you so much! Happy May!
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Thursday, 03 May 2018 17:14)
Kris - Thanks for the big compliment, though I don't deserve it! The roses have been very generous this spring, especially considering I haven't even managed to feed them yet. They do love the dry climate here - I think they'd be happier if it would stay cool, though! ;-)
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Thursday, 03 May 2018 17:29)
Cathy@Words and Herbs - It's so nice to finally have enough roses for a vaseful... must mean summer is around the corner now though! ;-) Hope you have a lovely May!
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Thursday, 03 May 2018 17:34)
Cathy@Rambling in the Garden - Thank you so much - Bella only got sweeter as time went on...
It seems like the roses burst into bloom overnight. You know I love Sterling Silver and Wollerton Old Hall both. ;-) Sterling Silver is outdoing herself this year, but sadly the thrips have a particular liking for her pale lavender flowers, so not too many were in condition to cut though they are still quite decorative in the garden.