I am amazed that I am using roses again today. We had a bout of near-record high heat (for this time of year) for about a week, with temperatures suddenly shooting up to around 100 F/38 C after a rather short spring. While there will be much higher temperatures as the summer goes on, it was the rapid rise that left me and the garden breathless and wondering what would happen next. The roses, in particular, were not a bit happy with the situation.
Fortunately, we have got a reprieve this week, with more seasonal highs in the upper eighties. I am hoping this will give the garden a chance to better adjust before things get really hot again! I need to make the most of the time by making sure everything is well-mulched, but today it is time for Cathy's In a Vase on Monday
Although I did already lose some of this year's rose blossom to the heat, a number of the most reliable bushes are still blooming. The most nonchalant is 'Wollerton Old Hall', which has the advantage of a half day's shade and the adjacent concrete patio floor to hold a little extra moisture near its roots. It was happy to supply handfuls of flowers for today's vase.
I was able to add a flower from 'The Alnwick Rose' despite the fact that quite a few were crisped last week. It is a substantial shrub now, and it needed extra moisture while putting out all that bloom! But it looks like there are more buds to come. so all is not lost.
And there is a flower from 'The Generous Gardener', one of the prettiest roses to my eye, though I've never quite been able to catch that beauty with my camera. Not this time certainly, as the bloom is less than perfect, but I still wanted to display its peony-form spreading open to a golden center.
There are also the miniature roses, lavender-colored...
...and pale pink.
I like to combine the various sizes of roses.
They are just as pretty up close.
Then I added a few sprigs snatched here and there around the garden.
There is Salvia 'Summer Jewels'...
...along with a stray stem of Lavandula x intermedia...
...and a cluster of Asclepias subulata.
The Asclepias on its long stem supplies a starburst at the top of the bouquet.
Snippings of foliage include gray-leaved Leucophyllum pruinosum 'Sierra Bouquet' and trimmings from the rootstock of the apricot tree.
So it was a bountiful supply of roses after all!
Have a lovely new week!
Weather Diary: Fair; High: 90 F (32 C)/Low: 68 F (20 C); Humidity: 11%-45%
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danger garden (Tuesday, 15 May 2018 11:09)
That's a gorgeous arrangement! Maybe because it's Peony season here, so they're on my mind, but 'Wollerton Old Hall' has a definite Peony look to it.
Kris P (Tuesday, 15 May 2018 11:57)
That a tough climate produces flowers of such delicate beauty never ceases to amaze me, Amy. You have me wondering is 'Wollerton' would like my garden despite my declaration that I won't add any more roses.
Cathy (Tuesday, 15 May 2018 14:51)
I love your vase this week Amy - the way you have added height with the Asclepsia and foliage makes it so grand and elegant! The salvia is a pretty one too, but of course the roses are the stars!
Nomads By Nature (Tuesday, 15 May 2018 15:07)
Gorgeous!
Jane (Tuesday, 15 May 2018 16:02)
Another elegant vase, Amy. I love the way you set them in front of your neutral backdrops and bring the eye to the vase alone. The roses are divine.
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Wednesday, 16 May 2018 19:53)
Loree - I love the peony-type roses - the closest I'll get to growing peonies here... ;-)
Derek Grant (Wednesday, 16 May 2018 22:15)
Your post is a work of art........... simply brilliant. The flower arrangements, the natural lighting and color capture....... 10 out of 10.
Diana Studer (Thursday, 17 May 2018 16:40)
That looks like a Dutch Old Master - so much lush beauty.
On this week's hike we lingered with a milkweed.
Cathy (Saturday, 19 May 2018 01:58)
Some stunning photographs Amy, with great use of light and shade. And your roses, as always, are stunning - you must be thrilled to be able to grow them so well in your location
David C. (Monday, 21 May 2018 21:55)
Excellent photography and ambiance. Back to the plants...the arrangements are all amazing. I guess I favor the roses and Leucophyllum 'Sierra Bouquet' the most. Wow!!!
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Thursday, 24 May 2018 14:34)
Kris - I can't help recommending Wollerton; it's just a superb rose. It will need room to spread or else support for climbing (or a bit of both!). But I think you would love it... ;-)
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Thursday, 24 May 2018 14:37)
Cathy@Words and Herbs - Thank you so much for the kind comments! :) I must use the Asclepias again sometime as it does have a wonderful, sculptural effect in a vase, which I wouldn't have guessed from the way it grows!
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Thursday, 24 May 2018 14:38)
NN - Thank you so much! :)
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Thursday, 24 May 2018 14:48)
Jane - Thanks so much - very happy you like it that way! I've tried other tacks for photographing them, but I think this usually lets the flowers shine the most, which is what I like... ;-)
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Thursday, 24 May 2018 18:14)
Derek - Thank you so much - deeply appreciate that praise, especially as I struggled with the light on this one!
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Sunday, 27 May 2018 02:30)
Diana - Thanks very much for the kind compliment - I love the Dutch Old Masters! :) Milkweed is such a wonderful plant, isn't it?! My A. subulata is flowering and full of tarantula hawks at present!
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Sunday, 27 May 2018 02:37)
Cathy@Rambling in the Garden - Yes, I'm always thrilled when the roses do well. :) Thank you so much!
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Sunday, 27 May 2018 03:13)
David C - Thank you so much! :) I love Leucophyllum pruinosum; those felted gray leaves have such a wonderful texture, and the whole plant always seems to carry the essence of desert shrubs.