Well, it is Monday again, time for In a Vase on Monday with Cathy!
Today's vase was a hurriedly contrived affair: one stem of rose 'Sterling Silver' collected, set in a vase, and photographed as the sun was setting. 'Sterling Silver' has flowered magnificently this autumn. Many blooms are just a bit dry as I haven't been watering heavily; but this bud was near-perfect with the help of our recent rainfall. And the scent is incomparable: a full, sweet fragrance, unmistakably rose and as quiet and graceful as the color of the blooms.
The vase is one I nearly discarded but have since decided is perhaps worth keeping around. The top was fluted in much the same manner as I would flute a pie crust, pinching the clay inward and out with my fingers.
I am hoping to be able to replace 'Sterling Silver' in the new garden, but I'm unsure whether I can get another. Growers seem to be phasing it out in favor of lavenders reliable in a wider range of climates. Perhaps I can't blame them, remembering how it sulked in my first garden - defoliated by black spot each summer and nipped by cold in winter. For all that, I find it is a very special rose here in the desert, having grown far larger than expected, and being healthy and free-flowering. And it is a superbly beautiful rose.
It has, in fact, gotten so big that I don't intend to even attempt moving it with me to the new garden. No, today's rose digging was for the antique Communis, the old Common Moss rose. It arrived a couple of years ago in a four inch pot - a few stems with a scattering of leaves. Next spring would have seen its first bloom season, but now I will have to wait a little longer to see them as I am not taking the main bush. Grubbing around in the dirt, I found quite a few suckers to dig, pot up, and trim back. As I finished the job in the dark, I have no idea whether my efforts were sufficient. Here's hoping...
Finally, during my breaks from packing out and generally getting everything ready to leave, I have been perusing a new garden book: The Romantic Herb Garden by Caroline Holmes. I discovered it in the discount section of Pinetree Garden Seeds website and added it to my order of seeds.
I have long loved using herbs in the garden. Perhaps this will encourage me to take that a good step further?
Weather Diary: Fair; High: 65 F (18 C)/Low: 47 F (8 C); Humidity: 17%-52%
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Cathy (Tuesday, 04 December 2018 02:57)
I do hope you will be able to grow it in your new garden as, allong with Wollerton Old Hall, this is a rose I always associate with you. It is such a pretty colour and I feel sure you will attempting to grow it again. Such a difficult decision to choose what plants and pots to take, but the promise of a new found freedom is far more valuable than any of them
Kris P (Tuesday, 04 December 2018 12:14)
'Sterling Silver' perished here and I've heard the same comments about it being touchy. I'm sure it'll please some future resident of your current property and that you'll find a suitable lavender-colored rose for your new site. Best wishes with the ongoing packing!
Marcelo (Tuesday, 04 December 2018 13:45)
'Sterling Silver' is a beautiful rose, I love purple and lavender roses but they are very prone to diseases in my climate and never look great, I have grown 'Sterling Silver', 'Blue Moon', 'Lady x' and 'Blue Parfume' but unfortunately they are very poor performers in my garden.
Diana Studer (Tuesday, 04 December 2018 15:40)
Could you try cuttings of your favourite rose?
I did lose some of the plants I tried.
But some were amazingly successful. Hibiscus tialiaceus is so tall I can't 'see' the flowers - and that was a twig with a few leaves.
Jane (Tuesday, 04 December 2018 16:56)
Hello Amy, ‘Sterling Silver’ is truly beautiful. Roses grow so easily from cuttings and now is a perfect time for you to take some, so that you can carry this memory to your new home. Good luck!
Cathy (Wednesday, 05 December 2018 08:47)
It really is a lovely rose Amy. I hope you find a replacement one day. Like the sound of that book. So your new garden will have herbs? :)