The Common Moss Rose is a rose with a past. Firstly because it is indisputably an antique of importance, being the original mossy sport from Rose centifolia and thereby the founder of the Moss rose family. Secondly, for me personally it has a special place, as I grew it for some years in my first garden, along with a small number of other old rose varieties. My own feelings toward it are expressed simply by the fact that this was the first rose I searched for when I was ready to grow antique roses again.
I bought a plant while still in Arizona. It came as a five-inch band so would have flowered for the first time this year in any case. When I left, in all the turmoil I managed to dig some suckers from the base of the plant as it had certainly begun to flourish even if it had not yet flowered. And incredibly the suckers took hold and remained healthy in their big pot, despite being subjected to a good deal of winter cold and despite being stuffed for months in the lightless back of my covered pickup bed.
I was still not expecting any blooms this year. But here they come, just a few, just this week for the first time.
The Common Moss, also known as Communis and Old Pink Moss, carries smallish blooms but plenty of them. Like other once-blooming roses, a mature bush is a mass of flowers in season, a display which has no exact counterpart with the repeat-bloomers, which cannot afford to flower with quite such abandon. And there is the scent, just a most perfect rose powder scent, rich and full, no surprise as it stems directly from Rosa centifolia, one of the roses traditionally used in perfumery.
So of course I had to bring one inside today. A single flower went into my stoneware vase. I left most of the leaves because they are so attractive. (Please pardon the grass seeds on them!) The vase was handthrown and glazed similarly to the bud vase in last week's post, with just a small ring of flow glaze around the rim.
In the photo below, the moss on the accompanying rosebud is just visible.
So this rose is a story of durability and triumph, a long-loved rose through the centuries and a personal favorite of my own. And certainly one I am happy to share for Cathy's In a Vase on Monday at Rambling in the Garden!
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Cathy (Tuesday, 04 June 2019 06:36)
A rose symbolising 'Durability and triumph' must mean a lot to you after all you've been through the past few months. I am so glad it flowered for you Amy, and it proves what green fingers you must have! :)
Kris P (Tuesday, 04 June 2019 12:42)
The rose is celebrating arrival at your new home! I can't think of a better omen about the future of your new garden than that.
danger garden (Wednesday, 05 June 2019 01:20)
What a wonderful story. I’m so happy you were able to dig and move bits of the rose and that it’s responding with flowers. The vase is the perfect match.
Cathy (Wednesday, 05 June 2019 05:44)
Durability and triumph, yes, it's perfect - what a long way you and the rose have come, and what an empowering journey you have ahead of you. Well done, Amy, for all you have achieved so far
Amy@SmallSunnyGarden (Wednesday, 05 June 2019 23:15)
Cathy@Words and Herbs - It has certainly reaffirmed my belief as to just how sturdy the really old roses are! It does give me a sense of reassurance too, all the more important as I am still dealing with a lot of fatigue from all the effort and adjustments. I’m very happy it pulled through with me!
David C. (Monday, 10 June 2019 18:51)
Glad the US Heartland is already bearing fruit, or flowers, for you and your new garden! I never knew anything at the moss rose family until now; I'm considering a small, specific area for roses, since they do so well in Las Cruces during spring and fall.
Jane (Monday, 17 June 2019 05:48)
Such beautiful simplicity, Amy. I’m so glad you could successfully take a part of your old garden with you to your new home.
Amy@SmallSunnyGarden (Friday, 21 June 2019 19:30)
Cathy@Words and Herbs - Thank you so much. It does mean a great deal :) And once more it convinces me that roses can be quite durable!
Amy@SmallSunnyGarden (Friday, 21 June 2019 19:36)
Kris - Yes, I hope it is a very good omen! :)
Amy@SmallSunnyGarden (Friday, 21 June 2019 19:37)
DG - Yes, I'm thrilled it is growing so well. Now to find the right spot for a six-foot shrub... ;-)
Amy@SmallSunnyGarden (Saturday, 22 June 2019 00:09)
Cathy@Rambling in the Garden - Many thanks - working hard at going on, and so appreciating all the encouragement!
Amy@SmallSunnyGarden (Saturday, 22 June 2019 00:14)
David C - It's certainly a much more fertile place... ;-) I've been wanting to grow moss roses again; they are rather special! Most of the old ones are once-blooming, though some will repeat. But I recently learned that Ralph Moore had hybridized moss roses through much of his life, even producing some repeat-flowering miniature mosses. I believe some are still available from specialists. Something to look into eventually...!
Amy@SmallSunnyGarden (Saturday, 22 June 2019 00:17)
Jane - Yes, it is comforting to have salvaged a few plants for the new garden! :) Curious that it was the one rose that had not yet flowered... But it has now!