ROSES. Love them or Dislike them!

Just a bit of fun

 

Hang on a minute..... if you've got two that's one more than me now....

 

I thought you was going to say. There was this vivid red head that attracted my attention. Jokes aside. Yes Fragrant Cloud, as I'm sure Woo will agree. Really is a rose that fulfills it's name. Go on. Buy it. Buy it.

 

Tempted Mike....tempted

Funny you should mention red head.....but that’s another story

 

Go for it.

Come into my parlour said the spider to the fly.

Live long and prosper. My valued friend.

 

You too Mike

 

@Verdun, if you get 'Fragrant Cloud' I would also recommend the hybrid of that one and 'Dame de Coeur', 'Alec's Red'. A couple of hours of strong sun and the fragrance is incredible! Very sweet, deep and intense, not like 'Fragrant Cloud' which is fruity and spicy.

Here is my 'Alec's Red', haven't underplanted it yet and a bit of rain damage on the flowers but a good performer as you can see.



Alec's Red - Hybrid Tea Roses - Cockers Roses

Nick

 

Thanks Nick....
I will take a look. Only one rose will go in though

 

Definitely a love hate relationship here.
I probably have more roses in my garden than any other plant.

Some of them just look after themselves others need so much care and even then they still get the usual problems, rust, black spot etc.

My flowering carpet roses are just trouble free but, and I hate to say this, my Alec's Red is nothing but a pain to look after and gets hit by every problem going.

Today I looked at my Salvia Hot Lips and thought what a wonderful plant and so easy to grow.
I think I need to grow more plants like this in the future.

I have a couple of trouble free roses like Chinatown, Mme Alfred Carriere, Queen Elizabeth and New Dawn.

My advice is to really research what roses you buy.

 

Pushkin, check out Amethyst Lips. Similar to Hot Lips but with purple and white flowers.

 

Just my opinion but. Having grown roses now for many years, much like Woo. Yes My advice to prospective rose gardeners. Browse and study the various types and forms. Don't be taken in by a pretty face alone. Perhaps for some. The HT offers, in most cases. A somewhat regulated shaped plant. Larger blooms than most florabunders etc. Usually produce singularly. The bloom in it's own way saying perhaps. Here I am. What do you think. I thank Wo for mentioning, a rose bloom size of some 12'' dia. To me this is a no go. Far too large. However. Each to their own.

If I may mention, and perhaps Woo will recall this. Some years back, the rose indudtry really picked up and folk started buying roses as it appeared to be the in thing. This was of course good for the cash boxes. However sadly, true rose lovers realised, notice and, yes complained. What's happened to our roses. Why no scent? Yes many beautiful new roses came onto the market. Nice to look at but. No fragrance. Now. As a beautiful rose is so often likened to...................................a beautiful lady, and it follows on.................a beautiful scent.

 

@Verdun if you like a floribunda I can recommend 'Lucky!' The only rose I've owned that was totally disease free in my garden. It's lilac pink in colour and perfumed.