Thursday, April 29, 2010

Spring Flowering Rose Lovers Unite!

Boy, I hate the term "once blooming" roses.  It sounds as if you are not home that day you miss the whole show.

"Hi Honey, I'm home.  Anything exciting happen today?"

"Sally got an A on her test, the plumber came and oh yes, Mme Plantier bloomed.  Sorry you missed it but there's always next year"

"Spring Flowering" is what what they really are.  Often for weeks.  Glorious, in your face, fragrant weeks.

No repeat flowering rose I know can rival a Cardinal de Richelieu in full war cry.  Or any other Spring Flowering Rose for that matter.


To all those who say they don't grow "once blooming" roses because they want color all year, I say then assassinate your azaleas, rip up your rhododendrons and fell the forsythia!  After all, they only bloom "once".  Why take up all the space the other months of the season with something only green.

Or here's an idea.  Plant other plants that bloom during other parts of the season in with the spring flowering roses.  It's why Graham Stuart Thomas titled his book The Art of Gardening With Roses.

There is an old saying that goes "absence makes the heart grow fonder".  That's why the spring flowering roses have a special place in mine.

How about you?


Top white rose is Mme. Plantier
Mauve rose is Cardinal de Richelieu

Available From Among Others
Rogue Valley Roses
Roses Unlimited
Vintage Gardens
Northland Rosarium

3 comments:

  1. I am new at this, and I am now hooked.
    My roses are blooming to beat the band, and I attribute that to this rose food a friend found for me.
    Is that cheating?

    I don't care when my roses bloom- just bloom!
    Come by if you have time,

    Laura
    White Spray Paint

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nothing cheating about rose food as long as it's safe for the environment.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This makes one return to buying ine time flowering roses.
    I have some of them, I love them and when thry are in bloom, the show has no equal.

    ReplyDelete