I’d post a picture of what my roses look like right now, but it wouldn’t be pretty! Instead, I’ll go back to October 31. We’d had a number of frosty nights already but a few hardy roses held on, including this grandiflora – Crimson Bouquet. As you can see by the blotchy leaves, it’s not quite as disease resistant as I’d like. Then again, it IS the last day of October! A surprising variety of blooms held on past those first cold nights in October, but this rose gets pride of place as I join Cathy this week as she hosts seven days of colour to remind us of the beautiful flowers we grew this past year – all with the goal of making a cold and perhaps grey and snowy December a bit more bearable. Like the tree peony on Tuesday, I can see this rose from a dining room window, and I was seeing red from June through to November in 2025.
It’s a beautiful rose Chris. And amazing it still looked so good so late in the year! That vivid colour is so lovely. 😁
Thanks Cathy – it’s really quite lovely with little work from me. I feel though that if I want to continue enjoying it I should pay more attention…maybe weed or fertilize around it…pluck and discard the spotted leaves…
A gorgeous way to ‘see red!’
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That’s a red that demands attention. It’s a good one for viewing from indoors; there’s nothing shy and retiring about that one. I rather like the second photo, with its juxtaposition of fresh and fading flowers. Each stage may not be equally beautiful, but they’re all important parts of the process.
I enjoy processing fading flowers in black and white…fits the mood…
Makes me remember my Christmases in England. My Dad always had a few roses blooming for the Christmas table. There was one, in particular, called the Princess Margaret Rose – pink. Nice memories.
Sent from my Galaxy
Roses for Christmas – now that’s something!
Grandifloras, as well as hybrid teas, are so underappreciated nowadays.
I didn’t know it when I planted this rose…but so happy it blooms all season!
💖 An impressive bloom period! 👏🏼
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