Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Top-up on roses

Hi, my dear Blogville friends, hope all is well with you and you're enjoying your week. Here are some David Austin roses Sir Edward Elgar, my bush has grown to about 7 foot and is competing with my Jude the Obscure in reaching for the heavens. I'm not fond of velvety dark red roses and so Sir Edward Elgar is more of a red (or hot pink sometimes) amongst the reds I can still accept. The blooms are scented, they hold their form very well, that's what I like about them. They are not the easiest to take pictures of though due to their colour. These below are Jude the Obscure, you can see the blooms look a bit more ball-ish in appearance, the petals seem to not want to open up much, however, that's part of their beauty and attraction. They have very strong scent, some say similar to Lychees, a fruit common in the Orient. I think they are one of the loveliest shy "blushed" David Austin Roses on earth, don't you think? And then there are the Radio Times, they are really pink in real life, but in photos they tend to have a tinge of apricot on them. They are one of my favourite David Austin Roses, I love the scent, the flower form, the bush, everything. Now, here is the softest and cutest dog my 11-year old daughter sewed as a surprise for me, it is simply precious, I told her I'll keep it forever. I'm a bit of a hoarder when it comes to my kids' drawings, paintings, writings, craft and handiwork. I saw this bird cage many months ago in a "junk" shop, I liked it but thought I would wait for the price to come down before I bought it. And if someone else bought it in the mean time, then I would just not have it. Then when I got some money for my birthday I thought I'd go and see if it's still there, it was and the best thing was, the price had been reduced by quite a bit. So there you go, waiting is sometimes better for us. I'll paint it white, so this is like a "before" photo. You can tell I love white, can't you?Note: I'm showing you a picture of the Sir Edward Elgar blooms on the next-day-after, notice how the smaller bud/bloom on the left has opened up to reveal more petals? It still looks more cupped compared to the larger flowers next to it. The larger flowers are further along and the colour is lighter ("faded") and notice how they hold their form very well even when they are fully open? To me they are beautiful at ALL stages. Radio Times the day after, the tinge of apricot gone................

26 comments:

Unknown said...

All your blooms are just beautiful! I just love David Austins Roses. The entire plant is lovely, they hold the shape so well, and oh the scent. I love your birdcage, I collect birdhouses, and I'm so glad you got it in sale! I too keep everything the girls make, they just grow up too darn quick! Hugs....Brooke

Joanne said...

Lovely I do love David Austin English roses.

Gosh 7' Sir Edward Elgar I must be doing something wrong mine is only kneehigh but flowers well

Anonymous said...

Hello Rosy, Jude the Obscure is that from Judas in the Bible or Jude Law ( ? oh my ..), enfin, I just think these are gorgious ! Thank you
Have a lovely day
Godeliva from Ariadone

Bobbie Lynn said...

Lovely roese and what a beautiful bird cage.

Sandra said...

I totally love your roses! I really need to get my hands on some old english rose bushes for my garden! :) Very pretty!
Sandra

Allidink said...

Absolutely beautiful! I've never heard of a flower smelling like fruit lol. Love the birdcage too! I'm so glad it was still there for you!

All the best,
Allison

Jesikarena said...

I just found your blog and all I can say is WOW! its a complete sensory delight. now if only we could smell those beautiful roses through the computer!
WOW! : )

Feedsack Fantasy said...

Awesome!!! I love them ...
TTFN ~Marydon

debi said...

Your roses are soooo beautiful! tfs And I LOVE that bird cage...wonderful find!

Carolyn said...

I just love all your roses.Do you plant your David Austen roses in groups of three? I know that is recommended but I guess I am cheap and have not done that but I might try that this year with one rose.
Carolyn

Rosy Inspiration said...

To Joanne,

I don't think you're doing anything wrong, one of my rose bushes was a shortie for the first two years while everyone else was saying how theirs just wanted to climb, but this year it finally started to get taller. As long as it flowers well and is healthy, it'll get to its height when the time is right. Bear in mind too, DA roses do tend to grow taller here in Oz.

Rosy Inspiration said...

To Carolyn,

Yes, I read that David Austin recommended that himself, i.e. to plant the same variety and colour in a triangular three-some group. I can imagine the effect being impressive, but due to space and design limitations, I have them next to each other. That's worked well for me as their branches grow into each other, you get that natural inter-twining effect. Some of them got so big I couldn't imagine three of them together anyway. My beds have them in a sort of group, but they are not of the same variety and colour; simply because I could not stick to only one or two sorts, haha! I imagine your place being much larger, the three-some would work nicely for you.

Anonymous said...

I'm only going to get about 4 to five roses this year i think. I must learn how to keep them so they will grow fuller with more buds. I'm envious of your roses. Just beautiful.

Bev C said...

I picked some roses this morning, radio times were amongst them. The home always smells nice with fresh picked blooms in it. Aren't the little things that our children make us beautiful. I put mine in different places around the home so when I am looking for something I always get that "memory flashback" Happy gardening.

WendyBee said...

Oh, Lovely! Your photos and roses are breathtaking. I'm living vicariously... I planted roses one year and lost them a year and a half later after a particularly vicious winter. Will try again someday, maybe not this year, though.
WendyBee

Kellie Collis said...

Oh my! these roses are divine. What a fabulous and beautiful blog you have! I will come back often to see your beautiful photography! Kellie

Carolyn said...

What ever you have done in your garden works for me -I can't imagine improving on it! Thank you for answering my questions.
Carolyn

Alison Gibbs said...

As always your roses are sensational. I love the colour of the Jude the Obscure rose. So soft.
Alison

Anonymous said...

Very pretty!!! Hmmm... somehow my Jude are as "full" and big as yours. You have any idea why? Is it because I am not fertilizing them enough?

Love that little dog!!! She looks very dainty and fits right into your decor.

Can't wait to see what you are going to do with the bird cage.

Anonymous said...

Hello,
I just found your blog through Garden Antiques. Your roses are gorgeous!! I really enjoyed my visit to your blog.

Anonymous said...

Once again, I am swooning over your English roses! Your photos are exquisite and have captured the beauty of these amazing roses!

I love the Jude The Obscure--the blossoms are so voluptuous. The fragrance nearly escapes from your images! It is quite interesting how well some of the cultivars are holding their shape--especially in contrast to Mary Rose and The Pilgrim (at least that is my experience in Minnesota).

Again, thank you for the lovely day amongst your gorgeous roses! I will have sweet dreams of roses, I am sure!

Kindest of regards,
Debbykay at Rose Cottage Gardens and Farm

Jan Maree said...

You grow the most beautiful roses I have seen in a long time!! Oh thank you for sharing. So happy to stumble upon your blog today.

FEDERICA said...

Wow this blog is absolutely lovely!
Love all those beautiful pictures!
I just found you two minutes ago and I would like to make a post about this gorgeous pics!

Smiles from Italy,
Federica.

Unknown said...

They are all so lovely! Wish these were blooming in my front yard. Hence i'll just have to visit your blog more often to see them :)
Thanks for sharing.

Niesz Vintage Home said...

Those are the most gorgeous roses I have ever seen!
I'd have a hard time picking a favorite, but those soft blush pink are simply stunning.
Thanks so much for sharing your lovely blooms.

Kimberly :)

Roses at Wedgwood House and Gardens said...

Wow Rosie, what a talent you are.......a true artist. Your rose posies are gorgeous. I wondered where the rhubarb was going to come in, then VOILA!!! Wow that looks fantastic. Thank you so much for sharing your great recipe and magnificent roses. Hope your hutch and dining suite turn out well! Of course, I am beginning to think that was a silly thing to say, heehee! Look forward to the pictures.
Thanks again for sharing.
Pauline