And So It Begins: First Blooms of 2020!
VRS Member Alex Waterhouse-Heyward, a renowned Vancouver photographer and noted blogger, recently suggested that we share our first blooms of the new season with each other. The idea quickly caught on and below are some of the images forwarded by our members for all to enjoy!
This year, Dale A. sends us this photo of his gorgeous 'Barbra Streisand' with the following comments: "Here is my first rose bloom for 2020 - the bud was half-eaten at the base by a (%$#@!!!) bug, but like her namesake, 'the show must go on!' It overwintered in a pot by the house on the south-facing covered patio, so that must have given her a head start - she has never bloomed this early before, and doesn't have any other buds on her yet!"
Keep checking back as we post more 'first blooms' from other members' gardens as the new season blooms on!
R. 'Barbra Streisand', was the first to bloom in Dale A.'s garden
Paulette's 'Parfuma Summer Romance'
From ...'Karin S. in Port Coquitlam: 'I finally got my first bloom! It�s Martin Frobisher from the Canadian Explorer Series, and usually my first to bloom! The foliage has a very nice scent...'
�First Bloom� from Victoria. David & Crenagh E. are lucky to be able to grow this beautiful Yellow Banks rose as it�s a little too tender for most of us on the Mainland.
From Darlene S. in North Van, the brilliant David Austin rose 'Pat Austin' which she says fancies itself a climber.
Darlene's 'Pat Austin' showing off.
�Excellenz von Schubert�, introduced in 1909, is nestled in amongst a species pulmonaria. It's the first bloom in Elizabeth S.'s garden in Langley.
�Excellenz von Schubert�, introduced in 1909, is nestled in amongst a species pulmonaria in Elizabeth's garden in Langley.
Elaine S. sends us this beauty and says, �This dainty little single buttercup yellow beauty, Rosa Ecae, (strange name, but what a beauty). It�s a species." Elaine adds that she has always been fascinated with Species Roses, and notes, "The very first to bloom!�
Here�s another �first bloom� shared by Mutsumi B. in a photo of her 'Dr. Huey', a dark red Hybrid Wichurana that is a once-blooming climber introduced in 1914.
A second photo, taken in 2019, shows what Mutsumi's 'Dr. Huey' looks like in its full glory,
Karen D. shares two 'first blooms' from her �Rose Cottage� in New Westminster. The first is the charming and fragrant 'Hansa', a rugosa hybrid.
And Karen D.'s second early bloomer is 'Laguna', a brilliant and vigorous climber.
Here�s another early blooming 'Lady Banks', a once-blooming but very prolific and quite lovely yellow rose. This one is shared by Carolyn W. in West Van.
This one is from our brand new member, Jenny C. who writes: "My first rose opened up today with a few more buds that look promising. It�s a David Austin Malvern Hills rambler that I bought from Select Roses last year. It�s in a sunny southeast facing backyard against an old garage so it gets morning sun as well as sun most of the day..."
Another 'first' from Dale A.: The pic I sent you of �Barbra Streisand� last month may have been a bit of a cheat � I think that bud developed last fall and managed to overwinter, so in spite of being half-eaten, it opened in April. Attached is a photo of my first genuine bloom from 2020, �Scentimental.� This is on a rose standard in a pot that sits on my south-facing, covered patio all winter, so it is usually my first actual bloom of the year!"
'Scentimental' standard growing in a pot in Dale A's garden
Arlene A.'s 'Tatton', a floribunda she purchased in 2009 at the World Rose Convention VRS Gift Store. It�s gorgeous!
From Larry W.: "...my first bloom, a mini rambler called 'Open Arms', growing next to the back shed. It's vigorous, ever-blooming and has a light fragrance. It was planted by the previous residents who continue to threaten to dig it out and plant it in their new place."
Andrea K.'s first bloom, 'Frau Dagmar Hastrup'. This gorgeous and highly fragrant rose is a fabulous rugosa rose that everyone should try to grow.
From Rita M. � �Arthur Bell�. As described on-line, it is a yellow Floribunda bred by Sam McGredy in 1959 and introduced in 1965. It has a strong fragrance with 17-25 petals and an average diameter of 3 inches per bloom that grow in small clusters. Simply lovely!
Brenda V. took a walk in her garden and found this little charmer, 'Dorenboos Selection', a Hybrid Spinosissima hybridized by Doorenbos in 1950. The 'singles' are always among the first to bloom in her Coquitlam garden. This one features two-inch blooms on a quite small growing bush, about 3-4 feet tall but with suckers that create lots of width! This is a one-time bloomer, early in the season. Note its thorny canes!
The other 'first bloomer' in Brenda's garden is 'Plaisanterie', a Hybrid Musk rose with 1-1/2 inch blooms on a very large bush that blooms profusely all season and was hybridized by Louis Lens of Belgium in 1996.
From Sanda S., 'Dublin Bay' � a gorgeous climber worth growing in everyone�s garden. Can also be grown as a large shrub.
And another 'first' from Sanda: 'Watercolors Home Run' � a shrub rose bred by Weeks Roses in the USA. They write��The Home Run� varieties are well known for their 'NATURAL DISEASE RESISTANCE', well-behaved rounded habit and excellent flower production lasting from spring well into fall.
Thanks to Victoria B. in Agassiz for sending her first blooms. Wow, that�s a lot of blooms! This is a beautiful climber but unfortunately Victoria doesn�t know the name as it was given to her many years ago and the name wasn�t known. She says it�s a once bloomer, about 3 m (9 ft) high and covered in small blossoms every year. It�s lovely -- and thanks for sharing with us!
Elizabeth S. sent this beauty to us from her gorgeous garden in Langley. She is called �Louise Bugnet� and isn�t she a stunning Rugosa rose! She was bred by Canadian hybridizer, Georges Bugnet, before 1960 and was named after one of his daughters. Most of us are probably more familiar with the deep pink rugosa �Therese Bugnet� that was named after Georges favourite sister.
Here�s a first bloom from Victoria member, Neil Campbell. This rose has just started to bloom; it doesn�t do so every year, but they are blossoming all over Victoria now. Rosa nutkana, also known as the Nootka Rose, is a simple but lovely rose that, as a bristly shrub, grows 2�10 feet tall. In the Fall, it is loaded with gorgeous hips. Native to Western North America, Nutkana's species name comes from the Nootka Sound of Vancouver Island, where the plant was first described.
From Vancouver's East side, Ornella B. sends us this lovely photo of the hybrid tea, 'Granada', an oldie but goody from 1963. Thanks, Ornella & Giovanna!
Victoria B. send us a photo of 'Michel Trudeau', named after our Prime Minister�s late brother. She says it has a lovely scent.
a special �first bloom� all the way from Germany! Patrick is a friend of our Sanda S. and he has shared his garden with us.
As Patrick says�� I will share my rose in my cherry tree as they were planted together 28 years ago. ...I bought it as 'Mme Alfred Carri�re'. Prunning is not really possible."
Close-up of 'Mme Alfred Carri�re', high atop a German cherry tree.
Our member, Nancy C., shares 3 first blooms with us � thanks, Nancy. As she says, '�these are my first first-bloom submission, cannot believe they all decided that today is the day!... #1 is an unknown rose. Fragrant, always my first bloom. I harvest the petals for tea every year. The color does not fade much.'
Nancy C.'s harvested rose petals.
From member Sunhee C.: 'Usually, my 'Duchess De Montebello' used to be the first bloom in my garden; however, this year �Olivia Rose� bred by David Austin is the first bloom!!'
Sunhee continues: 'As a celebration of my granddaughter, Olivia Grace Boyd born in the year 2016 that I planted Olivia Rose to my daughter�s home, when she delivered my granddaughter,Olivia in March , 2016. When I transplanted this rose to my daughter�s yard, accidentally one branch was broken. I brought it to my home and I planted to my small pot. From a little branch to vigorously grown, Olivia gave me lots of joy.'
Sunhee: ...'Actually, David Austin�s daughter�s name is Olivia that means Senior David Austin�s granddaughter�s name as well.'
This is Sunhee's 'Olivia' in 2018.
Close-up of Sunhee's 'Olivia' this year.
'Olivia'. English Rose - bred by David Austin. Description: An excellent plant all round with fragrant rosette blooms.Shallowly cupped, soft pink rosettes. Strong, pleasing, fruity fragrance. Vigorous growth and repeat flowers well. Exceptionally healthy. Good for disease resistance. Repeat Flowering. Highly Fragrant. Highly Recommended by David Austin Roses. Suitable for zones 4 to 1
The next 3 beauties just in from Elizabeth S.! She has the most magnificent roses, mainly once-blooming Old Garden Roses, but they are truly heavenly. Most of them you will never see in any garden centres or many members� gardens�you should make a plan to visit Elizabeth�s Open Garden when the news comes out with her �open� dates. You will be amazed.
First up: 'Sir Joseph Paxton' � a climbing Bourbon rose bred in 1852
And next up from Elizabeth S.: 'Bell Isis' � a Gallica from 1845 with a strong myrrh fragrance
And finally (in this batch) from Elizabeth: 'Agnes' is a hybrid rugosa bred in Canada by Dr. William Saunders around 1900 and introduced as Agnes by Agriculture Canada in 1922.
From Karin S. in Port Coquitlam: 'I finally got my first bloom! It�s Martin Frobisher from the Canadian Explorer Series, and usually my first to bloom! The foliage has a very nice scent.'
Another pic of Karen's 'Martin Frobisher'.
Victoria sent us a lovely photo a few weeks ago with her �unknown� climber. Now she sends us a photo of the whole rose covered in blooms against her house � what a sight!
Victoria also sends us the beautiful red �Dortmund� which she grows as a hedge that runs along the front of their property � that would be a tremendous sight to see! Thanks for sharing, Victoria.
Elizabeth S. shares some more of her fabulous roses with us. First up: 'Ayshire Splendens' � way up in a dogwood tree...
And a closer image of Elizabeth's 'Ayshire Splendens'.
Elizabeth's 'Paul Transon' - Salmon-pink, lilac highlights, yellow undertones introduced in 1911. Mild, apple, tea fragrance. Average diameter 2.5". Medium, double (17-25 petals), in small clusters, flat bloom form. Spring or summer flush with scattered later bloom.
Elizabeth's 'Mrs. Colville' - a crimson/purple, with white center, yellow stamens. Hybrid Spinosissima introduced before 1927. Strong fragrance. Single (4-8 petals) bloom form. Once-blooming spring or summer.
And Elizabeth's 'Campfire' - Yellow, pink edges, ages to cream . None to mild, rose fragrance. 10 to 15 petals. Average diameter 3.25". Medium, semi-double (9-16 petals), borne mostly solitary, in small clusters bloom form. Blooms in flushes throughout the season. Bred at the Morden Experimental Farm Agriculture Canada by Campbell G. Davidson and Larry Dyck in 2003. Introduced to the market in 2013.
From Brenda V's garden, a lovely assortment of 'first blooms'. She says, 'When this Oriental Poppy blooms, it becomes my favourite plant in the garden � it shimmers in the light!'
The stamens of Brenda's red poppy.
Brenda's red poppy surrounded by Anthriscus sylvestris �Ravenswing�.
Bearded Iris in front of Gold Flame Spirea in Brenda's garden.
Rosa �Dusky Maiden�, a floribunda bred by Le Grice in 1947.
Rosa �Stanwell Perpetual� growing in a half barrel in Brenda's garden for the past 15 years. Highly fragrant, bred before 1821.
Deciduous Azalea in Brenda's garden.
Brenda says about her Clematis �Moonlight�, 'It is the most stunning white that almost glows in the dark!'
Still going strong in Brenda's garden, Lime green Primula!
Carolyn W. shares some photos of her lovely clematis blooms. First up: 'Nelly Moser'.
Carolyn's 'Josephiine.
And Carolyn's 'Niobe'.
And Carolyn also shares some of her roses. First up: 'Munstead Wood'.
And Carolyn's 'Bolero'.
And Carolyn's 'Playboy'.
Chris S. & Nod M. have shared their fabulous Noisette (climber) rose (introduced in 1879) with us and what a beauty she is! As they write: 'Madame Alfred Carriere' reaches for the sky - 20 m up a Pawlonia. Best year yet in 20 years!'
Close-up of Chris and Nod's rambler.
And another close-up of Chris and Nod's 'Madame Alfred Carriere'.
Victoria B. is happy to share all her recent blooms with us � and we love seeing them! Comments on each rose are listed underneath each one. Here Rosa 'Geranium' has just popped with many blooms at once - it is a once-blooming hybrid moyesii from 1938.
Rosa 'Geranium' has just popped in Victoria's garden with many blooms at once - it is a once-blooming hybrid moyesii from 1938.
Bob says while this is not his 'first bloom' per se, but it is his first vase from cuttings from his the amazing climber, 'L�Etoile de Hollande'.
Bob adds that the scent of his first vase is 'amazing.'
Elizabeth sends another lovely from her garden, 'Boule de Neige' � a Bourbon. She says, '...one of my first OGRs I received from one of long-ago members, Christine Allen, around 1995-96.' (Beautiful!)
From Elaine S., Elaine: ...'one of four blossoms of South Africa, this morning in a container, a magnificent Grandiflora, colours of a sunrise, around 4-5� tall and the fragrance is to die for. Never thought I�d place her in my top 10, as I am passionate about the old garden roses....'
Today�s blooms come from Paulette O. over in Garden Bay on the Sunshine Coast! Although they aren�t named, they are all extremely lush and beautiful � thanks for sharing them with us, Paulette. This one is 'Penelope'.
This is 'Mme Isaac Perriere'. Paulette says about her garden: 'I don�t know about everyone else�but I am finding the growth on my roses this year is phenomenal! With such little rain this spring, there�s very little blackspot and the leaves are all big and luscious with tons of buds forming everywhere.'
Another bloom, 'FJ Grootendorst', from Paulette.
And another, 'Parfuma' from Paulette...
...and more...'Wasagaming' x 3.
And here's Paulette's 'Cecile Brunner'.
...and another Paulette lovely, 'Deelish'...
...and 'Albrighton' rambler....
...and one more from Paulette, who describes this as '...what will be massive ramblers.'
One of our newer members, Sylvia L, sends us her first bloom in Tsawwassen� �my cherished Fragrant Cloud! I wish I could post the wonderful fragrance as well.� Thanks for sharing, Sylvia, it�s a beauty and hopefully many of our members already know what Fragrant Cloud smells like � we even put it in its own class for fragrance in our Rose Show because no other rose can compete against it!
Dale A. shows off his creative side! What a beautiful arrangement � thanks so much for sharing with us! As Dale writes� Here's something "a bit different" - I have this four-candle ceramic candle-holder with feet that I have never found much use for - until last night, when I used it as a rose arrangement vessel for the table - short stems, a little water, and some lady's mantle greenery, and voila - rose salad!
The yellow roses are Roberta Bondar, the pink and white striped ones are Scentimental, and the other side has a Fame, Harlequin, and Purple Tiger.'
First 'cuts' from Karen D: South Africa, Purple Heart & Laguna.
And again, South Africa, Purple Heart & Laguna.
And another rose from Elizabeth S, this time a China Hybrid called 'Sophie�s Perpetual'. What a beauty!
One of our Victoria members, John M, sends us some of his current blooms. This one is 'The Generous Gardener' a true beauty from David Austin. John says, 'I have found this year to be quite slow - fairly close to the ocean, cool spring, and late pruning. First HT wasn't until May 14, has been as early as Apr 26 some years. Presently, my garden is maybe 5% open - thousands of buds ready to burst, though. The next two weeks should be interesting!'
More Victoria blooms from John. This one is 'Laguna'...
As John notes, 'Laguna' is a Kordes climber.
And 'Julia Child', a Floribunda bred by Tom Carruth for Weeks Roses.
And 'Jasmina', another Kordes climber.
And 'Golden Gate', another climber from Kordes.
John's 'Fragrant Cloud', a hybrid tea renowned for its fragrance.
An unnamed clematis in John's Victoria garden.
Elaine S in North Van shares her 'Distant Drum', a Floribunda, around 4�x3�. It has some scent. This beauty is a creation of Dr. Griffith Buck, 1985.
Another pic of Elaine's 'Distant Drum'.
From Sue S in Squamish � this is her �first bloom� up in the colder Squamish area! 'Kardinal Kolorscape' by Kordes.
Our members, George L & Cathie N, from Surrey share this wonderful look at 'Cecile Brunner', an exquisite climbing Polyantha from 1881.
Another look at George and Cathiie's 'Cecile Brunner'.
Margarita Z has sent us some beautiful photos o/ her garden in bloom right now � her garden is gorgeous. This is Rosa glauca (aka rubrifolia), a species rose from 1789 which is beloved for its 'glaucous' or bluish leaves.
Here is Margarita's 'Mrs. Oakley Fisher', a gorgeous Hybrid Tea introduced in 1921. It is a very unusual as it's a 'single' petalled HT bloom.
'Alberic Barbier' is a lovely modern Hybrid Wichurana introduced in 1900. Here it grows across Margarita's garage.
Kordes Climber 'Golden Gate' was introduced in 2005.
'Golden Gate' appears again in this photo of Margarita's garden, but to the right of it are a few more beauties, including the red rose on the shed which is Altissimo. Next to that is 'Royal Sunset', 'Open Arms' and 'Jeanne LaJoie'.
And one more lovely from Margarita: Kordes Climber 'Moonlight'.
This beauty is from Gail S in Nanaimo who shares 'Teasing Georgia' showing its beautiful form. It has a nice fragrance too!
More photos of his garden from Brad, in Langley.
Brad is very excited about his hostas right now.
Brad is very excited about his rhododendrons and deciduous azaleas as well as his hostas right now � and they all look amazing.
More from Brad.
Another set of First Blooms, all grown in containers by Florence L. This yellow rose is 'Lichtkonigin Lucia'.
This is Florence's 'Rose de Rescht'.
And Florence's 'Westerland'. She adds of her first blooms, 'All are very fragrant....I live in an apartment right now so my Roses are at my cousin�s house in containers in the Killarney area of Vancouver. The poor babies have been moved 5 times. Previously I had them in 2 Community gardens where 80% were stolen. The bushes were ripped and tugged to shreds. It was not uncommon to lose 3 - 7 foot canes with 25 to35 blooms on each on one day. They have been in this location now for years and no theft. Yeah!!.'
Two beauties come from Allyson P & Patrick G. The first is 'Earth Angel', a recent floribunda introduction from 2015.
And their second is 'Koko Loko', a floribunda introduced in 2010. Both are so delicate and stunning! Thanks for sharing Allyson and Patrick.
George L, in Surrey, has a fabulous, huge garden and brings us lovely photos of his climbing 'Royal Sunset' coming to life � thanks for sharing, George!
Some beautiful cut blooms shared by Marilyn S in Richmond. They are all David Austin Shrubs and are gorgeous! This is 'Teasing Georgia'.
Another exquisite vase by Marilyn, this one containing 'Pat Austin', 'Young Lycidas', 'Sharifa Asma', 'A Shropshire Lad', 'Gertrude Jekyll', and 'Golden Celebration'.
Thanks to member, Cecelia F of Vancouver, for sharing lovely photos of her first bloom from 'Midnight in Paris', a cream peach white rose that she won't from the Rose Society in 2019. She has it growing in a pot on a South facing deck.
This is one of Cecilia's favourite perennials, Podophyllym 'Spotty Dotty'.
And also from Cecilia, a pic of 'a little bee doing its stuff' in her garden.
Elizabeth S shares the beautiful 'Munstead Wood' with us � an Austin shrub. Such a genteel way to display this lovely rose � thanks, Elizabeth!
Bev McL from Fort Langley share this lovely photo with us. As Bev writes� 'Ready for dinner at the �campfire�. ' This rose is a shrub called 'Campfire'!
Here is a rose from Hilda D. She emailed it to Brad at Select Roses and he emailed it to Brenda as it�s called �Brenda Viney�, a lovely little rose named for her as Brad and she have been good friends since 1989. Thanks, Brad and Hilda. We all love the rose...as well as its namesake!
Sunhee C from Coquitlam shares 16 photos of her beautiful garden with us. She has over 300 roses, many growing in pots. The first of the 16 she sends today is a mini 'Climbing Laura Ford'.
This is 'Pope John Paul 2'
A rambler, 'Climbing Rosa Canina'
'South Africa'
'Perception Moment'
'Never Alone'
'Climbing Don Juan'
Cliimber 'Golden Gate'
Climber 'Laguna'
Labelled as 'Duchesse de Montebello', although 'Duchesse' is a smaller and paler rose.
'Royal Jubilee'
This one isn't named, but it's still a beauty!
'Fragrant Cloud'
''Climbing Joseph's Coat'
Another 'Fragrant Cloud'
'Pretty Lady'
Another great photos from Select Roses � that 'City of Yor'k has been growing over that sign for years and years! What a sight � thanks for sharing, Brad.
Brad also sends this pic of his original plant of 'Pope John Paul 2' which he adds as 'great fragrance'!
A beautiful arrangement from Dale A. Dale adds, '...I love bringing roses in and having them inside where I can enjoy the blooms "up close". '
Dale continues: 'Every time it starts raining, I go out and find those half-opened blooms that will be ruined in the rain and bring them in!'
'The huge bloom in my hand in (this pic) is 'Francis Meilland', says Dale. 'She has had only one bloom so far this year, but it was 6" across and big as a peony!'
More 'up close' blooms from Dale....
More from Elizabeth S: 'Blanchefleur Centifolia', 1835, Vibert. Elizabeth adds that it 'hates wet weather'.
And Elizabeth's 'Gloire de Ducher', a hybrid perpetual (1865).
From Mary I: Classic frutilia
Mary's 'Dancing Queen'
and Mary's 'Speelwark'
David and Crenagh E from Victoria share two amazing white roses with us. As David writes: 'Two Unknowns, both were in the garden when we bought the house 35+ years ago.The unknown white climber is rowing up an through a Guava and is once flowering....'
David continues, 'The other is growing through a Lilac we think that it might be a setegera hybrid.'
David & Crenagh are very interested in Old Garden/Historic roses. David also writes: 'One great effect of all these photos you are sending out is that we get a good idea as to the number of Heritage/Historic roses there are hidden in gardens.'
Arlene shares a stumming Hybrid Gallica bred in 1839. The subtle �mottling� is what makes it such a collector rose. And Arlene captured it at the perfect moment while the stamens are as fresh as can be. As Arlene says, 'A fleeting but stunning OGR with almost single blooms that are crimson at first then turn a mottled purple. I bought it many years ago after it was a dowager queen winner -- probably won by Darlene S (or possibly Elizabeth S) and it�s fragrant!'
Gail S from Nanaimo shares these gorgeous photos of the Austin rose 'Gentle Hermione' which she says has a lovely fragrance.
Gail's 'Gentle Hermione' opens from an almost coral bud into a blousy opening bloom with hints of yellow deep down on the petals...
...into a blousy opening bloom with hints of yellow deep down on the petals and then to a full-on typical �quartered� centre Austin rose in such a delicate pink.
Victoria B's 'Dortmund' hedge. Wow!
Victoria's garden is in Agassiz, a 0.4 hectare property where her roses share the land with their Burssells Sprouts farming. Here is an unnamed treasure.
Victoria's Rosa glauca (aka rubrifolia)
Victoria's climber 'Meg' -- an absolute stunner of a bloom!
A picture of Victoria's sign and the rose 'LD Braithwaite'
Brenda takes another turn at sharing her blooms. This is 'Cardinal de Richelieu', a hybrid gallic from before 1847.
Brenda's 'Complicata', a gallic from 1846.
'Daisy Hill', a Kordes once-blooming rose from 1906 that grows as a massive shrub in Brenda''s garden.
Hot pink 'Gloire des Rosomanes' (aka Ragged Robin) a China rose from 1825 and 'Ispaha'n (light ink Damask from 1832), growing together in Brenda's garden.
'James Mason', a Peter Beales gallic from 1982. Brenda has long been generous sharing 'rooting' from this prolific and rampant beauty.
'Lavender Lassie', a Kordes hybrid musk from 1960.
'Reine des Violette', a hybrid perpetual from 1860
Rosa pomifera �Duplex� �Wolley Dod�, a species rose from 1771
Seeing the Rose Glauca in Victoria�s garden, Brad thought he would share his photo of this fabulous rose.
Some wonderful new photos, including this one of 'Scepter d'Isle', from John M in Victoria who adds, 'So many new ones every day -- this is the best part of the year for sure.'
John says of 'Scepter d'Isle': 'Good fragrance, healthy, very good bedding rose.'
Another view of John's 'Scepter d'Isle'.
'Scepter d'Isle'
John also sends a pic of 'Jude the Obscure', Austin 1995. John describes this rose as 'large incurving globular or "chalice" shaped blooms - when I asked at DA Roses in England which was their most fragrant rose, without hesitation the answer was "Jude The Obscure." They describe it as "guava and sweet white wine" - which, to me, is a pretty good description. One of my favourites.'
John's 'Princess Alexandra of Kent', a David Austin rose from 2007.
John describes 'Princess Alexandra of Kent' as a very reliable bloomer, quite thick substantial petals, and a fragrance. It is described in the Austin catalog as follows; "There is a strong and delicious fresh Tea fragrance, which changes to lemon, eventually taking on hints of blackcurrants."
This is John's 'Charles Darwin', an Austin from 2001. It is a vigorous grower, cupped blooms and often a strong fragrance, but variable. There is also an old red Hybrid Perpetual of the same name..
This is 'Sunshine Happy Trails' - introduced by Christian Bedard, in 2015 by Weeks. John calls it 'a very agreeable little rose - fits in almost anywhere, and finds itself some sunlight, with extremely cheerful yellow flowers and healthy foliage. Not much fragrance. but it willingness to fit into funny spaces, and cheerful blooms earn a couple of them a place in my garden.'
John's 'Munstead Wood' - Austin 2007. He adds, 'Seems to be popular with VRS Members, and deservedly so.'
John's 'Charlotte', another Austin rose, this one from 1994.
More from Elizabeth S: This is 'Cottage Maid, Belle des Jardins', a Centifolia, 1817 or 1839.
Elizabeth's 'St Nicholas', a Damask, found 1950.
Elizabeth's 'Nester', a Gallica, from 1834.
Elizabeth's 'Marbree', a Portland, from 1858.
Jilian S shares her 'Over the Moon' hybrid tea rose with us. As she says..."It is a lovely rose, flowers heavily all summer. Last year I was still picking buds on Nov. 18th! Perhaps that is why it has been slow to start this year. It has luxuriant leaf growth. I picked these to enjoy inside during these wet days." Thanks for sharing with us, Jilian.
Two new photos from Elizabeth S! The first is 'Tour de Malakoff', about which Elizabeth says, "The bloom is really this colour. Hates the rain. Very droopy. I put up with her because I have the space to grow some less well-behaved roses."
Elizabeth's 'droopy' 'Tour de Malakoff' which is still quite lovely!
Karin S shares some of her first blooms. As she says, "...my roses are just awakening in my garden. It has been far too cold up here and then the rain! But slowly everything is opening up." This is Karin's 'Mme Alfred Carriere', a white climber, an 'old' noisette from 1879. It's a repeat bloomer with great scent!
Karin's 'Rose de Rescht', an old damask that is another repeat bloomer that is very scented!
Karin's 'Winchester Cathedral', a lovely white David Austin rose.
Karin's 'Munstead Wood', another David Austin rose. Of this bloom, Karin says, "This one was just a bud which I rescued from the rain and it is opening now!"
This photo of 'Wedding Day' has special meaning to the owner, Moira C, as it used to belong to her beloved sister, Janet A. Wood! Janet was the grand dame of the VRS from the 80�s until her passing two years ago. She was a mentor to most of our members over the years, new and old, and we all took great pleasure in visiting her Open Garden every year. Her grand garden in Southlands had a vast array of roses including a 20 foot arbour built by her brothers and made to replicate the one she had seen in the gardens of Claude Monet at Giverny.
New photos in from high up in Port Moody again. Barbara S shares some of her first blooms as the weather has stopped them from showing colour before now. This is 'Mrs. Oakley Fisher', a hybrid tea from 1921. She has a nice spicy fragrance and, adds Barbara, '...one of my most favourites for sure!'
This is Barbara's 'Roseraie de l� Hay', a hybrid rugosa shrub, France 1901. It has a strong fragrance.
This is Barbara's newly planted baby 'Zephirine Drouhin', a Bourbon climber, France 1868, very fragrant.
Barbara's 'Westerland', a Kordes climber, Germany 1969. This one has a spicy fragrance.
This is 'Fantin Latour', a centifolia from 1900 with lovely fragrance about which Barbara adds 'My most favourite, I think.'
Paulette O has shared her wonderful gardens photos with us. She lives in Garden Bay on the Sunshine Coast and her home sits on an amazing piece of land overlooking a lake. This is her pergola garden.
Paulette's 'Constance Spry', the first ever David Austin rose, it has a strong myrrh scent.
'Ghislane de Feligonde' in Paulette's garden.
'Albertine'
'Bobbie James', a rambler
'Therese Bugnet', a hybrid rugosa shrub
From the second to lowest level in Paulette's garden, looking through 'F.J. Grootendorst' (hybrid rugose with flowers that look like carnations) to the higher level 3.
'Alba Meidland', a shrub
'Red Corsair'
Overlooking Gunboat Bay on the Sunshine Coast
View of Paulette's garden levels and 'Albertine'
'Laguna', a climber, viewed from the top level of Paulette's garden.
Another view from the top level of Paulette's garden.
The view towards Paulette's pergola garden
Elizabeth S shares this amazing photo from her garden in Langley. She calls this one 'putting the croak in the Crocus rose'. 'Crocus Rose' is a David Austin beauty.
John M in Victoria has over 190 roses in his garden. He shares a few with us. This is 'Summer Romance', part of the perfume series from Kordes.