An Easter Story

I hope it isn't too sacrilegious to post this story, but I am so pleased.  Three years ago, in spring of 2010 my climbing American Beauty roses were finally mature enough to put on their once-a-year incredible bloom flush.  It had taken me four years to grow the roses from gallon pots to climbing from the ground to the deck and then to climb over the trellises above the swing.  They were awesome.  Here are some photos of them that year:

Climbing American Beauty Roses (2010)

Roses from the Side (2010)

 Then, you may remember, my next-door neighbor cut all my roses to the ground.  Darkness kept her from cutting the second of the two American Beauties and my hysterical screaming kept her away from my roses the next day.  It has taken three years, but the roses have grown back up and look like they're going to put on the same show this year.

2013 Climbing American Beauty Roses

Just a few of the roses have opened but the majority of the buds have broken color.  I'm expecting them to pop this week or next.  Exciting!  The horticulturist at the Antique Rose Emporium (which has since closed its San Antonio location) told me to put Rose Tone on them and pray back in 2010.  I did and they lived.  Bless them!  I think they may be the only plants that she cut back that did live.

I recently reread Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden. It was one of my favorite books as a child.  However, I didn't realize how much it influenced both my ideas of gardening and my ideas about religion.  I think I may have finally achieved something like my own Secret Garden.  Today's photos didn't turn out as well as I'd have liked, but here are a few of them:

Tamora

I only have two hybrid tea roses in the garden.  They don't do as well in South Texas as I'd like.  Mostly, I have David Austin roses and antiques.  The climbing American Beauty roses are antiques.  Tamora is a David Austin rose.  Here's the garden:

The Secret Garden

Again, not the best photo.  I'll try to get more when the Beauties bloom.

Roses, Roses!

Just a quick post to show off my roses.  The "Secret Garden" is starting to bloom!  The roses are growing up into the trees above, over the arch and are covering the swing.  The climbing American Beauties are about to pop.  They're still in tight bud stage, but they should make a great show this year.

Remember the trip to Bellingrath Gardens?  Remember the Moonstone rose and how I said I just might get one?  Well, I got one this week!  I got the last one at the nursery and it's a beautiful, healthy rose!  It has several buds and just one open flower.  Normally, I'd never cut a rose from a first year plant, but we're supposed to have 35 mph winds and the poor bloom would be blown to kingdom come.  So here it is!

Moonstone Rose

  The David Austin roses are starting up.  Mary Rose only has a couple of open blooms, but both Tamora and Ambridge are going strong.  Sadly, the blooms will probably be blown off tomorrow, but I could only bring myself to cut one of them.  Here's a Tamora rose.

Tamora Rose

Here's to beautiful roses!

See you next time!