31-DEC-2016
Daylily
We have a row of these along one of our rose beds, and this one was flowering at
the same time as the rose called "the Dark Lady" and the colour almost matched
making a lovely sight to see. The 40 degree heat finished off the daylilies until
they bud up again, but the rose is still covered in beautiful deep crimson blooms.
You can see a half-opened bloom of TDL if you scroll down this gallery.
31-DEC-2016
"Woburn Abbey"
A floribunda/cluster flowering rose, and named from the stately home of the Dukes of Bedford.
Bred in the UK 1962 - the year we were married!
Fairly new in the garden and seems to have liked all the rain we had this season.
Our 55th Wedding Anniversary today, and its just as hot (40dC) as it was 55 years ago!
31-DEC-2016
"Crepuscule"
A wonderful old rose, we have two plants of this one growing, and these
were flowering on a tall weeping stem. Although classed as a climber
there are barely any thorns, so the rose needs a strong support otherwise
it will sprawl onto the ground. This one is famously trained onto a
fence at the Flemington Racecourse, Victoria, Australia and has been
trained to flower for the famous "Melbourne Cup" race held annually in
November. Bred in France 1904. Sweetly fragrant according to one of
my books.... one day I'll remember to test this fact!
31-DEC-2016
Two girls on the last day of 2016
A rare rose and a relatively new modern rose, both just opening.
The Dark Lady and Tipsy Imperial Concubine.
The pink rose is a finicky one to grow, and it can go years with nothing
to show, apart from gummed up blooms that get chopped off, so imagine how
I felt when I accidentally chopped off this bloom on my morning round
dead-heading! The same thing happened to The Dark Lady - both are now
safely in bud vases indoors and we can enjoy watching them gradually
ripening into full sized blooms. Tipsy resides in the back blocks of
the garden where she can hide when she needs to.