The Timeless Charm of Roses

Published on by Catherine

It’s fair to say that I’d feel my garden would be incomplete without the presence of roses. Despite their prickly thorns tearing holes in my jackets while pruning in late winter, or scratching my arms during summer deadheading, their beauty and perfume never fails to bring me a feeling of genuine joy. I tend to be forgiving of their thorns and often hear myself muttering, ‘My fault for being careless’ as I pull a thorn from my finger or head indoors to get a plaster for another deep scratch on my arm. Would I let any other plant treat me like that? I doubt it.

I’ve found myself, on more than one occasion being so completely trapped by thorns when I’m standing, deadheading between two or three rose bushes, that I couldn’t get free. I’m sure anyone looking would have observed it as a really funny sight. Is it worth it? Well, I’d prefer not to be attacked by thorns, but if you love the rose, you have to be prepared to look after it, and that means you have to come to terms with the fact that most of them have thorns. I love them and never tire of looking at them and breathing in their perfume and that’s my reward for the minor indignities and suffering they subject me to.

Since many of us are enduring a particularly horrible winter, I thought it might bring some warmth to share a few rose photographs from time to time, just to brighten our spirits. I hope you enjoy looking at a few today.

One of my favourite photos, two fading blooms of Rosa ‘Gertrude Jekyll’
Rosa ‘Queen of Sweden’ with Astrantia
A fully double rugosa with a lovely Old Rose fragrance. Rugosa Rose ‘Hansa’
A star of a rose, Rosa ‘Bonica’
Rosa ‘Graham Thomas’ now retired by David Austin Roses
Rosa ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ with a pink peony and on the left Rosa ‘Dame Judy Dench’ starting to flower
Rosa ‘Margaret Chessum’

The rose featured at the top of this week’s post is Rosa ‘Princess Anne’, tucked in beside an achillea. It’s worth getting in close to enjoy the beautiful fragrance of this rose. Even as the flowers fade to a pale lilac-pink they still hold their beauty. It blooms abundantly and isn’t overpowered by its leaves. A well-worth plant to have in a garden.

The internet is full of quotes and poems about roses, but I’ll leave you today with a simple quote that, in my view, sums up the lure of the rose with just a few words.

“Come out here where the roses have opened. Let soul and world meet.” – Rumi

Have a lovely weekend!

Catherine 😊

20 thoughts on “The Timeless Charm of Roses”

    1. ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ is a gorgeous rose, Fred, but unfortunately over the past two years, it’s been hit badly by blackspot. If I can’t get it under control this year it’ll have to come out, but I’d replace it with the same and locate it elsewhere.

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    1. David Austin’s site states “Due to climatic changes and the evolution of plant diseases, some historical varieties will no longer reach our increasingly high standards. It is in these instances that we must retire the rose to ensure customers receive only the best roses that will thrive and deliver the most enjoyable customer experience”.

      Their recommended replacement for ‘Graham Thomas’ is Vanessa Bell (which I also have), but it’s a much paler yellow. I like Graham Thomas because it’s such a rich yellow. However, they’re all lovely in their own way, aren’t they? 😊

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  6. Gertie is a favourite of mine and I am growing her as a climber. As for others they don’t do too well here. I do have Graham Thomas and last year had loads of flowers, but the blackspot made it look ugly. I think I shall gift mine to my daughter in Surrey where roses do much better.

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    1. Gertie’s a gorgeous rose. I added a second one, but last year she didn’t thrive and I think she will have to be moved to a brighter spot. As I mentioned to Fred above, my ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ and a nearby climber had heavy blackspot during the past two years. I’ll be watching, spraying and mulching them from the first leaf to see if I can keep it under control (I’m not too hopeful!). I’m sure your daughter will be delighted to take over your ‘Graham Thomas’ rose though. 😊

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  8. I really did enjoy seeing your roses today Catherine. Just what we need on a chilly and damp winter’s day. I do not have your patience – or should that be resilience! – regarding the thorns and only have one small rose in a pot, but I am planning on getting a ‘thornless’ rambler for our new seating area this year. I realize it will still have some thorns, but hopefully fewer that can attack me! 😉

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    1. Thank you, Cathy.
      Your rambler will be lovely! Are you planning to grow it over an arch, pergola or something else? I’ll look forward to seeing it in the summer.

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  9. Some beauties there Catherine. I have ‘Gertie’ too – it was her knock-out scent that attracted me. I chuckled at the image of you being almost trapped when pruning. I was once crouching under a rose to do some pruning and a thorn caught the back of my fleece. I couldn’t move! Fortunately my phone was in my pocket so I was able to summons help much to my relief.

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    1. I know exactly how you felt when the roses got you! 😂 Oh, the indignities we suffer for them. I’ve never had to phone for help (so far), but I know if I did, my OH would arrive and say, ‘How did you manage to get in a pickle like that?’ All that aside, roses are lovely! Roll on summer.

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  10. Oh, I’d have to agree with you on the thorns with roses thoughts. And I can’t imagine a garden without roses, either. I had more in my previous sunnier garden, but even here in partial shade they are an integral part of the story. All your roses are stunningly beautiful–especially that last one. ❤

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