Greetings everyone, and before you panic and reach for your calendars, no it's not the end of the month yet, I'm just sending this out a little bit early as I get ready to travel across to Adelaide for the World Rose Convention. Exciting times! This month I have a look at the
early bloomers as the garden shifts from a lush green oasis to a fiesta of colour.
And inspired by the dramatic and short-lived blooming of the wistaria at Sages Cottage Farm (pictured above) let us begin by pondering the colour blue in flowering plants.
Blue is a calming influence in the garden, creating a serene and elegant colour palette, and has a stabilising effect when combined with bright
colours. Blue flowers add depth and interest in the garden with different blues ranging from cool to warm. Blues are enlivened when mixed with their complementary colours of orange and yellow. For rose growers, the colour blue is a real novelty, as true blue roses do not exist due to genetic limitations, and if you have read the novel The Blue Rose by Anthony Eglin, then you will see this as a good thing... Early Bloomers: Rosa laevigata Just like the wistaria with its blink-and-you-miss-it short blooming period, Rosa laevigata, also known as the Cherokee rose, blooms early and profusely. It was given its scientific name because of its shiny leaves – laevigatus in Latin meaning smooth or polished. Originating from southern China, Taiwan, Laos and Vietnam this vigorous rose throws out magnificent arching canes cascading with fragrant five petalled blooms with golden stamens – a delight for the bees. Brought out of its natural habitat by European plant hunters in the 17th century, it made its way to America where, recognised for its beauty and medicinal properties, it became a favourite with the Cherokee people. It was incorporated into art and legend and can be found growing along the infamous Trail of Tears, the route of their lamentable enforced relocation in the 1830’s. The first rose to bloom at Sages Cottage Farm was an Alister Clark hybrid gigantea climber, thought to be Courier, bred in 1930. This climber with a mossy trunk on it like a tree could be up to ninety years old and is still showing plenty of vigour. The creamy pale pink blooms show a lot of charm. The Australian Rose Annual of 1933 suggested using them as a cut flower “they are at their loveliest when the bowls stand on top of some high cabinet or shelf, where some of the sprays may hang over and downwards, as they do when growing on the plant. Courier is a beautiful rose used in this manner." Early Bloomers: Cicely Lascelles And another Alister Clark rose, a climbing hybrid tea from 1937, a new one for me, showing great promise and already bringing me much joy is Cicely Lascelles. The story of the real Cicely Lascelles can be read here. And now a special treat and a big thank you to my friend Laurel Sommerfeld for sending me photos of some of the roses she has bred. The first one is called Kylie Ruth named after Laurel's daughter. It changes colour from cream to
pink with the season and has a strong tea fragrance. It is included in the trial garden in South Australia. The next one is
a climber called Scout named after Laurel's grand daughter. and I think I can count 25 buds on the bush! Below is the
appropriately named Double Wow, photographed by Laurel's friend Jan Snell who has a bush of this growing in her garden. Finally a very
intriguing rose which has double centres, a warm fragrance and a silky look to the petals. Just delightful! Congratulations on your rose breeding efforts, Laurel, and looking forward to meeting you in person in Adelaide very soon! Thank you to everyone who has already jumped in and purchased a copy of my latest novel, Upsizing. It has been fun sending them off to far away and exotic destinations including Colorado, Indiana and Hawaii. And to those who have already read the book, I am enjoying reading
your comments, thank you for taking the time to share them with me! Well, I hope you enjoyed my mid-October ramble, and I am looking forward to sharing all the highlights of the World Rose Convention in my November news! Until
next time, Love and roses,
Michelle
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My Latest Novel: Upsizing
A story of living large in later life, showing us that it's never too late to follow your dreams. The soft cover book is 214 pages long and costs $20 (Australian Dollars) per copy via the button below with free shipping worldwide. Also available from online book sellers.
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My First Novel: Rose Garden Reverie
A story of transformation set in a rose garden with rose care tips throughout the seasons. The soft cover book is 110 pages long and costs $20 (Australian Dollars) per copy via the button below with free shipping worldwide. Also available from online book sellers.
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May the beauty of nature inspire you everyday
Michelle Endersby Art
www.michelleendersbyart.com
phone: 0400 473 173
[email protected]
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