Pink rose

This is my favorite rose growing here in the city. I love the old-fashioned shape of the flowers with many petals and flat centers. It may be four or five years old. The leaves don't look too healthy this year, I guess because I have not been attending to the plant properly. It didn't get fertilized and mostly relied on the rain - of which we had plenty - for watering. Pictures taken on June 21st.

December roses

We've had some snow, we've had some frost. But was this rose discouraged? It has just opened its last bud. Normally the flower is huge, mostly yellow, with deep pink blush on the outside. This winter bud will probably not open much further but the lovely warm colors are still visible. It's a pretty exotic looking rose, named

Pullman Orient Express (Meilland)

Picture taken this afternoon. Two bugs are looking for shelter among the rose's petals. Lurking behind is my wood.

New Dawn at the farm

Another rose I photographed today, I suspect it to be New Dawn. It was bought without a label but I do have a labeled New Dawn at my home garden and they seem identical. A very strong grower, in bloom since June until today. Now the flowers are a bit wilted from the cold weather but the shiny leaves are still on, intact, and there's a nice reddish tint to both the canes and leaves throughout the season. As compared to the neighboring roses, the plant is very strong for a three year old. It is not visible in the picture but it's beginning to reach the first floor of the house. The thick, thorny canes don't grow straight up but turn and bend sideways slightly in a charming old-fashioned manner.

At the farm feat. yellow rose

A day at the farm. I cut down one medium sized oak tree and two large aspen stumps. Also began cutting two large aspen trunks - formerly attached to the stumps - into smaller pieces for the fireplace but did not manage to finish before dusk. When it was already getting dark I lost the screw which regulates the amount of oil released to the chain. It put an end to cutting because all the oil was pouring out of the screw hole. It was actually the oil's fault. I bought a new brand and the oil turned out too thick. It wasn't making it to the chain fast enough so I had to loosen the screw and bam - the oil actually pushed it out without me noticing. I have to find a replacement screw before I can cut again. Luckily it happened after I was finished with most of the work, in other case my whole trip to the farm would be in vain. I couldn't find any matching screws in the house and night would fall before I'd make it to the town and back to buy one.
The yellow rose is at least 9 foot tall but it is not a climber - it's extremely straight and upright and in this manner it makes it almost all the way up to the roof. It is always difficult to tidy up - the large flowers also grow very upright, close to the cane and to one another, plus they are very high up. The rose is planted next to the south facing wall of the house.

October roses update 2

Thursday: It's been a week and the third bud opened into a flower. The first flower, so gorgeous last week - see it on Saturday and earlier, on Thursday - is now deteriorating and hanging down, overshadowed by its successors.

Rosarium Uetersen

October roses update

Saturday afternoon: I underestimated this rose. It looks like the smallest bud is also getting ready to open.

Rosarium Uetersen

October roses part 3

Pink Fairy

A groundcover rose. I've had this reportedly foolproof rose for about three years now. I cannot say I've been growing it because after planting I've mostly left it to its own resources. I did water it a couple of times throughout the fierce summer we had back then and sprinkled some fertilizer but that is all. It did best in its first season, when the entire bush was covered with flowers until frost. I hear many roses, however promising initially, begin to decline in their fourth year. Since I am an uninformed and neglectful gardener, I'm afraid that may be my lovely Pink Fairy's fate..

More October roses

 Bonica

Nothing stops it from blooming continuously, except perhaps lack of water. It currently has seven flowers open and several buds waiting their turn. First year in the ground, it was planted immediately after purchase from its half-gallon pot, and has remained in bloom since June.

September whites

And these inconspicuous roses grow on my sister's farm. The medium-sized flowers and thin white buds are hardly noticeable from a distance but unfold their sweet scented ivory beauty when viewed from up close.

October roses

I took this picture today, it was already getting dark. I think it will be the last rose flower this year. The two buds will probably not open because we are expecting cloudy skies with rain, some sun only on Friday afternoon. It is called Rosarium Uetersen and it grows in a pot, first planted this spring. It had no less than - guess how many?* - flowers in June.

It is an incredibly prolific bloomer, flowers appear in clusters of 3 and there are approximately 5 clusters on each cane. The scent is very weak, only noticeable in the morning or on cool autumn days. The color is warm coral pink. And it is a climber.

Thursday afternoon update: The buds seem to be opening despite grey skies. These fall flowers appear somewhat larger than the June ones.

Friday afternoon: I think at this stage the flower looks its best. I just wish I had more sun to photograph it. The sun is currently scheduled to appear on Sunday.

Rosarium Uetersen

*50