The house that I grew up in had a small rose garden at the back of the small yard; I knew that someday I would want rosebushes of my own. So when we bought our first house in 1984 (and it is still our first house), I looked at where we could plant some roses. The following year for Valentine's Day, David took out a section of lawn along the edge of our front yard and planted a row of about a dozen roses. We still have 11 of those, and a few years back Rachel picked one, called Brandy, to replace a bush that had ceased to bloom. We do not have a lot of rosebushes, the original dozen, perhaps a half-dozen more in front, and then a handful in the back yard.
When pruned early in the new year, they will often bloom by Sarah's birthday in mid-March; it was cooler this year and when we left for our Passover/Easter adventure, they were just starting to burst out. This is the first bloom, with proper care and feeding, and our good climate, I often have roses until December.
I have not posted much lately, what with the spring break, the holidays, our trip up north and then the passing of our sweet beagle. Today I was struck by the roses, when I was outside doing a bit of yard work, and decided I would just snap some pictures and do a rose riff, as it were. If anyone is actually still reading my blog, given that I have also been absent from reading yours for awhile now, well, thank you - I am hoping life returns to normal next week when I return to work.
So, here are some of my roses:
Comments (7)
Marcia, I am so sorry to read about your beagle. Deepest sympathy to you (I know how hard it is to say goodbye to our fur babies).
Hope you had a good spring break, and the roses are so beautiful (and amazing that you will have them to December!).
Posted by Annie | April 17, 2009 8:59 AM
Posted on April 17, 2009 08:59
Marcia, I am so sorry about your darling puppydog. That's a heartbreak, and you'll always remember the little fella.
The roses, now...they'll give you a little lift. Life and beauty in those blooms, they are beautiful!
Posted by Brenda | April 17, 2009 11:49 PM
Posted on April 17, 2009 23:49
Your roses are beautiful. I guess you have the perfect growing conditions for them in Pasadena!
Posted by Jerry | April 18, 2009 6:23 AM
Posted on April 18, 2009 06:23
Hi Marcia, I love your rose garden. I have roses too. Funny, that flower reminds me of my dad. He always kept a rose garden and I would watch him prune them every winter and would help him tend them with such care. Yours are really beautiful.
Posted by Barb Cabot | April 18, 2009 6:46 AM
Posted on April 18, 2009 06:46
I am so sorry to read that you lost your sweet beagle.
Your roses are beautiful. I hope you get to rest up this weekend after a busy spring break before heading back to work. Final quarter! Woohoo!!!
Posted by girasoli | April 18, 2009 2:06 PM
Posted on April 18, 2009 14:06
Marcia, I am sorry about beagle.
Your roses look absolutely beautiful.
And of course we still read your blog:)(even if late)
Posted by candi | April 19, 2009 11:55 PM
Posted on April 19, 2009 23:55
Marcia, The roses are beautiful. I always envy people with green thumbs and I covet their gardens.
Posted by Eden | April 20, 2009 12:25 AM
Posted on April 20, 2009 00:25