Senior Moments

Rio Samba Rose, Fairfield Glade. May 17, 2009.

Several times over the years I’ve been asked why I take the trouble to grow roses.  Roses have a reputation for being difficult to grow.  I’ll admit that they can take a lot of time, but I think they are definitely worth the effort.

I first started growing roses about 35 years ago,  At that time I was teaching and found that coming home and getting my hands dirty  was great therapy.

As I said, the rewards for growing roses are pretty wonderful.  Take looking at roses, for instance.  You’ll have to ignore the dirt splatters from the rains we had yesterday, but those three blossoms are from the same rose.  Rio Samba starts out as a bright yellow bud with red highlights (lower right).  As the bud opens, it shows more and more pink with yellow in the center (lower left).  But as the blossom matures, the yellow turns to white (upper blossom).  The mature blossom has coloration completely different from that of the bud.

I haven’t even mentioned fragrance.  Today I brought in a rose for Betsy.  It’s another new rose and is very fragrant.  I’ll say more about that rose another time.

Sure roses can be work, but with displays like this you can understand why Betsy and I are always eager to check the roses when we get up in the morning.

Floor Show Iris, Fairfield Glade. April 29, 2009.

It’s nice to get up in the morning here in the Glade.  The sliding glass door to the deck from our dining room looks out on our long flower bed and gives us a perfect view  of some of our iris.

Yesterday morning we were greeted by this iris, Floor Show.  Although it has been in the garden for a couple of years this is the first year that it has bloomed.  I would say that the wait was worth it.