A week of sunshine and suddenly all of the roses are out, and I’m trying to pick all the Sweet Peas to keep them going. I still haven’t put the tomatoes out though, in case a big wind comes up.
Iceberg rose was starting to cast a shadow on the solar panels. Apparently a small shadow can take out a whole section of the panel, so it was time for a trim. Iceberg has a wonderful fruity scent and for me is one of the healthiest and most flower-covered of the roses. Rugosa ‘Anne Endt’ is another. A New Zealand Rugosa, it is thought to be a cross between R. rugosa and R. foliolosa, an American species. Given to me as a sucker, it is now a wide bush full of deep crimson roses and bees gathering pollen from the golden stamens. The single roses tend to fall apart in the car, so I’ve only picked buds. Like all Rugosas this is a very prickly rose – like a blackberry.
Because I planted my Anemones a bit at a time, and late, they are still coming up. These pretty pink ones are from a pastel mix.
Abraham Darby English Rose is still happy in the Orange garden, surrounded by purples like the Nepeta Six Hills Giant and Penstemon Burford Purple, as well as other orange-ish colours.
At Rambling in the Garden, creativity rules as flowers get scarcer and the Northern Hemisphere winter gets closer.
Absent Gardener 
Really lovely to look at flowers from a summer – roses, sweet peas, and to be reminded that summer will come around again – so important to enjoy every day in the garden though, whatever the season and to never wish time away. Thanks for a lovely blog.
Thanks, that’s so true. There are some days where it’s lovely to stay indoors and read about gardening if you can, but if you have to get out and swim in the mud, a hot bath and a fire at the end of the day is even more enjoyable.
I love the shape of your blooms and the vase – they really complement each other. And of course your southern hemisphere blooms are an especial joy for those of on the other side of the world – such gentle colours
I’m enjoying coming home to this bouquet – thanks for that! I said to C as we came in tonight, ‘ it’s nice coming home to flowers’ . (He said ‘mm’ as he was thinking about cooking dinner. ) It’s a luxury I would really miss now.
Likewise here, Cath 😀
Gorgeous to see what is growing in the southern hemisphere and be reminded of summer!
I have one single pale pink rose here in England in November, but couldn’t bear to pick it.
True, they do last much longer on the bush, and even if they are falling apart they make a bit of colour in the landscape. For me, since I’m not in the garden during the week, I often don’t regret picking them, but if I were living there I would leave it.
Oh this vase of exquisite flowers took my breath away….wow!
Thank you 😊
A glorious vase Cath, filled with the joy of early summer, gorgeous!
Thank you Christina 🙂 it’s that time of year, you remind me to be joyful amidst the craziness.
Such lovely roses, and I am happy to hear that you like Iceberg: a lovely arrangement.
Thanks Noelle. There was a time here when every second house had a path lined with standard icebergs, so they get dismissed as boring, poor things, but they work hard, and look and smell good, and ask for little in return 🙂
It’s funny to hear you talking about putting out tomatoes. I am just about to take all my plants out of the poly tunnel. There is the odd sad fruit but they are over and now frosted too.
I love to see your pretty posies. Roses and sweet peas together are a delight.
I have a grafted Sweet 100 in the greenhouse which is just about ready to ripen. Looking forward to it! Hopefully you have some in the freezer or bottles to tide you over?
Oh yes, some very good soup and some just frozen ready for sauces. Only about 3 months till I can start sowing seeds again… I hope you enjoy yours.
How glorious. So strange to hear of you hear of you putting your tomatoes out as we are going into winter here. Thanks for sharing. Here’s my vase this week https://bramblegarden.com/2017/11/20/in-a-vase-on-monday-in-the-pink/
Oh, what beautiful Chrysanthemums you have, I’m so envious of Swan, especially. Interesting to hear about how to pick alstromerias by pulling them. I don’t normally pick them at all, so it sounds like I should.
Thank you Cath. It does seem to encourage them to provide more flowers. Each week I make a posy of what’s in flower for my MIL Joan who can’t come to visit to so often now she is 88. It’s a snapshot of my garden for her to see and it includes leaves and twigs, rosehips and grasses. Thank you for your kind comments. Swan is rather beautiful isn’t it . All the best. Karen
Those must be some tall iceberg roses! – or the the solar panels not on your roof? My own sweet pea seedlings are only just now coming up and, if I succeed in preventing the raccoons and the squirrels from tossing them about with their digging this year, maybe I’ll have blooms by February.
Hahaha, the panels are for the greenhouse, so couldn’t go on the roof. Sometimes I think that the Sweetpeas that are surrounded by weeds survive better, they are camouflaged and don’t attract the attention of varmints.
And as we sink into the grey depths of winter it is all the more joyful to see your gorgeous flowers! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Classically beautiful, my tomatoes are setting fruit.
This is so beautiful! 🙂
Absolutely beautiful.
😊 thank you!