One of the lovely sights at this time of year are the old roses in bloom all about town.
The bloom only lasts for a couple of weeks in the Springtime and what a sight they are!
Hybrid tea and rugosa roses generally do poorly here except in a few rare spots in a few yards. However, the old ramblers and some other old rose-types, thrive in our dry, clay soil.
Today, I drove about our small rural communities and feasted my eyes and photographed some of our old, local beauties.
Some people keep them trimmed and in bounds...
...others let them fend for themselves and form their natural dense mounds...
Some thrive and manage to be beautiful despite neglect...
...others are lovingly watered and fertilized.
I've researched these old roses and discovered that in the photos above - the orange-red roses- are Rosa foetida (also called Austrian copper).
The yellow-petaled variety is also Rosa foetida and sometimes called, Austrian Briar. Both these old roses are single-petaled and have many names by which they're known.
First described in the 1500's, these roses come from the Georgia region of Russia. The scent is mild and not rose-like, at all. Some people dislike the scent. After sniffing a few I wasn't impressed, but neither was I repelled.
Also around town are some similar yellow roses, but these are more fully petaled. My on-line research has indicated that these are called, Harrison's Yellow (Rosa harisonii) and are considered a hybrid of Rosa foetida.
Harrison's Yellow is best known to people as the Yellow Rose of Texas. These are the yellow roses that thrive throughout my back garden.
This photo was taken a few years ago. My Harrison's Yellows are just now beginning to open - about a week behind the Rosa foetidas about town.
As soon as the buds on my Harrison's begin to swell, the rose wood begins to emit a scent that fills the back garden. This aroma is best described as a mixute of cedarwood and frankincense. When the flowers open they have a mild, but pleasant lemony odor.
More petals and a wonderful scent make this one of my favorite roses in the gardens.
Comments