Acorns thwack!
Red toyon berries
feed the wild
Oak leaves glow,
dawn to dusk, bright gold
amidst green
Sharp, breezy
wet pine turns the air
fresher yet
Cold and crisp,
where's my jacket and
where's my hat?
Apricot,
red, pink, buff roses
pretend spring
Ah fall, long
awaited changes
come again!
Forest living and roses! Yes. At one forest edge where house meets forest we have a rose garden, and also a few rose bushes in the orchard (above the garage). Although not exactly permaculture(!) I enjoy these human-engineered plants.
My love of both forests and roses began with my parents' love of the same. Born in Nova Scotia and raised in Massachusetts, my Mom embraced the Southern California climate with expectations of rose gardens. My parents added to their rose garden during my mother's life. When I created my first rose garden my Mom gave me a Cherry Vanilla Hybrid Tea, which I recall with particular fondness. When I started my garden here (Spring 2008) I searched for and found it (not easy) and I learned more about the abundant classes and varieties of roses today.
The back of our home faces south, specifically designed to favor full sun for the solar panels on our roof, and perfect for roses. The house is at the top of a hill where we had removed mostly dead manzanita shortly after we bought the land. When the graders cut into the hill to create the foundation for the house, they created a ledge extending out beyond the house, and today that ledge is this garden. It has been fun to watch these roses grow in full sun, after my years struggling to grow roses among the Morgan Hill trees and fog. The blooms outside our lower floor (master bedroom, bathroom, and office) frame our forest view, greet our morning walks, and invade our summer evenings with their scent.
Here is a crude diagram of the garden layout (using a spreadsheet – my inexpensive design software). South is at the top, west is right, and east is left. Light green shows the garden. Gray depicts concrete patio, walks, and, at the far left (east), the gravel path that heads down into the forest. Peach is the house. Brown is our secondary mechanical and storage room (below our screened porch).
From the east edge of the garden to the fence on the west spans 95 feet. The deeper, app 20' squarish garden on the west (right in the diagram) has a newly planted gala apple tree in the middle, a young cedar tree at the forest edge (fence), and a path full of chipped wood. There are only 3 rose bushes in this corner garden; most of the roses are planted along the southern edge, starting near the patio and moving eastward. Below the roses (on the bank of the hill -- not shown) we have cascades of ground-hugging bee-attracting rosemary and periwinkle.
This fall it became a rose garden, with huge blooms easily trumping last spring. Partly this was the cooler weather -- each flower lives days longer than in the heat when I would sometimes see a bud at dawn that was overblown by sunset. But the bigger factor is age. While one of my rose bushes is over 20 years old (confined to a pot for most of its life), many were new bands (essentially 6 month old cuttings) this spring or last fall and have just become bushes.
The picture below shows the back of the house -- you're looking northward up the hill – the reverse of the diagram. West is on the left and east on the right. The screened porch on the right is above the secondary mechanical and storage room which were brown in the diagram.
Here is how it looks at the level of the garden, pointing westward (with Connor waiting as guide). Amongst the roses are several other flowering plants, including sweet allyssum, asters, chrysanthemums, delphinium, geraniums, marigolds, lobelia, and petunias. This fall I added a few tulips and iris that I expect to see in the spring. A drip system and timer take care of the watering, and the chipped wood mulch mostly takes care of any weeds.
The rose garden is inside a fence that encloses the forest immediately behind our house – an app. 300' x 150' area. The southern and eastern fence boundaries are somewhat curved to follow the road cut (the road that bisects our property). This is Connor's domain (a dog door gives easy daylight access); he diligently warns off any potential intruders. So far this means the deer have stayed out of here, even in our highest late summer traffic. (This fence is only 4' high – deer could easily jump it.)
The view from our bedroom window looking southeast ...
The Individual Rose Bushes
Today there are 34 rose bushes in the garden behind our house, and 5 others at the orchard ledge (above the garage and north of the house, another nice sunny slope). Here is a list in alphabetical order, with pictures of several – my 2009 rose guide!
Angel Face, Floribunda, Lavender, Strong Scent, 1968, Swim & Weeks, (1)
This nice pale lavender rose began to bloom this fall after planting Spring 2009 as a band.
Planted as bands in Spring 2009 at the far western end of the garden. I'm expecting to get a lot of blooms from them, but haven't had many yet.
Apricot Moon, Floribunda, Apricot-Buff, Intense Scent, 1995, Lowery/Elsen, (1)
This one intrigued me, a white bloom with a yellow to apriot center. The fragrance is also wonderful; planted as a band Spring 2009 and producing well.
Ausire (aka (Ausquire), English Rose, Crimson, Strong Scent, 1977, David Austin, (1)
Deep velvety crimson flowers of the interesting English Rose class, this band was planted Fall 2008.
David Austin has bred English Roses with the intent of combining the character and fragrance of old garden roses but with the repeat-flowering ability and wide color range of modern roses. English Roses are a new experience for me. I planted 2 in Fall 2008 (the other is Tamora) and I love their intense colors and scents and abundant, tightly-packed petals.
Blush Noisette, Noisette, Blush Pink, Intense Scent, 1814, Noisette, (1)
Planted as a band, Fall 2008, it is located near the gate to the orchard (upper garden) and next to the blueberry bushes. These older roses have interestingly different charms – this one has clusters of light pink flowers.
Bubble Bath, Hybrid Musk, Blush Pink, Intense Scent, 1980, Matson, (1)
This is my first experience with a hybrid musk – had never heard of them. As it matures it will be a fairly large bush with arching long canes and clusters of smallish intensely fragrant flowers. It was a Fall 2008 band, planted in that western corner garden, opposite the apple tree and just outside our office door. Nice blooms in spring, but hasn't repeated the performance.
Cherry Vanilla, Hybrid Tea, Cream to Red-Pink Picoteed, Strong Scent, 1973, Armstrong, (5)
This is the one my mother had given me that started me on my search for vintage roses. I ordered one as a custom root, and then was able to buy several bands at a lower price, so bought quite a few and also gave some to one of my sisters. I've seen a few blooms; looking forward to more. Planted Spring 2009.
Della Balfour, Large-Flowered Climber, Golden Apricot, Strong Scent, 1994, Harkness, (1)
Planted as a band Spring 2009, this climber is near the gate to the orchard, in front of (hiding someday?) the compost piles. It has been a little slow to develop, so I haven't let it bloom yet. It is opposite the Blush Noisette.
Evelyn, English Rose, Peach, Unknown Year, David Austin, (1)
My cousin Jan gave me this rose bush this summer, in memory of my mother Evelyn and our Aunt Evelyn. Planted this Summer 2009 in the orchard on the west side of the green house. I haven't seen it bloom yet, but I've seen a picture and am expecting some lovely peach English Roses.
Fragrant Cloud, Hybrid Tea, Red Coral, Intense Scent, 1967, Tantau, (2)
One of my favorites, I bought one of these when I lived in Morgan Hill and it suvived in a pot on the deck until I moved here, where it is immensely happy! I like the blooms and scent so much I bought a second one, bare root, planted Spring 2009 and blooming away already!
Gold Glow, Hybrid Tea, Gold, Strong Scent, 1959, Perry, (1)
I just had to have at least one yellow rose. Planted from a band Spring 2009, it has just started blooming this fall.
Grand'mere Jenny, Hybrid Tea, Gold tinted scarlet, 1950, Meilland, (1)
Related to Peace, this rose is another by the French Meilland family. I don't know the history of the name, but wonder if it is named for someone in that family? The rose is more likely to show apricot color than Peace. The buds have the scarlet on them, but so far the blooms are more subtle. Planted Spring 2009 as a band, it has only had a few blooms for me so far..
Hadley, Large-Flower Climbers, Dark Red, Intense Scent, 1927, Teschendorff, (1)
Planted as a band Spring 2009, this climber grows on a trellis at the back of my garden work bench on the east side of the green house (in the orchard garden). It has bloomed a few times this year, an incredibly large fragrant deep rose bloom. I can't wait until it covers the trellis!
Intrigue(?) Floribunda, Purple, Light Scent, unknown by me, (1)
I'm not sure of the name. Son Michael gave this bush to Ron and me when we married. It lived in a pot in Morgan Hill where it produced pale lavender unremarkable blooms and limped along. After being planted here in Spring 2008, the blooms became a deep lavender, purple, cerise? and the bush is huge and very productive.
Kimberlina, Floribunda, Light Pink, Strong Scent, 2009, Jackson & Perkins, (1)
Planted bare root Spring 2009. Initially I was disappointed by this rose – had pale, almost white flowers with few petals – but once it was established the blooms are quite lovely.
Little Darling, Floribunda, Apricot-Buff Picoteed, Strong Scent, 1956, Duehrsen (1)
What a name for a rose! However, I guess I get it since this one has an abundance of fairly small blooms, and they are beautiful and fragrant. The bush is currently located between Mister Lincoln and Peace; they both tower above it. Planted as a band, Fall 2008.
Lovestruck, Floribunda, Dark Pink White Reverse, Spicey Scent, 2008, Jackson & Perkins (1)
Planted bare root Spring 2009, this rose will get replanted after they're dormant as I goofed and it is a tad close to two others. It came with a group of other roses I wanted, so part of the package deal, and it hasn't bloomed well yet, so I'm still waiting to see what it will do.
Mister Lincoln, Hybrid Tea, Deep Red, Intense Scent, 1965, Swim & Weeks, (1)
My oldest rose bush, this one lived in a pot for at least 20 years before we moved here. It was my Dad's favorite. I originally planted it bare root in a pot when I lived in Southern California. In Morgan Hill it was gradually declining, producing only a few blooms and lesser foliage. Here on this sunny hill it is app. 6' high, prodigiously producing fragrant blooms right outside our bathroom window seat.
Nocturne, Hybrid Tea, Dark Red, Strong Scent, 1947, Swim, (1)
Planted as a band, Spring 2009, between two of the Cherry Vanillas, this one is still pretty small and has only had a few blooms.
Oklahoma, Hybrid Tea, Dark Red, Intense Scent, 1964, Swimm & Weeks, (1)
Planted Fall 2009, this one has just started blooming this fall. Deep red (almost black) velvety blossoms. Ron and his Mom were born in Oklahoma, so just had to have one of these.
Old Gold (aka McGredy's Sunset), Hybrid Tea, Bicolored Gold with scarlet edges, 1913, McGredy, (1)
Planted this band in Fall 2008, but it has been slow to develop. The bush is now looking fine, and it had a few blooms this fall.
Outrageous, Floribunda, Light Orange, 2000, Jackson & Perkins, (1)
This rose also came with a group, and I wasn't sure what I thought of it, but I have loved its blooms. Although listed as an orange rose, in my garden it starts with an orange bud and then gradually lightens into a pink/peach color. Really interesting when buds and various aged roses are all in bloom together. Planted bare root Spring 2009
Pariser Charme, Floribunda, Salmon, 1965, Tantau, (1)
A lovely rose although I confess I had no idea what to expect with the color “salmon.” Has been particularly lovely this fall with blooms that last well after cutting. Planted Fall 2008.
Peace, Hybrid Tea, Gold/Orange to Cream/Pink, Intense Scent, 1945, Meilland, (2)
Peace was the last rose bush to be air lifted out of France before the Nazi invasion. At that time it was unnamed, and it remained so until the end of WW II, when it was named Peace. This was one of the first rose bushes I remember in my mother's garden. It is a prodigious bloomer and intensely fragrant. One of mine came here in a pot where it had lived for some time in Morgan Hill; it is now outside our bedroom window and huge. The other is a new bare root planted this Spring 2009.
Perfect Moment, Hybrid Tea, Red & Yellow, Citrus Scent, unknown year, Jackson & Perkins, (1)
Planted bare root Spring 2009, in the orchard near a peach tree. I wasn't sure this one was alive and it took some time to leaf out; however, today it is very healthy and its abundant blooms can be seen from the house even though it is in the upper garden above the garage. Very bright rose.
Rio Samba, Hybrid Tea, Orange, light scent, Jackson & Perkins, 1993, (1)
The literature calls these colors sizzling and I agree. I had one of these in Morgan Hill (planted in the ground) and was happy to add one here. Planted bare root Spring 2009, and blooming well, notice the difference in the color of the roses as they mature. The buds start out deep orange and red.
St. Helena Texas Centennial, Hybrid Tea, Peach Pink Painted, Intense Scent, “found”, (1)
This was a rose that was found, so developer and date are not known. I planted a band in Fall 2009 and it has just started blooming.
St. Helena Cemetery, Hybrid Tea, Blush Pink, Strong Scent, “found”, (3)
Another odd name for a rose, this one was found at the St. Helena Cemetery. Although it is classified as a hybrid tea, my 3 perform more like a floribunda, and further the blossoms don't look like a typical hybrid tea. Not that I'm an expert of course, but I question this one. I love the way the pale buff petals droop in a bouquet, reminding me of renaissance paintings. I liked the first one so much I bought two more, so the oldest was planted as a band Fall 2008 and the other two this last Spring 2009.
Tamora, English Rose, Apricot-Buff, Intense Scent, David Austin, 1983, (1)
Planted as a band, Fall 2008, this English Rose was slow to develop, but it has beautiful apricot blooms worth waiting for -- I hope I'll like my other tardy roses as well!
Tuscan Sun, Orange/Apricot, Floribunda, Light Spicey Scent, Jackson & Perkins, 2005, (1)
Planted as a bare root Spring 2009, the orangish buds produce coppery blooms that gradually turn a lighter coppery pink. These blooms also keep well in bouquets. It is planted between two of the Cherry Vanillas.
That's my rose garden today!
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