The first of the roses opened today. This “Jump for Joy” was just planted a few weeks ago, part of the order from the wonderful folks at High Country Roses. They certainly haven’t had it easy. First, slower than usual shipping due to the virus conditions. Upon their arrival, they were unpacked, but had to remain in the house in front of the French doors for several days because we had that freak freeze. After that it rained so much they couldn’t go into the ground. Finally, they were planted and then it stopped raining. And now they are being besieged by bugs. Our winter was so warm that apparently all the flea beetles and other insects all thrived. I hate to use chemicals, so beyond insecticidal soap I’ll just have to live with some holes in leaves.
I certainly love the color of “Jump for Joy” and am hoping it thrives. Another of the same order has also opened. I chose this one not only for the color, but it’s part of the Downton Abbey series. It’s called “Anna’s Promise,” for the character who plays Mary’s maid.
The outer petals of the rose seem to have dried out, or possibly they were nipped by frost. Still, I like it and have hopes that the next one opens even prettier. Both these roses are planted in the Deck Garden. “Anna’s Promise” is in a more exposed spot, while “Jump for Joy” is a bit more protected.
A couple of the roses planted last year are beginning to have buds, so hopefully June will be a rosy month. I’ve never been a great rose grower, but I’m determined to do better. Old dogs are said to be able to learn new tricks!
herbalblessingsblog 
Roses were Mom’s favourite. When she was “dating” at 79 her “boyfriend” brought her a red rose every day. They had both lost spouses about a year before. It was tough on me to think about another man in her life than Dad, but I was happy for her. She remarried and had 11 more years with a devoted companion. After the initial shock, I was so happy for both of them. – Margy
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I love the peach colour of your new rose 🙂 Happy gardening 🌿
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I must congratulate you on your new venture as future, dare I say, rosarian. I grew up with roses and thought nothing of growing a garden of my own. When we first moved out here 40+ years ago, I began with “Tropicana” along the back fence, with summer annuals “scattered” in front of them. The first real hard winter a few years later killed every one of them, along with other modern hybrids I had added along the way. That’s when I learned about the heartiness of the Old Roses and decided to try a few. Now, after three more decades, those are still with us!
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I had some old roses at the farm for a few years, Celsiana, a rugosa, half a dozen others whose names I can’t recall, but I lost the battle with the deer! This time I’m keeping them closer to the house, or inside the potager fence. Wish me luck! (and lots of Plantskydd spray!)
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My roses are just coming into bloom too. I bought 6 new climbers this spring – not very special ones luckily – and the long dry spell plus a late frost means only 3 have survived and they are still vey small. The older ones are doing OK and one is underplanted with sweet williams – scented roses and sweet williams – bliss!
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I love reading your garden updates, and am so jealous of how lush and beautiful your gardens are. We had a horrific summer – weeks of sweltering heat, constant smoke haze from bushfires, and no rain. My roses were attacked by starving kangaroos and possums because there was nothing else to eat. But they survived and after we got good rain and mild weather in autumn they all burst into flower and have only just finished – black boy, Cecile Brunner, Pierre de Ronsard…
I also really enjoy the pleasant dissonance of reading about your spring plantings as I do my autumn harvest. Thank you!
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And I love reading all the posts from New Zealand and Australia while we are in the throes of winter! Hope your winter is calm, with lots of planting. Can you fence out kangaroos, or can they just jump anything reasonable?
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I fence and net and usually that works. But when the drought was bad and there was no food for them a kangaroo jumped right onto the net and made a big hole in it, then ate everything. There’s always something. I do a lot of gardening in bathtubs now because they’re easy to protect. I think you have to be an optimist to be a gardener. 🙂
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STUNNING! Thanks for sharing.
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