Friday, April 18, 2008

My Middle Name

Rose is my middle name, which really has nothing to do with my current attempt at growing roses again after many years, but every time I get a rose on my new bushes, I am reminded of my name.

Hello Dolly Hybrid Tea


This is the second of the cheap Wal-Mart container roses that I purchased earlier this year, and the third flower on this bush. The flowers are on long stems good for cutting. It has a strong spicy fragrance that carries. My three choices were based on the described scent first. Now that all three have bloomed, it strikes me they are all in the pink family--which is not my favorite rose color.

We Salute You™ Hybrid Tea

This is also the third flower on this rose bush. The fragrance is moderately spicy and its parentage is Voodoo x Sunset Celebration. This is another good cutting rose. We Salute You™ cost over twice as much as my Wal-Mart specials. It starts out a soft orange, and then becomes pink with some orange. This rose bush gets the most shade of the three, but each of the flowers have had some burning on the tips of the petals. Since it's only April, this worries me. It may be because planted them late in the season.

Since our climate is harsh in the summer, I decided to buy a specialty book on growing roses in the desert. I knew this was going to happen--buying all kinds of new stuff to support these three bushes.


13 comments:

Jane O' said...

Well, I just love Hello Dolly. I always thought it would be neat to have a celebrity rose garden. But, unfortunately, I have given up on roses.

Anonymous said...

Before you buy too many more books, Aiyana, may I suggest the rose form on GardenWeb? There's a wealth of information that tends to be zone specific. You'll need to go into that forum with very strong blinders, however, if you are to resist purchasing more roses ;-)

Mary Beth said...

Aiyana, What a beautiful rose is We Salute You! I just love blooms that change colors as they mature - I may have to add this one to my "look for" list!

Cheryl said...

Beautiful blooms.
I grow miniature roses here in tubs. Rabbits in the garden will eat the new leaves, so I have given up as it became hard work.
I also grow the wild dog rose and rosa rugosa. They perhaps are a simple bloom but the smell is divine.

Julie said...

Aiyana Rose...how gorgeous!!! What does Aiyana mean???? I am looking for names for the new baby girl I just found out today I will have a grandDAUGHTER in Germany on Sept. 10! I couldn't think of a prettier name!

The Diva said...

Aiyana, my mother's name is Rose Marie. I love roses in spite of their issues. Your blossoms are lovely.~~Dee

Aiyana said...

I sure hope these roses are not one-hit wonders. After your comments, I am wondering if I will again say, "I used to grow roses!" Everyone loves them, but I think I may be in over my head.

We Salute You (2005) is third in a series of 9 roses named in honor of the victims of September 11, 2001> A donation from the sale of each rose will be directed to the Remember Me Rose Garden Maintenance Fund. (http://www.remember-me-rose.org/)

Aiyana said...

Julie,
Aiyana supposedly means forever-flowering. So, I guess I was supposed to be a forever flowering Rose! At this age, the bloom is off the rose, so to speak, and I'm headed toward wilt. I've lost more than a few petals along the way!

Julie said...

Well, I think both of us are wilting...you sure are a beautiful spirit. I love your name and will suggest it to my DIL. Thanks for letting me know what it means!!! It is just YOU!!!

kate smudges said...

You made me laugh with your comment above to Julie about your name. I hope your rose-growing endeavours go well. We Salute you is interesting with the orange tinge to it.

Teresa said...

I agree with many of the commentators, We Salute You has beautiful coloring of pink to orange.

Tracy said...

Roses amaze me, there are so many hybrids, and so many colors.....something about the "We Salute You" rose grabbed my instant attention. It is absolutely beautiful. I am not familiar with roses, but that one has such a nice shape / wave to it. I have not seen many roses that look like that. Flowers are dangerously addicting.....lol, and everyone is an enabler.....LOL :)

Barbara said...

It's stunning to see that you are having roses growing in your garden too. You have chosen very nice sorts. Hope for you that they are getting well in the hot climate.