August Roses

 

'Seafoam' rose with Clematis x durandii

The roses are displaying their second flush of blooms and basking in the languid hot temperatures. I fertilized them with fish emulsion about a month ago. The second bloom is usually much lighter than the heavy spring displays but some of them can be quite profuse.

On the lighter side, 'Seafoam' (above) has actually been a very shy bloomer this year, even on its initial display. I don't know why this is. 

Also, much sparser in blooming this go-around is 'Radway Sunrise'. This is a rose that just keeps blooming as long as the spend blooms are deadheaded. Amazing color on this one -

'Radway Sunrise'

When I look at the photos, 'Playboy' (below) looks a lot like 'Radway Sunrise'. 'Playboy' is more orange although the color now has a more pronounced pink effect. Maybe the weather or the camera -

Another in the orange color is 'Coral Cove'. I'm still impressed with this one. It is part of the "Easy Elegance" series and just a fantastic performer -

'Tequila Sunrise'

 

The color for Best Orange must go to 'Lady Emma Hamilton'. Despite occasional foliage issues, the flowers are drop-dead gorgeous -

 

And here she is in action -

Another rose out next to the street is 'Robin Hood', a hybrid musk shrub. I'm not sure how I managed to plant this rose out in the front since I was trying to stick with orange, reds and purples.  Oh well, I'm not moving it -

'Robin Hood'

And yet another rose in the pink range - this is 'Marjorie Fair' (sometimes called 'Red Ballerina'). This is a big sized rose and needs lots of space. Ours is cramped but seems happy -

 

'Marjorie Fair'

In the back garden, 'Lamarque' is performing more admirably this year. It barely bloomed last year but has in bloom this year almost all summer -

Another white rose - 'Darlow's Enigma' - which I envision covering the pergola. It will be competing with a number of other vines, mostly notably the Crimson Glory Vine (Vitis coignetiae).

 

'Darlow's Enigma' and Porcelain Vine (Ampelopsis glandulosa)

 The pinks -

'Cornelia'

 

'Eden'

 'Eden' with 'Phyllis Bide' which has already faded -

'Gertrude Jekyll' which took the place of 'Iceberg' on the obelisk. 'Iceberg' is doing well in its new location next to the garden shed.

'Gertrude Jekyll'

 'Marchesa Boccella' reblooming nicely -

'Marchesa Boccella'

 'Olivia Rose' is one of the nicest performing David Austin roses so far -

'Olivia Rose'

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy