June Comes Early

It's only late May and everyone among our roses is pushing, stretching and opening buds as if there is no June ahead, ignoring the punishing winds and sand storms that keep us cowardly humans indoors. 

Rare morning peace in the garden

It's almost a cruel joke that the loveliest time of year is rushing past so quickly on wings of dirt, sand and dust, making a quiet garden respite nearly impossible. I managed to snap a few early morning shots before today's predicted biggest wind storm yet takes over our lives for the next 36 hours. 

Frederic Mistral, aka The Children's Rose

Frederic Mistral's deeply-fragrant blooms take me back to elusive and comforting childhood vignettes featuring great aunts and rose-scented soaps and oils.

Teasing Georgia rose

Teasing Georgia glows in the morning light.

Prairie Star rose

Prairie Star is delightfully perky and peachy, obviously relishing the sprinkler's bounty.

Royal Wedding rose

Royal Wedding's first flush delights me no end.

Seminole Wind rose, aka Rosarium Uetersen 

Seminole Wind, next to a favorite morning-coffee chair, puts on his first real show since joining our garden last year.

Quietness rose

Quietness never disappoints us, her delicate-looking blossoms taking a whipping in a wind that began rousing with the sun. 

Quietness rose bush and company

Quietness rose's first flush of 2012

Abraham Darby rose bush

Abraham Darby wants to ball up, but manages a brave show none-the-less.

Abraham Darby rose

The garden by late afternoon

As expected, the day deteriorated into a dirty, dusty mess. My poor roses!


You may click to enlarge the above photos.

The Summer Cometh

Summer rapidly approaches; the garden sings with delight.

I enjoy watching a sweet hummer through my kitchen window.

Everything lovely and alive stretches toward the sun and sky.

Helianthemum and Salvia 'Purple Rain' glow in the morning light.

The Madam Julia Correvon clematis shows off her rich, wine-red blossoms in an extravagant burst of generosity; I adore her.

Quietness, her delicate pink, fragile-looking blossoms deceptively resilient, glows in the extraordinarily hot weather. 

Shrugging off yesterday's dusty violence, Quietness carries on.

Summer verdure restores its place in the serene morning after.

Summer, glorious summer, lies ahead.

Quietness Rose ~ The Elegance of Good Breeding

Quietness Basking in the Summer Air

Quietness calls to my mind what the last well bred lady in history would be; elegant, gracious, unfailingly polite, unerringly correct, all in the company of her more vulgar and ill mannered neighbors. No matter that she is crowded and elbowed about by garishly dressed and forward, grasping folks in her spot in my garden, like gaura and phlox, she maintains her place with a dignity that is forever charming. Her clear pink cheeks are fresh and bright in the driest of summer weather, yet never despondent or pouting in the torrents of the summer monsoons. When she is finished with a blossom, she discards it without fuss, daintily and cleanly, careful to make no extra work for others, even for the resident drudge and manure hauler of the garden, (me). She is sparing with her fragrance, which has been sometimes strong and clove-y, but at other times nonexistent, still,  I love her very much. Going on her fourth year now, she continues a delightful Quiet Queen of my garden, growing and thriving without demanding attention, but drawing every eye none the less to her graceful presence.

I am glad that Dr. Griffith Buck had a passion for breeding winter hardy roses. I believe the deceptively fragile pink coloring of Quietness is possible in my harsh climate because of it.

Quietness ~ Ever Well Behaved ~ Even When Shoved About

Of Course,  Quietness is a  Gracious Hostess

Quietness ~ Humbly Sharing the Spotlight With Common Folk

Quietness ~ Unbelievably Gorgeous
(You May Click To Enlarge the Above Photos)