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.

The Summer Folds Behind Us, Leaving Lovely, Rosy Memories

Sonia continued to delight us throughout the busy summer. I adore the Sonia rose.

Toward August, she sent up a magnificent cane nearly 6 feet tall, topped with a cluster of perfect florist-quality roses.

Dew patterned like pave-set diamonds illuminated the garden one rare morning.

Peace, sparkling discretely, is always serene and lovely.

Quietness smiles rather thinly as the summer wears down.

Aunt Honey, new this spring, blooms with lovely form and garish color, like a desperate spinster's lavishly applied lipstick. Her name seems to fit.

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A Few Firsts, Especially Quietness

Following a jerky spring of late frosts, a few roses are tentatively beginning to bloom in our garden.

I cannot enough express the pleasure Quietness affords. As the first blooms finally begin to open, I fall in love anew with this romantically exquisite beauty.

The pure, cool coloration of Quietness wanders softly among pale pinks and creamy apricots.

Her petals throw the sunlight back to me in a joyous celebration of the morning.

Quietness remains unmarred by the ravages of nature that target pale flowers. Thrips and grasshoppers seem to be kept at bay by a reverent awe of  her beauty. Even the blazing sun refuses to allow her delicate color to fade.

Our ancient Zepherine Drouhin seems surprised and glad to find herself alive for another summer.

Peace tests the summer hesitantly. This blossom reminds me of a shy over sized child wishing to be included in the fun.

The first of the climbing America blooms seeks the protection of foliage until certain that summer has arrived.

This mini has such classic form. It reminds me of my florist days, when  roses of this color and shape were sought by many a hopeful suitor. He'd carry it carefully out of  the shop, wrapped up in green paper with a piece of ribbon, nestled among a piece of leather leaf and a spring of baby's breath, to conquer the heart of some fair maiden.

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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
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