Lots of us will be seeing the first flush on many of our roses this month. My Yellow Lady Banks roses are at their peak right now, and there are a few scattered blooms on other roses, but the garden will be exploding into bloom in a few weeks. I never did finish the pruning or the weeding this winter because my right hand still isn't working properly, although a cortisone injection has relieved most of the pain. I did have some help with the weeding in early March, but the stay-at-home order ended that. Weeding is not an "essential service." I'll just keep my gaze trained upward and try to ignore the weeds below.

The thumbnail photo for this month is Mike's wonderful photograph of April Moon, a Buck shrub. I love the geometric precision of this bloom.

I noticed my April Moon blooming yesterday - although not as symmetrically as Mike's.

Ladies and Gentlemen ! Does anyone have The Moth (1993Austin) ?!?
I really need it....

I just looked it up - lovely rose!

it is very small, 50 cm. Especially desirable. Where can I find it ?
I will give half a kingdom for The Moth !

Zuzu, I had read that yard help was essential in your state. Did I misread that? I guess with all the widespread yard service companies in CA, you guys would know, but that's very difficult when there are laws concerning grass length etc. and many older people can't do it themselves. My helper has come when I'm not home, but to do more major work. We usually work together, but not now.

There are mixed messages, Vaporvac. It appears that landscaping services are classified as essential in some cases and non-essential in others. Landscaping for sanitation and safety reasons is more essential than landscaping for purely cosmetic reasons. I heard a rumor that a hired gardener in Marin County had to pay a fine of $400 when he showed up to work after the stay-at-home order was issued, but I'm not sure it's true. In any case, it's a moot point for me because my garden helper has chosen to stay at home.

All the gardeners are working in my area. While COVID-19 has cut down on traffic noise, the leaf blower noise and lawn mower noise continues.

Well, Rema, if you really need the Moth, I found a place that sells it and even better it is in stock!!!! Of course it means taking a trip to New Zealand, but at least I found a place that carries it! Perhaps they could refer you to someone closer that might have that rose. They also have Peach Blossom which I would love to get my hands on again. https://grassrootsroses.co.nz/.

I think Yolande may have to leave my garden. She seems to get black spot and I just won't deal with it. Lots of other roses I want that aren't susceptible and I never get black spot in my garden! I can't imagine what she would be like if I lived in a humid area! So she may be history by the end of summer, beginning of next year. I could easily put Peach Blossom in Yolande's spot, but more than likely, Augusta Louise will go there as she gets to be a big girl and that is one of the larger spots in my yard for a rose.

If Marchesa Boccella also doesn't produce this year, she is also out. I still don't think I have the right plant but she won't bloom nor does she have any buds on her as well. I have Schön Ingeborg coming in the fall with Augusta. Marchesa may be leaving and Schön Ingeborg would replace her. Marchesa is also in a prime spot and I just don't have room for roses that don't or won't perform well.

So, if any of you grow Yolande please let me know if she outgrows this black spot phase. Inquiring minds want to know! Thanks!

Mustbnuts said:I think Yolande may have to leave my garden. She seems to get black spot and I just won't deal with it. Lots of other roses I want that aren't susceptible and I never get black spot in my garden! I can't imagine what she would be like if I lived in a humid area! So she may be history by the end of summer, beginning of next year. I could easily put Peach Blossom in Yolande's spot, but more than likely, Augusta Louise will go there as she gets to be a big girl and that is one of the larger spots in my yard for a rose.

So, if any of you grow Yolande please let me know if she outgrows this black spot phase. Inquiring minds want to know! Thanks!

MBN ... a long time ago, Kim told me that BS spores were not viable after temps hit 85F. I know that info may not be enough for you to keep Yolande because you have previously posted that your roses go summer dormant because of the high temps in your climate during the summer.

My roses don't go summer dormant and my summer temps are in the high 90s to low 100s. I haven't seen any BS in my garden during the summer months.

But there are always lots of variables, so what is true for me may not be true for you.

Thanks, Lyn. Appreciate the comments. I think part of this is just the shock that she is getting some tiny black spot "spots". I never get that in my garden and while we have had rain this last month (and again hopefully on Sunday/Monday), none of my other roses have it. She is not watered overhead and is on drip, so again, no moisture is hitting her other than rain. Plus it has been breezy for at least the past week, so it has been rather dry and not humid.

Last year, she also developed damask crud. I don't mind a few flaws on my roses and I have to admit the damask crud was interesting as none of my other roses get/got it. She is full of buds this year, so that is some saving grace. However, she is still on probation along with Marchesa.

I found a couple of small buds on Marchesa yesterday so in a few weeks I should know if I truly have Marchesa or not.

I don't know if any of you recall that attached to Yolande was the rose, Stranger. I removed Stranger from Yolande this spring when I pruned. I got three cuttings from it as none of the roots were able to be removed together along with the canes. I put all three in potting soil and only one took. So far, it looks to be viable. So, I am hopeful that I have been able to save this stowaway. For a florist rose, it does really well in my climate (which is a shock to me). So far, it has not reappeared on Yolande this year. Right now, it is in my "rose nursery." I had hoped to plant my rose seeds in this raised bed, but have not been able to do that again this year. I am growing veggies as part of my "stay at home" order, so I won't have to make as many frequent trips to the grocery store (as I eat a ton of fresh veggies every day). I will probably move Stranger out of the nursery bed in the next month or so to its own pot and own drip emitters. Exactly where I am going to put him, Lord only knows! He is a subtle stripey, so he know the way to my heart! Here is a picture of him from last fall.

@Mustbnuts, I was watering the end of season, blooming Marchesa Bocella, only just a while ago. You were in the back of my mind. Mine is the second year it blooms. It is on her third year here. The first NADA, not a single bud or any indication of it. The second year, well a good spring flush and then nothing until fall when it woke up with few but gorgeous blooms. Such, that I take pity for MB if it were to leave your yard... This year I had scanty blooms in spring but is now reasonably well provided. The bush is waist high and quite well leafed out. I suspect that it will improve with the years to come. What it is clear to me in my learning of OGR's that this not for impatient imho...gardeners like myself. It simply takes its time to settle, grow and...eventually provide! I hope I made a plea for MB in your yard. If I were closer I would offer plant sitting for her in my farm. I understand though your space constraints.
Arturo

Our oleanders (pink, red, and white) have gotten buds. I absolutely love it when I walk by when they have bloomed, it smells so wonderful! We have them ALL around our property, so wherever you walk on our property you can totally smell them when they have bloomed. Here are some pics:




And when the Hardy White had bloomed last year: (and the Red Cardinal, but you can't see them very well)

Sorry everyone! I just realized that I posted that message in a "Roses" chat

I don't mind associating with turkeys.

I know! I love the turkeys (birds--not referring to humans!) too! Did you know that Oleandars are extremely poisonous to cattle? Probably one of the most poisonous plants to cattle out there. How is that for your weird fact of the day?

Arturo, thank you for telling me to be patient with Marchesa. I just wonder if there are two different plants out there with the same name? The Marchesa I have, if indeed she is Marchesa is already over 6 feet tall! She is very lanky. The Antique Rose Emporium states she gets between 3--5 feet and is always in bloom. I realize they have slightly different climate conditions than where I am located, but also on HMF, some people state the plant gets to be quite large and others say it doesn't. Even the nursery where I got it stated she stayed around 5 feet or so. That is why I am anxious to see her bloom as I am not quite sure if indeed she is truly Marchessa or not.

Today, I was tired and didn't do much. I did manage to take a picture of Pretty Jessica. She finally has a bloom open. Alice Hamilton also has a bloom open. That is pretty much it for now. Everything remains in bud in various stages. We are to get quite the rainstorm over the next few days. They are predicting lots of thunder, hail and possibly tornadoes. Oh, what fun! Just as I get my garden looking nice, mother nature has a field day with it! We are looking at the snow level down to 3,000 ft and much colder weather. Great for our snow pack which is only 54% of normal or so. They are predicting a very hot summer (oh joy!) and a very bad fire season this year. (oh double joy!). First the virus and then the fires. Ugh!!!

Here is a picture of Pretty Jessica to brighten the day along with some other roses and plants. These were quick snap shots, so they are not "prettied up."


Wedding Cake about to open its blooms


Other plants in my garden that are in bloom....

Iris, Pagan Dance (which has been blooming for the past couple of weeks)


Bacopa


Blue Eyed Grass (sorry the sun was practically setting so their little charming blue flowers are closed) This is a native grass. New for me so I shall see how it performs. Not so sure it will like our summers here, but for now it is quite charming.


My succulents (well, some of them anyway)

Love that succulent combo, that pot color really sets it off!

Mustbnuts said:I know! I love the turkeys (birds--not referring to humans!) too! Did you know that Oleandars are extremely poisonous to cattle? Probably one of the most poisonous plants to cattle out there. How is that for your weird fact of the day?

Yes, @Mustbnuts, I did know that oleanders were very poisonous in general. I freaked out one day when my son put a little bit of the sap in his mouth. I called poison control to see if he was ok

Quick note to all ...

We have been having a damp cold spring. There has just enough rain almost daily to make it difficult to work outside and hit has been COLD ... at least to me. I am still heating with wood ... It's supposed to snow today and I believe it .. it truly feels colder than earlier this morning. The good news is that night temps will be above freezing starting tonight, so it won't stick ...

@KFredenburg ... I am so very glad you posted a plant in bud. The only thing blooming in my garden are the early bulbs and the forsynthia.

I pruned all of the large roses in the last two days (we had sunshine) and only have to do the minis when it stops snowing/raining later this week.

MBN ... I would love to get some blue-eyed grass, but it is actually expensive to order online.

Happy April!

Only thing roses yet in my yard are my seedling starts that I put out in the pop up greenhouse today!