Now that Spring is well underway, I'm planting 13 new roses this week (#104 - #115). Here are stock photos of my selections, beginning with the most uncommon amongst the group, 'Abracadabra.' I'm sure many of you know of its beautiful maroon and yellow striped blooms. It's such a special cultivar that it has its own video on YouTube at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?.... I got three of them from Rogue Valley, just in case one or two is mislabeled or likes to revert to an all-maroon bloom.
Next is 'Purple Tiger," which has plum-colored stripes and stippling on a white background. This will replace one that I grew for a long time, that didn't survive its winter transplant when we moved 7 years ago. From Regan.
Then there is 'George Burns', which is the reverse of 'Abracadabra' in that it has maroonish-red stripes on a yellow background. Also from Regan.
'Incantation' is a short rose but is reportedly a blooming machine, producing petals that are deep raspberry pink to red with white picotee and a white reverse. After ordering it I realized it looks an awful lot like my 'Champagne Cocktail'. From Rogue Valley.
The 'Tatooed Lady' is a miniature rose whose appearance starts out as red with a yellow center that appears to spread as the bloom opens, from what I can tell from different photos... we'll see. Also from Rogue Valley.
'Precious Dream' is a scarce Hybrid Bracteata that is difficult to find as it was bred by Ralph Moore, so Rogue Valley is the go-to nursery for it. I had one years ago that was lost to a brutal winter, and am happy to replace it after being placed on a waiting list. It's a short bush that grows two to three feet in height, but puts out apricot/salmon blooms whose color I love.
I've grown so many different classifications of roses over the years, but have never grown any of the Polyanthas. So I ordered 'Mrs. William G. Koning' and am looking forward to its deeply cupped blooms that are like the floral still lifes painted by the Dutch masters. From Rogue Valley.
Moss roses are another class that I've never grown, because so many of them are non-remontant. However, Scarlet Moss is a repeat-bloomer and a most unusual rose, even within the unusual category of Moss roses, whose glandular growth on the buds and stems usually exude a pine scent - but in this case, the fragrance is cinnamon. As noted by High Country Roses, the intense medium red flowers offer a stark contrast against abundant emerald green foliage.
'Denver's Dream' is another shorty that came from High Country Roses in Colorado. Its color reminds me so much of one of my all-time-favorite roses, 'Tuscan Sun,' that I had to get it.
'Marilyn Monroe' is as iconic as its namesake. High Country Roses says that its long vase life makes it a perfect cut flower for display or exhibition.
'Singin' in the Rain' is one of the first roses I ever grew, and it didn't survive the winter move 7 years ago when I transplanted 150 roses after moving two blocks away from my former home. So I'm very happy to replace it. It arrived looking smallish, but I have high hopes as it's not easy to find. From Regan.
'Red Ribbons' is the best ground cover rose I've ever grown, but had to leave it behind when I moved to our present home. I'm looking forward to replacing it in a sloped rock garden. I remember I got my original plant from J&P when it was still reputable, but its replacement is from High Country Roses.
'Twilight Zone' is the last of the baker's dozen I'm introducing to the garden this year, from Regan. It will be interesting to compare it to Ebb Tide, which is one of its parents.
