So true! I forgot to say welcome back!

porkpal said: Beautiful parade of blooms! But the bee steals the show.

Thank you! I got lucky for the bee was patient enough to stay still while I was fiddling with my iPhone

zuzu said: Wow! Shyam's back. Where have you been? We've missed you.

Thanks! I missed you all as well! I've been around, just got caught up with life, and then the pandemic baggage, and now I am back in the land of the living! It feels great to be back!

We are so, so glad you've returned. Welcome back! Your blooms look wonderful!

Beautiful poems, Nafqan and gorgeous pics, Shyam. Your photography is stellar!

Wow, a parade of beauties!! May is always my favorite month. My roses are in full bloom, the garden is so colorful.
I have a few photos I took today on my cell phone, I'll edit them and post tomorrow.

Mike said: We are so, so glad you've returned. Welcome back! Your blooms look wonderful!

You're kind, thanks, Mike! You all are the inspiration behind my rose garden and the blooms! I could remember like it was yesterday when I joined the forum with zero knowledge about (growing) roses.

A miniature blooming today:



Most probably a Daniela Kordana (KORpolare)

Welcome back, Shyam! Beautiful pics. Nice to see your pot garden doing so well. I think the last time you were active on these forums you were in the process of setting up?

Ray_Gun said: Welcome back, Shyam! Beautiful pics. Nice to see your pot garden doing so well. I think the last time you were active on these forums you were in the process of setting up?

Thanks!

Oh wow, I've been away for that long huh!? You are right about me setting up the pots in the garden. The garden has progressed ever since. The roses are growing well in pots (with the bottom sliced open for the roots to grow well into the ground), and even the outdoor grow lights that turn on after sunset that I installed to make up for five hours of sunlight paid off big time. The roses all responded well to the grow light. I will share some old images and videos of the garden.

Well these past few years have truly been a blur but that is the last I could remember of our interactions here. The blue pots seem to stick out. What a good idea to supplement the light source! Where theres a will theres a way, right?

I look forward to seeing your progress

Rose_Guy1127 said: Thanks!

Oh wow, I've been away for that long huh!? You are right about me setting up the pots in the garden. The garden has progressed ever since. The roses are growing well in pots (with the bottom sliced open for the roots to grow well into the ground), and even the outdoor grow lights that turn on after sunset that I installed to make up for five hours of sunlight paid off big time. The roses all responded well to the grow light. I will share some old images and videos of the garden.

A few cell phone shots taken between long sessions of weeding, still ongoing.

Wild Blue Yonder



In the background of that last photo, Freisinger Morgenrote, aka Sunrise


Julia Child


JC with the pink Bouquet Parfait

Bouquet Parfait


Aloha (Kordes)



Westerland



Penelope


Vesper


Gerbruder Grimm



Trellis with clematis Haku Ookan. Summer Song to the right, beautiful blooms, ugly bush. I didn't prune it back in winter, it's tall, spindly and missing a lot of leaves due to blackspot. Helen Hayes and Vesper in the background

Summer Song



Caramella is huge, easily 7-8 ft tall, yummy blooms!😍


Grace with a favorite spiraea




Perle d 'Or


My favorite non-stop blooming abutilon 'Halo' with a huge Veilchenblau just starting to bloom in the background

This poppy is in the above photo

There is a big L shaped trellis under there, somewhere!


There are 6 roses in this shot, William Shakespeare 2000 is in front left, Perle d 'Or is getting too big and trying to drown it. Grace just visible to her right. The yellow Graham Thomas needs to be tied back up on the satellite dish pergola and Buff Beauty growing over trellis, shown in next shot. And far right barely visible is South Africa.



South Africa, look at those shiny dark green leaves. Love Kordes roses!


William Shakespeare 2000


Colette


And garden shots and extra blooms










A



And above was a progress shot of the new back fence and trellis taken a few days ago. He finished yesterday (hubby's photos below from both sides, I copied them off Instagram) He also built an enclosure for the garbage and recycling bins on the right side. Crepuscule used to be on the outside of the fence on the left side by the brick. He put the fence on this side of the driveway so she's now part of the backyard. Now to train her onto the trellis. (She's almost done with her first flush bloom)

Oh, WOW, Sue! That is an amazing rose parade plus! Your garden looks like a little paradise.

Whoa! Sue! I would never leave my garden if I were you! Thanks to you, I added Wild Blue Yonder to my list.

Here are some images of the outdoor grow lights I installed for the roses. The handyman did a neat job of spraying the electrical lining with paint to match the fence. It was a risky investment, but it worked; the roses love extra hours of light. With the success of the outdoor grow light, I did the same for the roses on the front side of the north-facing house. The neighbor across the street wasn't too fond of it, but I tried my best to convince him, and he was fine with it. The light turns on at 5 pm and turns off at 11 pm, so I honestly couldn't understand why he was bothered.

Clever and attractive!

All stunning photos - thanks for sharing.

Rose_Guy1127 Shyam, I will have to look back at your old posts. But, can you tell me if you get the typical cloudy wet San Fran weather and what do you use for potting soil? I seem to be having issues with my potted roses and if we have similar weather, I could get ideas.
Love the lights and the blooms!

The Peace rose I purchased last week at Whispering Pines Nursery began blooming yesterday after the morning rains...

Very nice! Those are the shades of pink and yellow that I prefer in Peace.