The apricot could be Rose (Rosa 'Brandy') or Rose (Rosa 'Just Joey')

Neal already wrote the article, Cindi.

@Zuzu,

I've started a short article on "Roses and Clematises in a Natural Garden." The pics are from my front garden (summer, fall.) Do you still need an article on Roses and Clematises?

Yes, Jasmin. It would be great to have that article. Please submit it to the "Ideas and Articles" section.

Cindi, I think you should go ahead and write your article too. Neal's article is about his personal experience with RRD in his garden. A more general article would also be useful. RRD is becoming a big problem in many locations, and it's important to provide as much information about it as possible.

Zuzu ...

You are right. I read on another rose group that Baldo Villegas has spotted RRD along the Hwy 5 corridor, so it's now in California. I don't know if you know who Baldo is, but he has worked with county ag depts all over California and Hawaii on developing programs to control invasive plant invasions. If anyone that I know could spot RRD reliably, it would be Baldo.

Lyn

I do know who Baldo is. He's a rose grower and cat lover of long standing, so I've always regarded him as a kindred spirit. His website has been so helpful to me when I've tried to diagnose rose problems. If he says he has spotted RRD here, I believe it.

Well, gold star for me. I finished the spring rose prunning this afternoon. Only been working on it for days and days and days. Such a project this year due to having to cut them back extra hard because of all the excessive winter damage. Such a nasty winter, especially the month of February when we were breaking all sorts of record low cold temps. The roses didn't seem tolerate this winter that well.

So after I put out the Rose Tone that I already bought then roses should get a nice boost for growing. Then of course the spraying starts.

Way to go Rita! Nice to have that job finished! I missed a couple while cutting them back and keep forgetting to do it. I saw more winter damage last year because we had no snow when the sub zero temps were hanging on at the end of winter. Last year the roses here and in the area really seemed to struggle with rebounding.

I am happy to have it done and now they can start growing and putting out healthy new growth. They are going to be somewhat short this spring as I really cut them back hard.

Had a bloom on Olympiad today, it was so red!

Another week or so an all my roses should be in full bloom!

First bloom on Rose (Rosa 'Aloha')


First one on Rose (Rosa 'Ring of Fire')


A teaser bud on Rose (Rosa 'Louise Clements')

Beautiful!

I love Ring of Fire! Sue, your first flush will be just in time for rose week!

I think my spring bloom will be late this year. I mean the leaf buds are swelling now and that usually happens mid March. Here is is about mid April. Maybe they will catch up growing if the spring weather stays but I don't know about that. At least they are all pruned.

Well, I think my spring bloom will be drowned this year, a solid week of rain is predicted and the roses are already sagging with the heavy blooms soaked with water, even the plants themselves are bending with all the extra weight. One thing about it, I may miss the rose spectacular, but the daylilies should really put on a show. Had the black spot almost under control, it will be interesting to see how it looks two weeks from now after all the rain.

Oh oh. Bad timing for that rain!

Some things are late here, and others seem to be catching up ahead of schedule. I think I'll see some odd combos in bloom this year. A few years ago spring came really early, and on the same day I had a tulip, a lily, a bearded iris, a poppy, a mum, and a dahlia all with a bloom. It was strange, but fun, LOL.

Maybe the Rose Tone that I put out today will get them going.

@Zuzu, I've just submitted an article on "Roses and Clematises in a Small Natural Garden." Hope we can make something of that material.