It's Hedgehog Day. The Rose of the Day is Rosa rugosa, known as the Hedgehog Rose.
I once planted a whole hedge of rugosas about 20 years ago. Two years later, they suddenly were crawling with curculio weevils. I had never seen the weevils in my garden before, so I pulled out the entire hedge. Unfortunately, the weevils stayed and started spreading to other roses, starting with the purple Gallicas and Portlands and finally attacking any rose, with no regard for class or color. I sometimes feel sorry for my rugosas, which had to die for the weevils' sins.
Today is also Crepe Day, so I want to put in a good word for Crepuscule, a sweet noisette rose that grows well on its own roots.
The word "crepuscule" actually means twilight and has nothing to do with crêpe, the pancake or the fabric, but how likely am I to find another holiday to feature it?
