We're halfway through this summer, which has been uneventful (that's a good thing) so far around here. There have been no big wildfires or earthquakes. Our rainy season was extraordinarily productive, so we have no water restrictions. Daytime temperatures crept up toward triple digits a couple of times and we've had several days in the 90s, but most days are in the low 80s or high 70s, and the nights are always cool.

August is Happiness Happens Month. The thumbnail rose for this month is 'Joyfulness,' a tall 1961 Tantau floribunda, which blooms in a variety of colors -- sometimes peach with coral edges, sometimes cream with pink edges, and sometimes solid peach or pink. All in all, a most entertaining rose.

Joyfulness makes me think of one of my favorite ice creams: Bluebell's "Peaches and Homemade Vanilla".

Our summer has not been happily uneventful. Hurricane Beryl stirred things up a lot. However all the rain involved has revived the roses which had gone dormant in the heat. Quite a few of them are starting to bloom again, including Seven Sisters supposedly a once bloomer.

I can't find peach ice cream anywhere up here anymore and it drives me nuts. LOVE the stuff!!

South America is the only rose blooming right now and it's JB food. I'm not bothering their little love fests. My veggies are right behind them so they can have the rose and leave my food alone.

Do you mean South Africa?

I didn't catch that typo. Yes, South Africa. My brain and fingers were on different paths apparently.

My brain is independent of reality today too. I read your first post as South Africa anyway.

Winter walks while summer flies.…

A few more

Your roses are repaying your excellent care with their flawless beauty. Well done!

porkpal said: Your roses are repaying your excellent care with their flawless beauty. Well done!

I am still learning… Last year I was more successful catching black spots earlier in the season. Glad that midges are under the control now (knocking on wood).

Elena those are all so beautiful! I remember when I first read about roses I was thinking why would someone want/need 100 different pink roses lol. Now my mind says I need every different pink rose ever made!

Hi Elena, the rose midge infestations have been really bad here. I stopped using imidacloprid a few years ago. It was effective but toxic to everything it came into contact with: all insects, pollinators, and even earthworms. So I experimented with chlorantraniliprole but it is not effective. I'm using landscaping fabric now. How are you keeping it under control? I've thought about using plastic cups with oil.

Hi Mike! I have applied chlorantraniliprole as you suggested last year, very early in spring, just when the new growth showed up, one time.
Also applying Bonide Pyrethrin Garden Insect Spray, the same active ingredient as Doctor Doom, I have used last year, on new growth.
Instead of cups with oil I am using now blue sticky traps.
Can't say that I do not have midges completely, see them time to time, but not at the disaster level like last year. Also planning the fabric around bushes for the next spring.

Always wanted The Impressionist from Heirloom, now they have Buy one get one 50% off (correction) promotion and I have bought The Impressionist and Amazing Grace for $85 total and somehow free shipping (less than $100). Not bad for the current prices across all vendors.

Thanks Elena, for the response!

On another topic, I'm sad to report that all the new canes on two roses are infected with RRD, being Love & Peace, and Distant Drums. I have two other Love & Peace plants, but only one Distant Drums, so am especially grieved to have to dig it up. The new canes on both plants have all the classic symptoms of fast-growing gnarled "witch's brooms" with hundreds of rubbery thorns per stem. These two plants have two roses growing between them, so I'm keeping an eye on these others.

Such a devastating disease. It's sad to hear it attack even the best cared for gardens.

Mike, so sorry!
I have a friend, she is trying to fight RRD, a few her front yard roses were affected early in the spring. She is in denial to remove all of them ( removed only 2 most weird looking) and was able to find some positive results to cure.
Will report the positive results if any.

Bee is checking my new Tantau rose Baronesse

What a lovely photo!

Well, as if I didn't have enough trouble with abundant rose midge this season and Rose Rosette Disease, I've discovered four plants with galls.

Purple Tiger is typically quite small, but mine has been absolutely puny for the past two years, putting out only a few blooms. This season the canes began failing, so I pulled it right out of the ground yesterday, only to discover two large root galls.

Then, while cleaning up fallen dead leaves beneath my two Betty Boops, I discovered both of them have crown galls. Also, one of my two-year old Queen of Elegance plants has a crown gall as well.

Sigh.