Plants I'm Growing--First Blooms: Sally Holmes Rose (April 25, 2010)

The first buds opened today on the large climbing rose "Sally Holmes" behind the grapevines. This is one of my favorite roses. When fresh, the flowers look almost like dogwood blossoms. When whole groups of them open at once (and the buds form in large clusters), the plant looks like a woman in a green gown holding numerous bridal bouquets. When the flowers age, they go pale and spotty and look rather forlorn--contributing to the plant's charm. But, I must admit, I like Sally Holmes best when her bridal bouquets are new. Sally Holmes first bloomed in 2009 on April 16, so a year according to Sally was 374 days.

Plants I'm growing: First Blooms--Roses and Phlomis Lanata

The Phlomis lanata in the garden started blooming today (pictured) as did the "New Dawn" climbing rose on the back fence (pictured) and the rose "Cocktail." Nearly all the roses are going strongly now. I'm not especially a rose fan, but the old-fashioned single-petaled ones remind me of the wild roses I saw as a child in England, in Somerset (Taunton). I like these very much. "New Dawn" is an old-fashioned climber with quintessentially rose-like buds--chaste almost.