On Halloween, I took the kids in their costumes over to my parents' house. I was shocked to find that two of my mom's Roses were still blooming, despite several freezes. (My Rose hasn't bloomed since August, and the Roses in the main garden at my parents' house are done blooming.) The towering orange one pictured above is in a decent microclimate against the brick wall on the east side of the house. The David Austin Rose 'Sharifa Asma' (below, paired up perfectly with a Mum) is in the coveted position of tucked beneath the bay window on the south side of the house.
With such microclimates, these Roses can continue churning out blooms until the real cold sets in.The concern is that the serious cold won't arrive on time. That seems like an odd concern, but my mom and I recall the year, not so long ago, when we had an extended fall, and the Roses were blooming into December. Mom lost nearly all of her Roses that year because when the cold suddenly hit in January, their tissues hadn't hardened up and they froze. 'Sharifa Asma' and 'Zepherine Drouhin' (on the east side against the house) were the only survivors. The microclimates protected them that time. I hope it will again. It would be a shame if these became late Roses.
14 comments:
Beautiful! I haven't planted any roses, I used to have one and the bugs drove me crazy.
I hope so too, MMD. We have had similar things happen, plants still growing actively for whatever reason being shot down by a sudden drop in temp. The late freeze of 2007, well after the plants and trees, particularly the thread leaf Japanese maples had leafed out was devastating. That little microclimate is a blessing. How wonderful that your mother is near enough for you to visit. :-)
Frances
I don't know much about roses but I do know that you shouldn't cut off the blooms this time of year. That encourages growth and you don't want to do that when you know they will eventually be frozen because the new growth won't harden off for sure. I hope your Moms roses survive.
The roses sure are a lovely gift this
late in a Chicago autumn...We have had light frosts in the area but, the tall canopy and Hedge create a micro-climate that keeps this garden blooming until the unstoppable killing frosts arrive. This has been such a strange weather year for many of us~~I wonder what the winter will bring. gail
Lovely roses!
Cameron
Your observation about the roses not having a chance to go dormant explains exactly what happens to us down south. Although on average we have only a dozen nights of freeze, they are interspersed with days in the 60s,70s, and even 80s. Our plants never go dormant. Our ground never freezes. If we get a prolonged freeze (more than a few hours), we lose a lot.
The last couple of winters have been unusually mild. Gardeners all over Austin have been planting aloe and other frost sensitive (but drought resistant) plants. The forecast for this winter is colder than normal. We're all eyeing our gardens nervously.
MMD, Just look at the interesting (and informative) comments you've had regarding your mom's roses. Just think, it was your post that initiated them! Thanks! And I'll add a concern for your Mom's roses, too. And you ARE fortunate to be able to visit your mom so easily! :-)
Hi, Mom Taxi Julie - if by bugs you mean Japanese Beetles, I sympathize. I got very good at squishing them between gloved fingers.
Frances - I'm a big fan of microclimates, but mine aren't as good as my mom's because my house isn't brick.
Lisa - I left my last blooms to form hips. It had 2 more buds that got frozen.
Gail - the winter will most likely be very interesting. One of the things I love about a shade garden is how the trees create a microclimate - that is until they lose all their leaves.
Cameron - I'll pass along the compliment.
MSS - those wild temperature swings are too much for me to get my brain around. Which makes the beautiful gardens of Austin that much more impressive.
Shady - my mom thinks we don't live close enough, even though we're only 2 suburbs over.
I hope they come through OK; they're beautiful!
Sometimes it's amazing how certain plants can survive the cold. You mention "Zepherine Drouhin"--this is a rose I've been considering planting next to a new trellis. How does your mother like it? It's supposed to be nearly thornless; is it?
Wow, MMD! Those roses are spectacular--as well as the mum. Sheffield Pink? I've been seeing a lot of it this fall, and am in lust. LOL! Gotta love those micro-climates. I think that is why my gardenias get so big. They are tucked into a corner of the house, which is limestone, and protected by a canopy of live oaks. I am wondering if there is anything you can do (or rather, your mom) to protect them this winter. Can you mound up straw or leaves to protect the base?
I remember the winter you are talking about. How strange to see roses blooming a few weeks before Christmas.
Marnie
ROR - The orange Rose is a recent addition to the garden, so that's the one that's most at risk.
Rose - Zeph. is a wonderful Rose, although it's not a disease-resistant as the Knockouts. It is vigorous and blooms repeatedly. It is pretty much thornless. The only drawback to it for my mom is that it is outgrowing its space. It needs to be on an arch or a really large wall.
MGRR - I don't know if the Mum is 'Clara Curtis' or 'Sheffield Pink.' This is the parent plant of my Mum. Mom has foresaken the Rose cones for the mounded soil. I don't think she uses shredded leaves.
Marnie - My mom took photos for posterity with the date on the photo. It was freaky.
One more note, MMD. I keep looking at your photo of your Geum triflorum (the mixed-up plant that's blooming this Fall!). Anyway, I sincerely hope my new plant looks just like THAT next Spring! :-)
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