A few weeks ago I started this post but it began very differently. There were sighs, laments and serious whining about the heat! This week all that changed! Highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s … with one night dipping down to 49. Oooooo That is a little low for me this time of year. 😳 Around here we are advocates for long, long autumns where the roses get to have a beautiful fall flush. And we pick flowers for months. More weather trauma… oh how we need rain!! Things are getting scary dry. I am even fearful for some of our large trees. 😕 Soooo very glad we added some irrigation this spring for some of the areas and are adding more this fall!
As you turn the page on the calendar and it says SEPTEMBER, are you shaking your head and saying, “where did the summer go?!? If you are you are not alone. It was a fast one. And, if you don’t talk about weather, around here it was a fabulous one! A summer of family, friends, travel, flowers and loads of fun.
I have moved to that gardening stage of ‘reflecting and taking note’ that comes with the end of summer. Deciding what worked and should be repeated AND what didn’t work and what areas need a tweak! I’m taking loads of pictures so I don’t forget the details. I will print those pictures and use them when I get down to serious planning. Those physical pictures are a great help! If you aren’t aware, WalMart does photo printing that is so easy, cheap and fast. I print a ton of pictures!
In an upcoming post I’ll talk about the Hits and Misses for this growing season, but for now…
LET’S TALK ABOUT ROSES
While walking through the garden this week it occurred to me that many of the roses I can’t stop talking about because they are bringing me such joy this year are Meilland Roses and Kordes Roses.
MEILLAND ROSES I GROW…
(To see the rose, click the link. The number beside the name indicates how many I have – if I have multiples.)
As many of your know Meilland Roses is a French company with a rich history. Starting in 1850. They have given us iconic roses like the Peace Rose (Link to Article about Peace), the popular Eden Rose, the gorgeous Francis Meilland Rose, the Romantica Series, the Drift series and so many of the modern roses that I am falling in love with.
Mother of Pearl (9) (Link)
Romantica Moonlight (2) (Link)
Bolero (2) (Link)
Sweet Mademoiselle (Link)
These are brand new to my garden and showing great promise…
Loves Me Loves Me Not (Link)
Princess Charlene de Monaco (Link)
ON MY LIST FROM MEILLAND FOR 2026…
Martha Stewart (NEW) (Link)
To see the complete list of Meilland Roses sold through Star Roses and Plants, read on here.
KORDES ROSES
The Kordes Company is an award winning German rose company known for hardy, disease-resistant roses. They are one of the first companies to stop spraying their rose fields to find the most disease resistant roses. They did so more than 30 years ago. I do find them to be more disease resistant and winter hardy for our growing zone (6a). I have grown so many beautiful ones through the years!
KORDES ROSES I GROW…
(To see the rose, click the link. The number beside the name indicates how many I have – if I have multiples.)
Veranda Cream (2) (Link)
Parfuma Earth Angel (3) (Link)
Parfuma Bliss (2) (Link)
Savannah (3) (Link)
Honeymoon (2) (Link)
Sunbelt Plum Perfect (2) (Link)
Jasmina (Link)
Pomponella (Link)
New to my garden but showing great promise…
Parfuma Summer Romance (Link)
Raspberry Cupcake (Link)
There are other roses from other growers that are big winners too and I’ll talk about them next time.
WHERE TO FIND ROSES
If you cannot find these roses locally, here is a list of where you can also look… (Link)
RECENT ROSE CHATS
This summer I have had some super fun and interesting guests! If you’ve missed an episode, here are recent ones. For others go to RoseChatPodcast.com.
PLAYING FAVORITES
GUEST: Kimberley Dean, The Rose Geek
LISTEN HERE
MINIATURE ROSES
GUEST: Matt Douglas of High Country Roses
LISTEN HERE
TIME TO DOWNSIZE MY GARDEN
GUEST: Dee Nash
LISTEN HERE
BLOOM THYME THIS WEEK
SEASONS
As the seasons change let’s remember the true Master Gardener and His gifts to us…
Genesis 1: 14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the sky to separate day from night. These lights will be used for signs, seasons, days, and years.