Spring Bounty

Beautiful offerings from the garden: Abraham Darby, Queen of Sweden and Princess Alexandra of Kent by David Austin Roses, also Double Delight, New Dawn and white Iceberg.

Under the Rose Arbor

A large arbor of beautiful New Dawn roses make for a shady place to sit.

Pink and Red Roses--so romantic!

Double Delight and Miss Delacourt

Until this the Double Delight appeared on the cover of my first novel, I had not been introduced to this lovely rose.  However, I decided I had better find myself one and pronto.  The following spring, I learned why this is called Double Delight.  

It starts out almost entirely cream colored with just the edges touched by pink.  As the days go by, more and more of the petals turn to this dark and delicious pink.  

Roses With Garden Lantern

Lanterns aren't just for candles anymore.

First Rose Bouquet of Spring

Abraham Darby and Princess Alexandra of Kent, both by David Austin and Queen Elizabeth

A rose lover, trained from birth.

A Flower Bower

This chair sits underneath an arch loaded down with New Dawn Climbing rosebuds about to burst into pink perfection.  

A June Bride Covered in Roses

 Carlotta the Bride by Patricia Rose

Made of polymer clay and dressed in delicate layers of organza and silk.

The Queen Elizabeth Rose

A classic pink beauty.

Abraham Darby by David Austin Roses

So Many Roses!

There are lots of roses in this photo.  Can you find them all?

Spring Is Coming!

Spring Has Sprung!

My sunny courtyard . . 

To A Friend Who Sent Me Some Roses by Keats

As late I rambled in the happy fields,

What time the skylark shakes the tremulous dew

From his lush clover covert;--when anew

Adventurous knights take up their dinted shields:

I saw the sweetest flower wild nature yields,

A fresh-blown musk-rose; 'twas the first that threw

Its sweets upon the summer; graceful it grew

As is the wand that Queen Titania wields.

And, as I feasted on its fragrancy,

I thought the garden rose it far excelled:

But when, O Wells! thy roses came to me

My sense with their deliciousness was spelled:

Soft voices had they, that with tender plea

Whispered of peace, and truth and friendliness

unquelled.

John Keats

New Dawn Climbing Rose

The New Dawn climber is one of my favorites and well worth the work and the wait (as it blooms really only once a year). 

French Pots de Creme--lovely!

So Dreaming of Spring . . .

I can't wait until it is time to set up the outdoor bed and snooze among the roses.

Roses and Caterpillars

A rose, as fair as ever saw the north,

Grew in a little garden all alone;

A sweeter flower did nature ne'er put forth,

Nor fairer garden yet was never known.

The maidens danced about it morn and noon,

And learned bards of it their ditties made;

The nimble fairies by the pale-faced moon

Watered the root and kissed her pretty shade.

But well-a-day!--the gardener careless grew;

The maids and fairies both were kept away,

And in a drought the caterpillars threw

Themselves upon the bud and every spray.

God shield the stock! If Heaven send no supplies,

The fairest blossom of the garden dies.

William Browne

Fight the Winter Blues with Beautiful Pink Floral Fabrics

Once fall arrives, I put away all the pink and rose filled fabrics until it's time to put away the Christmas decorations.  Then I bring out all of these luscious fabrics again and it helps to chase away the winter blues.

Life is a Piece of Cake

At least it is, when it looks this scrumptious!  (This is super healthy, by virtue of being fake!)