In my January garden.
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Nothing makes me think of winter more than what my family call “soft days”: days when the air is filled with that very light sprinkling of rain that almost floats through the air, softening the sharp edges of leaves and branches and muffling the sounds of footsteps on the footpath. Soft days leave little diamond like droplets on the backs of fallen rose leaves like this one I found on my front lawn one winter’s day in June five years ago (winter in the Southern Hemisphere is between June and August).
The theme for "Looking Close on Friday" for the 31st of January is "winter leaves", being the middle of winter in Europe. Of course that means it is the middle of summer where I live, so no winter leaves to photograph in the garden today! However, I have many examples in my archive and this one featuring rose leaves decorated in diamond like droplets on a soft winter day won out! I hope you like my choice for the theme, and it makes you smile!
"Kiss me in the rain,
And make me feel like a child again.
Bring back all those memories.
Kiss me in the rain,
And make me feel like a child again.
With the feeling that I get,
I don't even mind if I get wet."
Lyrics from Kiss me in the Rain (1979), written by Lisa Ratner and Sandy Farina, performed by Barbra Streisand.
Spring is in swing in Melbourne, and with the sun also come spring showers, and my "Gold Medal" hybrid tea rose, which is always the first to bloom in my rose garden every year, enjoyed a spring shower followed by a burst of sunshine yesterday.
The "Gold Medal" hybrid tea rose was first bred in 1982 in the United States by Jack Christensen, and later introduced to market by Armstrong Nursery. Jack is the youngest rose breeder to develop an All-American rose and he is credited with hybridising over eighty different types of roses. This rose was created by crossing elements from the roses Granada, Garden Party, and Yellow Pages. The result is a gorgeous yellowish rose that has rich copper accents, that ultimately fades to a soft cream color.
Spring has finally come to Melbourne after a long and grey winter, and everywhere, gardens are bursting forth with beautiful coloured blooms in a profusion of colours. This includes in my own garden where my roses are sending forth their first flush of beautiful blooms. This one is one of my Papa Meilland blooms.
Papa Meilland is a magnificent French hybrid tea rose. Named in honour of a Doyen in the rose breeding world by his Grandson, the now famous Allain Meilland, Papa Meilland has dark, velvety crimson coloured petals and a magnificent, strong, old rose fragrance. This rose was bred in France and introduced in 1963. I have two of these bushes in my front garden, and although white roses are my favourite type of rose, the Papa Meilland rose would come a very close second!
My "Gold Medal" hybrid tea rose is always the first to bloom in my rose garden every year. Now I know that spring is finally here. It looks like I will have a fine showing looking at all the buds about to burst out in the first flush of blooms.
The "Gold Medal" hybrid tea rose was first bred in 1982 in the United States by Jack Christensen, and later introduced to market by Armstrong Nursery. Jack is the youngest rose breeder to develop an All-American rose and he is credited with hybridising over eighty different types of roses. This rose was created by crossing elements from the roses Granada, Garden Party, and Yellow Pages. The result is a gorgeous yellowish rose that has rich copper accents, that ultimately fades to a soft cream color.
Spring has finally come to Melbourne after a long and grey winter, and everywhere, gardens are bursting forth with beautiful coloured blooms in a profusion of colours.
One of the pleasures in my life is to go for a stroll in the sunshine. There is great joy and much delight in tarrying along the way to stop and smell the flowers - especially roses - and photograph them too!
It is another leaden grey sky day here today, so all the more reason to inject a little light and colour from one of my previous strolls a little over a year ago, last winter. In June of 2023, I was lucky enough to see one of the last blooms on this 'Blue Moon' rose bush in the well maintained garden of an Edwardian bungalow.
Strongly fragrant, "Blue Moon" is a ravishing Hybrid Tea Rose with double lavender flowers of around forty petals. Blooming in flushes from spring to autumn, this bushy, upright shrub is ideal was bred by Mathias Tantau of Rosen Tantau in Germany in 1964. It is very popular for its strength and beautiful blooms.
My 'Just Joey' hybrid tea-rose.
A survivor of Sydney's recent storm event.
But she's "All Shook Up"
As are all my roses!!
Castle Hill. Hills District of Sydney.
Saturday, 6th April, 2024.
And here is Suzi Quatro with, in my view, the grooviest version of Elvis Presley's song 'All Shook Up':
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-QJjqx8KZM
My Canon EOS 5D Mk IV with the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L II USM lens.
Processed in Adobe Lightroom and PhotoPad Pro by NCH software
A beautiful variegated Rose from my garden
It may be a bit cold and raining on and off in Melbourne today, but as spring sets it, it isn't always like this, and we have had some beautifully warm days filled with sunshine and blue skies, like the day I took this photo.
On my stroll in the sunshine, I went past a garden of an old Edwardian bungalow which had a "Fiona's Wish" rose which had just put forth its first bloom.
Bred in 2001 by Alain Meilland in France, "Fiona's Wish" is a multi-award winning, highly fragrant hybrid tea rose with classic shaped blooms. Coloured cherry red with a creamy amber reverse the blooms are very striking. "Fiona's Wish" is named in honour of Fiona Coote, Australia's youngest heart transplant recipient, and her efforts to support Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute. Fiona continues to be an ambassador for the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, helping with fundraising efforts whenever she can.
Yes, spring is now well and truly in the air, as winter in Melbourne fades into memory... well maybe not quite... it is supposed to be cold and raining tomorrow. All the more reason to get out in the glorious sunshine whilst it's out.
And that is what I did, last Monday as I went for an afternoon stroll. Whilst on the walk, my eye was caught by this wonderful golden yellow "Molineux" rose, reaching up to the sun, exposing complex ruffles of petals, like golden petticoats.
Bred by David Austin in 1994, and named after Wolverhampton Wanderers’ football stadium, "Molineaux" bears medium-sized neat rosette blooms. Tinged with orange at first, they quickly become a rich yellow. It has a light-medium musky Tea Rose scent.
I took an afternoon stroll in the spring sunshine the other day, and I walked past a rose bush I have always admired and returned to again and again. Sadly, it was hacked at by the new owners of the house, yet it seems to be springing back, and is well enough to send forth quite a profusion of blooms this year! This single bush displays roses in shades of pale yellow with pink edges, vibrant pink, carmine and orange. The former owner whom I met one day before she moved away was unsure of its origins, as it was part of the garden when she bought the property, however after I first saw it, I did some research to try and find out what it is. I think it is a Desert Peace rose. Bathed in beautiful sunshine the vibrant bloom was too beautiful not to photograph.
The “Desert Peace” rose is a hybrid tea rose with yellow blend blooms, with pink edges. It was produced by Meilland International in France in 1991.
Spring has finally come to Melbourne, and everywhere, gardens are bursting forth with beautiful coloured blooms in a profusion of colours after winter.
Spring has finally come to Melbourne, and everywhere, gardens are bursting forth with beautiful coloured blooms in a profusion of colours after winter. It was a cold and overcast morning, but that broke up and the afternoon I took this photo, it was glorious sunshine and blue skies and I enjoyed a stroll in the warm sunshine. Along my stroll, I stopped to photograph the rose garden of a house that I have dubbed "Rose Cottage" because of their wonderful profusion of roses planted throughout their front garden. This beautiful "Alpine Sunset" bloom was standing apart from many other blooms, and was crying out to be captured within my camera's lens.
"Alpine Sunset" is an apricot blend hybrid tea rose developed by Roger Pawsey of Cants of Colchester, in Essex, in 1973. The cultivar was introduced into Great Britain in 1974. The colours of this rose are stunning as it goes from orange to pink and golden yellow - just like a painted sunset. It has extremely large buds which is quite rare for a variety that stays reasonably short. It is sweetly scented. Roger Pawsey developed the new rose variety, "Alpine Sunset" from hybrid tea roses, "Dr. A.J. Verhage" and Irish Gold (also known as "Grandpa Dickson"). "Alpine Sunset" was used to develop two child plants: '"Pretty Lady" in 1997 and '"ardley Baroque" somewhere shortly before 1997.
My "Gold Medal" hybrid tea rose is always the first to bloom in my rose garden every year. Now I know that spring is finally here. It looks like I will have a fine showing looking at all the buds about to burst out in the first flush of blooms.
The "Gold Medal" hybrid tea rose was first bred in 1982 in the United States by Jack Christensen, and later introduced to market by Armstrong Nursery. Jack is the youngest rose breeder to develop an All-American rose and he is credited with hybridising over eighty different types of roses. This rose was created by crossing elements from the roses Granada, Garden Party, and Yellow Pages. The result is a gorgeous yellowish rose that has rich copper accents, that ultimately fades to a soft cream color.
Spring has finally come to Melbourne, and everywhere, gardens are bursting forth with beautiful coloured blooms in a profusion of colours after winter. It was a cold and overcast morning, but that broke up and this afternoon is glorious sunshine and blue skies and I enjoyed standing in the warm sunshine, photographing my rose garden.
I took an afternoon stroll in the winter sunshine yesterday, and I walked past a rose bush I have always admired. Sadly, it was hacked at by the new owners of the house, yet it seems to be springing back, and is well enough to send forth some blooms this year! This single bush displays roses in shades of pale yellow with pink edges, vibrant pink, carmine and orange. The former owner whom I met one day before she moved away) wass unsure of its origins, as it was part of the garden when she bought the property, however after I first saw it, I did some research to try and find out what it is. I think it is a Desert Peace rose. Bathed in beautiful sunshine the vibrant bloom was too beautiful not to photograph.
The “Desert Peace” rose is a hybrid tea rose with yellow blend blooms, with pink edges. It was produced by Meilland International in France in 1991.
Yes, spring is in the air, as winter in Melbourne makes a reluctant retreat. Tuesday was a beautifully day with big blue skies and glorious sunshine, although it was and remains rather chilly for this time of year with a iciness in the air as you inhale it whilst on a walk like I took.
Although autumn has now well and truly given way to winter here in Melbourne, there is still a great deal of colour around if you remember to take your time, stop and smell the roses, like this glorious red Papa Meilland bloom which I saw on a walk one sunny winter's day.
The day I took this photo was a lovely and sunny day with bright blue skies: an unusually warm day for winter, although there was a crispness in the air if you were out of the sun. I thought I'd go for a walk and take advantage of the sunny conditions, as rain arrived the evening after.
Papa Meilland is a magnificent French hybrid tea rose. Named in honour of a Doyen in the rose breeding world by his Grandson, the now famous Allain Meilland, Papa Meilland has dark, velvety crimson coloured petals and a magnificent, strong, old rose fragrance. This rose was bred in France and introduced in 1963.
ROSIE: "Oh Scout! I feel sooo sorry for mijn prins Peter! He has hurt his paw whilst exercising and now he is sad. He feels inadequate because he can't take care of me whilst he is hurt."
SCOUT: "And I know mijn beste vriend Peter misses you and me too! Poor Peter!"
ROSIE: "If only there was something we could do to make him feel better." *Thinks.*
SCOUT: "Hhhmmm..." *Thinks.* "Aha! I've got it!"
ROSIE: "What did you think of, Scout?"
SCOUT: "Why don't we go in the garden and pick him a flower. I know mijn beste vriend loves flowers. It will cheer him up!"
ROSIE: "Oh what a good idea! Mijn prins Peter will be sooo much happier after we give him a flower! Let's go look in the garden right now!"
SCOUT and ROSIE: *Go into the garden.*
ROSIE: "Oh it's autumn here, Scout so there are only slim pickings when it comes to flowers."
SCOUT: "Oh don't give in so easily, Rosie! Your prins Peter wouldn't want you to give up at the first sign of a hurdle! Be a tenacious bear like me. I'm sure it will pay off! Let's split up and see if we can find a flower for Peter!"
SCOUT and ROSIE: *Go hunting in high up and low down places for the perfect flower for Peter.*
SCOUT: "Rosie! Rosie! Come here!"
ROSIE: "What is it, Scout?"
SCOUT: "I think I found the perfect flower for mijn beste vriend and your prins, Peter!"
ROSIE: "Oooohhh! Let me see!" *Peers over Scout;s shoulder.* "Oh! It's a pretty white rose!"
SCOUT: "Yes, and it smells pretty too!"
ROSIE: "How perfect! I will kiss its petals with lots of soft snuffly kisses for mijn prins Peter!"
SCOUT: "And I will add lots of big little bear hugs and snuffly kisses too!"
ROSIE: "Oh! Oh yes!" *Claps paws.* "That will make peter feel so much better!"
SCOUT: "See mijn beste vriend! This rose is especially for you from Rosie and me! We hope that it cheers you up, and you can get ready to celebrate King's Day! Ik hou zoooooo veel van jou! Berenkusjes van Scout, je allerbeste vriend!"
ROSIE: "See mijn prins Peter! We have a beautiful rose just for you to make you feel better! Once you have rested your paw, everything will be fine! I love you mijn prins! I am sending you lots of soft snuffly kisses." *Blushes red beneath pink woollen fur.* "Heel veel berenkusjes voor mijn prins Peter!"
My bears Paddy and Scout have made very good friends with two bears in Holland called Peter and Oleg (www.flickr.com/photos/40262251@N03/galleries/721577154558...) and their Mummy (www.flickr.com/photos/66094586@N06/) . Peter and Scout are very similar and have become best friends. Peter loves Rosie and Rosie loves Peter, so they have become prince and princess to one another. Poor Peter has hurt his paw whilst exercising. he overdid thing a little on the horizontal bar. You can see by clicking here: www.flickr.com/photos/66094586@N06/52843485875/in/datepos... or by viewing it in the first comment below. I think this Elina rose from my garden, the last of this season as we move into autumn here, given with love from Scout and Rosie, will make Peter feel ever so much better!
Scout was a gift to Paddy from my friend. He is a Fair Trade Bear hand knitted in Africa. His name comes from the shop my friend found him in: Scout House. He tells me that life was very different where he came from, and Paddy is helping introduce him to many new experiences. Scout catches on quickly, and has proven to be a cheeky, but very lovable member of our closely knit family.
Rosie is Scout's cousin, because like Scout, she is a free trade knitted bear from Africa. She was made in Kenya by one of the Kenana Knitters, Martha Wanjira. She is made from home spun and dyed wool. She was a gift to me from two very dear friends, includng the one who gave Scout to Paddy.
Summer has come to an end here in Melbourne, where I live. It was late in getting here after a long and grey winter, and one of the wettest springs on record. Now it is gone, giving way to wat promises to be a beautiful autumn. Beautiful blooms are still appearing in the gardens around me, bursting forth in profusion and in beautiful colours. This includes my Papa Meilland rose bush.
Papa Meilland is a magnificent French hybrid tea rose. Named in honour of a Doyen in the rose breeding world by his Grandson, the now famous Allain Meilland, Papa Meilland has dark, velvety crimson coloured petals and a magnificent, strong, old rose fragrance. This rose was bred in France and introduced in 1963. I have two of these bushes in my front garden, and although white roses are my favourite type of rose, the Papa Meilland rose would come a very close second!
