The first rose has just arrived in the little garden. This was not planned. But how could I resist? A local garden center had just received a shipment, and the price was right, and ...well... they were roses.
Most were old classics: Peace, Mister Lincoln, even Chrysler Imperial. And the mid-century lavender hybrid tea, the first important lavender rose in commerce: Sterling Silver.
Sterling Silver has the typical hybrid tea form so well loved since 1912, when the elegant "Ophelia" won the hearts of rose lovers. Slender, vase-shaped buds and high centered flowers bloom on long stems. Sterling Silver adds to these characteristics a light ruffling of the petal edges and a full, citrus fragrance. (In my limited experience, it seems that a high percentage of lavender roses have a strong fragrance. I would like to know whether anyone else has observed this?)
I grew Sterling Silver once before and did not find it overly vigorous; but this new bush looks good and sturdy, and I no longer have to contend with significant cold. So I am giving it some garden space in order to enjoy those wonderful blooms.
In particular, I am trying to use lavender tones as a basic color component in this garden - a way to control the inevitable clash of desert yellow and garden pink. So I had an excellent excuse to choose this lavender-colored rose.
But who needs any excuse to enjoy this?
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