New Old Roses

They arrived yesterday, very nicely packed and wrapped, safe home from the local post office.  They had fresh foliage with little crumbs of soil strewn over it and plenty of moisture.

Three tiny plants, my first antique rose varieties for this garden.  I learned recently that once-blooming roses can grow and bloom well here in the low desert, and the die was cast.  (I had been concerned that they would bloom too late and be roasted by June weather; but apparently that fear was groundless, in which case it will be nice to have some varieties that are scheduled to rest during the worst of summer.) The final decisive factor was finding a supplier that carried my beloved Common Moss rose.

Without making a long and tragic tale out of it, I had grown the Common Moss for years in my previous garden until, with a good many other plants, it was torn up by the roots as a result of one day's devestating misunderstanding of directions with our then lawn care specialist.  Although I attempted to replant some things, many were lost, including my moss rose.  The whole incident was quite upsetting, many plants went unreplaced, and I never really regained my excitement over the garden until I moved here and began anew.

The Common Moss (also known as "Communis") has remained in my memory as the one rose which I most wished to grow again.  Its small, richly quartered blooms, powder pink, filled early summer with the sweetest fragrance.

Despite my own enthusiasm, however, I've had difficulty finding old rose specialists that still grow it.  But back in January I discovered High Country Roses of Denver, CO, with an excellent reputation on Dave's Garden.com.  I went over to HCR's site and found the Common Moss available in their list for this season; I promptly decided to place my order.  Happily, they were able to ship in good time for low desert planting, despite the seasonal differences between Phoenix and Denver.

So Communis will once again be part of my garden, sited at the east end of the Rose Border.  I must clear this spring's crop of mallow weeds to make the extension, but that will be easier with this wonderful plant waiting!

To fill out the order (my excuse, at any rate!) I added two other varieties, neither of which have I grown before.  The Alba "Madame Plantier" is to go into the new Silver and White Garden outside the dining room.  As you can see, it is expected to grow large and will hopefully fill a good swatch just beneath and beyond the apricot tree.

The other rose is slightly smaller, a typical trait of the old Gallica it is.  This is "Belle de Crecy", expected to be light crimson, aging to smoky purple.  I have a spot saved for her in the North Border.

I had hoped to try some Rugosas this spring, but the varieties I was looking for were not on offer, and on the whole I am quite pleased with my selections.  Each is own-root, which has so far proved a very good choice for roses here.  These are very young plants so it will be a season or two before there is much to be seen, but it's a good way to start.

Now to plant them!   I am so looking forward to having the beauty, character, and fragrance of these old varieties around the garden.

Weather Diary: Sunny; High: 83 F (28 C)/Low: 50 F (10 C)