I've always loved Roses but they haven't loved my care. I tried and tried but to no avail...they would die...with the exception of Mr. B's Yellow Rose which I defined as "Sandy does not touch"...I posted some photos of it here and as you can see it does very well with that rule!
I'd first seen these red Roses at my oldest daughter's in Kyle, Texas. I watched as these roses bloomed from early Spring through the heat of Summer and without fail they were never barren. I watched as the owners really treated them with benign care...hmmmm sounded like my kinda Rose!
I inquired about them from the owner and then again at their local nurseries. THEY ARE DOUBLE KNOCK OUT ROSES! Remember that name, and they come in several colors! They will grow to a height and width of 3 to 4 feet with dense foliage and lots of blooms! The price there was an average of $25.00 for a "small" one....for me that's pricey...and besides how would I ever get it home...we ALWAYS take the train from Fort Worth to San Marcos - that's another story cause WE LOVE TRAINS!
I chatted with Mr. B about these Roses while I was in Kyle....my dear love looked around here, found them on sale, called me inquiring about what was my favorite color and then he bought these two Rose bushes for me last year and they were on SALE $14.99 each. They were waiting for me in my garden area when I returned and I was thrilled!
This is one of the first two Roses he gave me.
This is the second of the first two Roses he gave me.Now may I introduce 5 of their 6 babies!
HOORAY! I found a Rose that I can not only grow BUT propagate as well! These 5 babies were started during the hottest part of last Summer.
HOW'D I DO THAT?
I made cuttings on branches that had bloomed, at a joint where I left a 5 leafed branch on the Momma Rose. Then I dipped the cuttings in water and again in Rooting Hormone, placed them in Miracle Grow Potting Soil, in a clay pot with a saucer always filled with water. I placed them under a Crepe Myrtle tree in the morning sun with noon to evening shade....
Then I waited...at 3 weeks they were snug in the potting soil when I gave a gentle tug...first indication that they've started to root...
Then I waited some more...at 6 weeks they were ready to be transplanted to a holding garden...again morning sun and afternoon shade with dappled sunlight after 4pm...They over Wintered with snow and ice...remember last Winter? I know I'd prefer to forget it as well. But there they sat...with no preferential care...
Then this Spring I started watching these babies....one is very slow to grow...but it hanging in there...no photos as it's so small it hard to see in the photo...but it's there I promise.
The other 5 were growing and now they are full of buds and blooms are opening!
So...to move or not to move from the holding garden? They are happy and I find it is easier to plant abound them...the fence is covered with Yellow Honeysuckle, Carolina Creeper and Red Trumpet Vine so I pulled weeds for a couple of hours, threw in some Thrift bulbets, transplanted some other perennials and now I wait.
You'll notice in the photos I don't get too uptight about weeds. I pull what I can after a rain shower because they're easier to get out of the soil...and I tend to allow Mother Nature to take over...as I'm just the guardian of her flowering plants.
But so as not to pass up another opportunity for more Red Roses...I've started 3 more...they'll go in existing gardens or in areas that just need a pop of color.
I know this is a wordy post but I hope you enjoyed it and got some tips that will help you try to do the same!
