I am so glad I decided to keep this wild rose bush standing. The spring we moved back to our house in the roses, I removed about 5 or 6 rose bushes from the garden... these were roses that had become wild... however, on wanting to experiment with one and see what'd happen, I left this one standing. Later, that spring I started training it up the wall. And I am so glad I did what I did. For what a beautiful, beautiful display they are at the beginning of the spring!
These are what came out of my original roses, which were grafted onto Dr. Huey rootstock which sends out incredibly long canes like a rambler...
They grow and grow and grow such big canes. This rose blooms only once, and after its done putting on its flowers in early spring, it is done until the following year. It is no rose for a garden for sure and I should had removed it that spring, as I did with the rest of all those roses which had reverted back to Dr. Huey...
...but even without flowers for the rest of the year, I thought their green leaves would have to be better than looking at a bared big wall. And I was right!
...what a show they are at the beginning of spring!
One thing I have noticed with these roses is, they have an unfortunate tendency to mildew, and as it has been, this is my fourth time treating them thus far... they do respond to treatment, but what a shame it is to see the beautiful blood-red buds belittled under such infestation.
Birds love to built their homes in this area of the garden, they come and go and babies are born here as if it is a magical garden... because, well, I really think it is!
And the secret garden bloomed and bloomed and every morning revealed new miracles (Frances Hodgson Burnett