The roses are making their presence felt in the garden. This is the first rose Kourosh planted, Pierre de Ronsard.
It was a complete unknown to us as unfledged gardeners but it is a very popular rose. People here often think it is an old variety because it is named after the poet Pierred de Ronsard who lived four hundred years ago and wrote the famous poem “Mignonne, allons voir si la rose”. He looks at the fragility of the rose and encourages life to be taken while it can and be enjoyed – advice that holds good today.
In fact, this rose was created by the rose grower, Louisette Meilland in the 1980’s.
Phyllis Bede was created earlier by the rose grower Bede in 1923.
Despite the small size of the flowers, this rose charms her way into the hearts of her admirers.
The rose that is in its glory now is flowering well in a shady place under trees and also on a hedge in full sun. It is the oldest hybrid of all three previous roses, being created in 1909 by the German rose grower Schmidt. Veilchenblau means blue violet in German which is a clearly descriptive name.
The rose perfumes its surroundings.
It attracts the bees to gather its pollen so I can enjoy the perfume as I take my photographs.
This rose has no name but flowers continuously from now until the winter. It has a just perceptable fragrance but it the best rose to cut and has a beautiful shape of petals.
Kourosh has taken a cutting of this rose just in case of disasters.
If the rose flowers do not have a long life the peonies have an even shorter spell of glory. Mme Emile Debatene is an elegant, feminine peony.
My red peonies have no name and owe their existance to a moment of weakness in our local supermarket. I have no idea of the name but she is a blowsy, hot bloom that needs an exotic name.
I was glad to note that the peonies share their pollen with the bees too. This bumble bee had fallen asleep on the job and I took the photograph as she looked so cute.
Her nap was shortly disturbed by a curious hoverfly who could not be satisfied by one of the other peonies that were free.
Which all goes to show that even in the countryside, inside a peony flower – you are not free from unwanted disturbance.
a french garden 