MY ROSES - "Fi to Fr"

FILIPES "KIFTSGATE": Old Rambler introduced in United Kingdom by E. Murrell in 1954. A huge rambler that we have growing up into our cedar trees next to Paul's Himalayan Musk. It is slightly behind PHM in bloom time, but there is a period when they are both out together and the fragrance from them en-mass is wonderful. Pictures of Paul's Himalayan Musk can be viewed from "My Roses alphabetical list" in the side bar on the right here. As with most ramblers, the bloom time is just once, but so worth that four week "rush". They are both truly a sight to behold and garden visitors are blown away by these two beautiful ramblers. The trusses of Kiftsgate are enormous, hundreds of little flowers on one stem. One cut stem makes a wonderful bouquet on it's own and I am really anxious to share these photos of this magnificent rose. The colour is milky white and each single flower is shaped like a little cup. For more information on this rose you may see it at the website of Kiftsgate Court Garden. http://www.kiftsgate.co.uk/kiftsgaterose.shtml Please click on images.

FERDINAND PICHARD: Hybrid Perpetual. Bred in France by Remi Tanne. 1920. I really like this rose, the fragrance, which is strong and it's overall performance in the garden. I enjoy the rich burgundy and light pink to white stripes and find it most attractive. It also looks great in a vase with mixed roses or other flowers. Pretty well never without blooms and very prolific.

FLOWER CARPET: Shrub - also known as a ground cover rose. Bred by Werner Noack. 1988 in Germany. My Flower Carpet roses have been standard or tree roses. I have had four for several years and they have put on a delightful show going down one side of our driveway alternating with red leaved Japanese flowering plum trees. We were quite proud of them, but one by one, with the sheer weight of the heads, three of them have snapped. and bent right over, one completely was decapitated. Very sad. The two with broken necks still have survived, goodness knows how, but they only look very unattractive in the winter without there leaves and blooms, otherwise they are still living. One is still with it's head. Poor souls. When we redo our front garden, I would love to purchase some more, but only if we can get the nice height of the standards we have - high enough for the deer to to be unable to reach. Anyway here is a picture of one in it's hay day. When we do replace them, we will be more diligent in keeping the head quite light or at the very least, well supported. As you can see, they get nice large trusses of mildly fragrant bright deep pink blooms.

FREDERICK MISTRAL: Hybrid Tea. Bred by Alain Meilland in France. 1995. This rose is gorgeous and has everything going for it, in my opinion. Luscious pink, sometimes dusty looking, depending on temperatures, I think. Intensely strong fragrance to die for. Very prolific and vigorous. Flowers are of beautiful form and born singularly and in small clusters on long stems. An all round great rose - and a photographer's dream rose too!! :)

Below, three Frederic Mistral blooms with Pretty Jessica center right and complimentary Amber Queen.

Thank you for looking. Pauline.