Stellar performers

I've devoted quite a bit of "ink" in this blog to 'Red Galaxy', a rose that I grew from seed and to which I  gave a descriptive name.  In turn, I grew another rose (unnamed) from seed that I obtained from 'Red Galaxy'.  The two roses are now growing side-by-side in my backyard rose bed.  Here they are in photos that I took today -- unnamed seedling on the left, and 'Red Galaxy' on the right.  Note the state-of-the-art weather station in the foreground.

Unnamed seedling

'Red Galaxy'

Close-up photos of respective blooms are shown below.  Important note:  I've been tracking the unnamed seedling from its "birth" in a photo documentary that you can see just by clicking on the TAB at the top of this blog, the one labeled "A rose seedling grows up".

Unnamed seedling

'Red Galaxy'

A stitch in time

The weather has finally turned mild, so the roses are making up for lost time with a welcome display of blooms.  My favorite spot by the side of the backyard rose bed has a perfect view of a vigorous group of rose bushes (ranging from 5 to 7 feet tall), most of which I grew from seed.  I can best share the experience with you by "stitching" together 2 horizontal close-up photos to form a vertical stack that shows the view from ground to highest bloom.  What looks like grass in the photo below is really a spreading form of wild "Irish moss" (it makes a very nice living "mulch").   I've also added a second BONUS photo, taken later today, to acknowledge a garden visitor sure to bring good luck -- a petite dragonfly.

A favorite view

A welcome guest

It's been a while

It's been 5 months since my last post, and I hope that I haven't lost my blogging touch.  Below are two photos that show how my rose garden has evolved to what it is today.  The first photo shows the rose garden just starting to take shape (October 12, 2009), and the second photo was taken today (May 11, 2018).  Remember that most of my roses have been grown from seed, the first ones being "born" in 2008 and 2009.  Look closely at the first photo; you will see an orange oval around a particular rose seedling located close to the lawn border (click on the photo to enlarge it).

October 12,  2009

Today  (May 11,  2018)

So what's so special about the rose in the orange oval?   Well, it's the first to have an open bloom this year, for which I am extremely grateful.  It's hidden by all of the foliage seen in today's photo above, but it didn't escape my attention.  There it is in the two photos below, a proud seedling having the 'Queen Elizabeth' rose as its parent.  The seedling was "born" on April 4, 2009, and was just 6 months old in the October 12th photo.

Buried in the foliage of
a 9 year old rose bush

A closeup