“Where have you been,” says ‘Sophy’s Rose’ as I bend over her to drag out some weeds.
I feel guilt wash over me.
“I’ve been busy.” I try not to look at her, but she clutches at me with her prickles so that I have to remove them one by one. Roses beckon with their beautiful faces, but they never want to let go. I continue weeding and try to ignore her.
“It’s been over two months since you’ve come by. You’ve been out with Susan again haven’t you? Or, is it Becky this time?” I jump back in surprise and snag myself. Dang it. ‘Sophy’s Rose’ is too smart for her own good. She’s referring to Rudbeckia fulgia ‘Goldsturm’, black-eyed Susan. Becky is Leucanthemum × superbum ‘Becky’, a shasta daisy cultivar whose sunny personality helps carry the garden through the long, hot summer.
“You think we don’t see you, but we do. You visit Becky and Susan almost every morning and night along with that pink Phox paniculata. She’s just common,” says ‘Buff Beauty’, in a huff, from the other side of the border.
How on earth do they know? They can’t possibly see over the deck into the tiered beds, can they?
As if reading my thoughts, ‘Cl. Cecile Brunner’ snorts, “We have our spies. the David Austins are in that part of the garden. You think they don’t share your whereabouts?”
“Look, I’m here now, and I’ve got some nice, organic rose food for your roots. I’m deadheading your spent blooms. What else do you want from me?”
“We want you to spend time with us. We were your first love. Remember?” pleads ‘Golden Slippers’, “What happened? You’ve changed.”
I clip and throw dead blooms over the edge of the retaining wall. Why am I so blase about the roses’ care anymore? A drop of sweat rolls down from my hair into my face. I take off my gardening hat and wipe it out of my eyes with a corner of my t-shirt. It’s 98F and climbing. I’m hot. My clothes are snagged, and I have wicked scratches on my legs and arms.
“I always get the worst of our affair, and I’m no masochist. Other flowers don’t tear at me, and pull my hair.”
“Whoa,” says ‘Baseye’s Blueberry, “I’m not into any of the kinky stuff. I got no thorns.” He fluffs his stems as if to emphasize the point.
“Me neither,” says ‘Zephirine Drouhin’, “Little good it did me.”
“True ZD, but somewhere your partner on the arbor picked up a nasty rose disease. I think it was Rose Rosette. Although it isn’t listed in Oklahoma, I know that’s what it was. He had to go, as did one shrub of ‘New Dawn’.”
“She just killed them,” cries ‘Cliffs of Dover’ “who will be next?” He shakes so hard, his black-spotted leaves fall like confetti around his waist.
“Oh, Cliffie, stop that. No one is going to kill you. You’re a shrub rose. Other than the blackspot, you are great,” I say, tipping up one of his blooms with my gloved fingers. “At the back of the border, you support all the other plants. Besides, who could keep company with the purple crapemyrtles except you? Let’s be clear. I didn’t kill those roses. Disease did them in. I just had to dig them out. Oy, my aching back.”
“Your aching back? What about my leaves? I have spider mites,” says ‘Cramoisi Superieur’, and I’m being crowded by the common phlox.”
“I have mildew,” says ‘Julia Child’, “and this weather makes me feel like I’m in an overheated kitchen!”
“Stop it! See what I mean, I just don’t have time for all of your prima donna ways anymore. Some of you don’t give much throughout summer. Instead, you just sit and complain while other plants take up the slack.”
“Yet, you’re still here,” says ‘Valentine’ in his velvety rich, red voice. He wafts a bit of his spectacular perfume under my nose. “I bet your prairie plants don’t have this.”
“‘Valentine’, that’s not playing fair,” I insist.
“All’s fair in love and war,” says ‘Marchesa Boccella’ the pink dimpled beauty, as she blows me a perfumed kiss.
“You do still love us don’t you?”asks ‘Altissimo’ as he leans from his lofty perch to touch my hair.
“I will again in September,” I sigh, “once the heat is gone, and you start to bloom again.” And I know I will.
All the pictures which accompany this post were taken in May when the roses are at their height of beauty in Oklahoma. Except for shrub roses and some of the newer cultivars, roses don’t bloom much in summer. However, in mid-September, they will have a renaissance when temperatures again cool. In Oklahoma, as throughout much of the country, we are seeing soaring temperatures of 100F and over. Yesterday, in town, it was 107F. However, at my country place, it was a balmy 103F.
It’s funny, I have felt so guilty when I go out to water my roses. They look so pitiful having suffered black spot to the point of nakedness of leaves. It is so durn hot outside that I just water the flowers, pick the garden and run back in the air condition house!
I love the way you wrote your post. It was great!
Kelly
I remembered to run the hose today on the last rose left in my garden and brushed the cobwebs off the leaves and deadheaded the old blooms for a possible fall show. Unlike your roses, she was too depressed to speak.
Fun! I think I’d be censored if I logged my plants’ comments right now. Here’s it’s not quite as balmy as at your place, but close enough. I ignore the whimperings in the garden for now.
What a fun story, Dee! I’m sure if roses could talk, they would sound just like this. I’m sure you’ll pick up your love affair with them again this September–you have so many lovelies they’re just too hard to resist.
My whole garden must be gossiping behind my back about my neglect this summer. Between family activities and this heat wave, it’s not getting the attention it deserves.
Very cute story. I enjoyed this post very much. Your roses are beautiful and, I tend agree with them, they should not be ignored. But how could you. They are a demanding bunch, very loudly letting the gardener know when they are unhappy. I tented a couple of miniatures because they were really griping about the heat. I need to take some of your advice.
Amusing post, I cant imagine it being that hot here, I wouldnt be going near my garden at all if it was. I wonder why we see roses as more demanding than other plants, I treat mine the same as others quick prune and feed and they do OK
I’ve turned a deaf ear to my roses’ whining … although I did Otto van Linne a quick nip here & there today. None of them are happy with me OR with this heat!
Dee, love it! Tell all the roses “Hey from Carol” and see if they don’t gossip about how few roses I have. Oh, wait, they probably won’t, they all seem kind of whiny and needy and self-centered right now and probably aren’t thinking about other roses outside of their view. But they should be grateful to have someone like you to take care of them!
This is a delightful post Dee. I don’t blame those roses for being whiny in those temps. Be careful outside in those temps. Can’t be good for woman or beast.
Very cute and delightful, Dee. H.
Thanks so my Helen. I try.
What a delightful and amusing post, Dee! Don’t the roses understand about the heat? Poor gardener, working to keep everyone happy. We know about the alure of the carefree susans and becky as well. And had to dig out one of the Moonlights with the same awful disease. But we will always love you, roses! Several of the ones you name live here, and will be appreciated when the coolness arrives Do take care of yourself in that heat! 🙂
Thanks Frances. Yes, we’ll all just hunker down until the oppressive heat is past.
Nicely done. Have you considered using EarthKind Roses? Even though they are certified in Texas, they are very hardy and need only water and a yearly fertilizer to survive.
Hi Stephanie, yes, I have several EarthKind roses, and I think I wrote a post about them awhile back. They are great for our climate too. I was just being silly. The disease resistant roses had nothing to complain about I guess.
So delightful and made me laugh out loud! gail
I’m so glad Gail. That’s what I was trying for.
That was fun! I just got Sophy’s Rose myself. We will have to compare notes next year.
I’d like to hear how cold tolerant Sophy is in your garden.
Hi Dee, I loved reading this post about romance in the garden 🙂 Stay cool while you wait for fall’s renaissance!
Cyndy, I am trying to stay cool, but wow, it’s been hot hasn’t it?
My smile o’ the morning. I do enjoy your stories!
Daricia, I’m so glad you enjoy them.
I’m so glad my plants can’t talk back! Your Roses are prima donnas, but they deserve to be.
MMD, you just don’t hear them. LOL.
Loved this visit through the Looking Glass, Dee. It seems so natural to anthropomorphize roses! I swear ‘Belinda’s Dream’ digs those thorns in on purpose to punish me for not visiting often enough, but she’s so tough I’m considering planting a second one 10-ft away from the first. Maybe they’ll both be nicer when they can talk to a sister?
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Annie, I have two ‘Belinda’s Dream’ roses, and I love them both. Maybe they could have a sister chat across the bed at your place.~~Dee
Oh dear, the drama at your place.
That reminds me, I haven’t been in my side yard for a while. I wonder who’s mad at me in there….
Yes, it’s a real soap opera around here.~~Dee
I love it.
Thanks Im so glad to be able to read your blog again. Yeah lOVE MOM
Thanks Mom.
Wonderful! Beautiful. Hilarious! You put into words what I’ve always felt when I face my poor neglected garden.
Thanks so much MSS, yes, I feel guilty, but as you know, a gardener only has so much time and stamina. 😉 ~~Dee