6/2/08

Garden season


I have spent the past few days falling in love with one of our rose bushes.

This bush did not bloom so fully last year. I don't know if it was my extremely inexpert trimming that did the trick, or just the particular quality of the season, but this year it has bloomed to extravagance.

Of all our roses (white, red, fuscia, pink), these are my favorites...with their color like a sunset over the ocean. They also have a perfume so pure it's almost painful - a smell you hardly dare inhale for its briefness and its perfection.

I can see the other bushes preparing for a banner blooming season, dozens and dozens of tight buds ready to unfurl. But this one is my true love, and I felt the need to appreciate and photograph every individual bloom as it opened.


Just look at that perfection. This is a rose utterly languid with the knowledge of its own beauty.


Our largest bush, ready to bloom. This one will be fuscia, and will light up the front of the yard like a christmas tree in another couple of days.

Flowerpots on the stoop.


And strawberries. We planted these last year, and this year they have really showed promise...big, tight green fruit, rife with seeds...

...and then one morning, the first splash of red showing among the flowerbeds.

Here's a closeup. This berrry (and, in fact, all of the berries on this front plant) was eaten by robins today. Only the plants closest the front door are still heavy with fruit. But you know what? I almost don't mind. Just to have grown these fruit is satisfaction enough.

My beloved rose in full sunlight.



Iris, bearded with gold.



I even love the way the allium look after they have gone to seed...like something from the modern art museum!

A typical Colorado summer sky...full of thunderheads!

Actually, our whole neighborhood looks like a garden these days. This house has the flowerbeds that I covet. They must order a gross of bulbs every year. Next year, I aspire to their gardening prowess!

13 comments:

Fliss and Mike Adventures said...

I tell you... that was the one thing that made me fall in love with Colorado... the flowers... as for the rose bush... you can pretty much hack that back and you should be fine... I can't remember the last time I had a rose that 'smelt'... seems like these days roses don't smell as much... I wish I could grow all these kind of flowers back home... take care

M said...

Ooooh - do you know the name of that rose??? It's a beauty!

Juliette said...

Lovely!
I can't believe you already have strawberries...my alliums are just blooming.
Your trip to Vail sounds great. I need to put that place on my to see list.
Hope you guys have a great week!

Barbara said...

I can't wait to see a photo of Flynn squatting by the strawberries, picking them and putting them right in her mouth!

Yoli said...

I lust for that ripeness! I can only grow orchids here. I some times get blooms out of my gardenia plant that I guard so well.She is potted.

kerri said...

The roses are magnificent..

Vivian M said...

I love the way your lion looks like he is keeping watch. Your roses are stunning, and it looks like you have quite the green thumb!
And those strawberries...hide those from Kerri if we ever come visit!

Unknown said...

a lovely post to view and read. the irises are my favorites : ))

Missy said...

You might have already mentioned this before but what camera do you use? Your pictures are so amazingly vivid. I would love to take shots like that.

I just discovered your blog a few days ago and I an mesmerized by your pictures. You have an amazing talent!

Carrie said...

wow I never have seen such wonderful flowers or maybe it is the way you take the picture-thanks for brighting my day!

Alyson and Ford said...

Beautiful photos, Gorgeous flowers! You make me jealous!!

Alyson LID 01/27/06 IA China

Duchess of Lanier said...

I second all of the comments above! Love your garden! You inspire me to go take more photos. Alas, Melissa, I, too, need a new camera however trying to wait until closer to travel to get it. But why???
Thanks for the inspiration!

LL is waiting with Flynn

Anonymous said...

Dear Maia;
Absolutely gorgeous and we have the same taste in flowers as in colour! Your post reminded me that when I was preparing to go get Elinor Rose Xu YaTing the flowers bloomed in my house, even though it was only winter! At my mom and dad's their miniature rose bush bloomed lovely pink roses and at my house the passion flowers bloomed! It felt as though the plant universe was picking up the positive energy of the adoption and celebrating too. I think you can see where I'm going with this story... : )
ps Have to tease you that you are gushing over PINK roses. Though to be fair they have that all important peachy-orange heart.