Roses
/I have two rose bushes that came with my house. They have not fared well during the winters. I’ve trimmed out dead stems each spring and am tempted to trim the bushes back in this fall - to create the chance for a more regular shape for next year. The stems are probably from the root stock rather than the more ornamental rose that was grafted to it since the roses look mostly wild – without the layers of petals of ornamentals. Still – they have simple beauty. Sometimes I cut one for a windowsill vase even though the stems are short and they have little fragrance.
I find myself photographing spent blooms too. It is interesting how the color changes as the flowers fade. Sometimes the red deepens and other times it becomes almost pink…before they turn brown and brittle. And the petals curl into interesting shapes as well.
There have been times I have been tempted to dig out both bushes and plant some native in their place – but it won’t be this year!
