Category Archives: Antique Roses

Souvenir de la Malmaison

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This was one of the first antique roses I planted at the rancho. To commemorate my Mississippi great great grandmother who had one in her dooryard. But I never took a decent shot of ours, and a neighbor’s use of too much herbicide, apparently, wiped it out last summer. Having to use this Australian site’s photo of a bloom because the replacement plant, which I finally got around to planting was run over the other day and chewed up by the landscaper’s lawnmower. It’s reliable and it will come back from the roots, and I’ll get my own photo, but it may not be until next spring.

Zephirine Drouhin

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Something to brighten the day. The Bourbon antique Zephirine Drouhin at the rancho.

The Knockout rose

Mrs. Charm heard about these Radrazz beauties from a favorite local radio talker and planted two of them next to a couple of tall Mr. Lincoln hybrids in the back forty. The hybrids, oddly enough, have a scent, whereas the Knockouts, although also repeat bloomers, do not.

Still, with six fragrant antiques (Old Blush, Ducher, Louis Philippe, Souvenir de la Malmaison, Altissimo, and Zephirine Drouhin) nearby pouring their scent into the air I really shouldn’t complain. Besides, if the Knockouts are as disease resistant as their breeders claim, they’ll keep their color going while the antiques are struggling to replace their dropped, blackspotted leaves.

At least the yellowjackets are gone

The mosquitoes, however, are hanging on, even in the mid-day. I planted a new Bourbon, the Souvenir de Malmaison, shortly after noon today, and wound up with four mosquito bites for my trouble. Hey, it’s already October, and the nights are in the upper fifties. So where’s the fall we usually get around this time? You know, the one where the yellowjackets and mosquitoes give it up for another year? At least we don’t have any kudzu.

Belinda’s Dream

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A reliable repeat bloomer at Rancho Roly Poly, a hybrid developed for disease-resistence and drought-tolerance at Texas A&M University. It is relatively immune to black spot, fungus and mildew. The colors obviously vary.

Spring has sprung

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The wildflowers were up and blowing a month or more ago, but this Bourbon, Zephirine Drouhin, has just figured out the season. It’s been in the ground almost five years. So the display should be better than ever. I thought, last year at this time, that it was established enough to produce some summer and fall blooms. But it didn’t. Maybe this year.

A rose by any other name…

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…tends to die at Rancho Roly Poly, where only the Chinas, like this Ducher, thrive. We have not decided how to pronounce the name but love the white roses which bloom and bloom, in spring, summer and fall, and occasionally in the winter when it’s warm enough. Chinas are just plain hardy, while the other antiques that share their blood, such as Bourbons and Teas, can’t seem to stand the combination of heat, humidity and black spot that’s prevalent in our neck of the woods.