Tag Archives: Old Blush

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.

Spring rain at the rancho

Nice shower in progress, aiding the grass already greening from the previous heavy rain. The catkins littering the patio, sidewalk, and pool deck, however, will get soaked and leach brown stain everywhere. Also may knock some of the petals off the heavily-blooming pink Old Blush. Always a downside. The blooms wouldn’t be in such profusion without the rain, but the rain hinders the blooms. Oxalis, or Wood Sorrel, a cool weather perennial, is nicely rioting in dark pink. And the misnamed Pink Evening Primrose (it blooms all day) is abundant under the Zephirine Drouhin which is well budded but not quite ready to bloom. So we’re pretty in pink and green, and awaiting the white and red roses to come.

Thunderflies

The antique roses are budding like crazy, even Zephirine Drouhin, which has taken a leisurely four years to finally get settled, has thirty or more buds on it. Old Blush, always prolific, is already blooming away. But nature ain’t a greenhouse. Here come the thrips (also called thunderflies) to chew their way through a bud or five. We must await salvation: the ladybugs who will eat the thrips.