The second flush of roses here occurs in early June. This year's award for the fastest, biggest and best goes, as usual, to 'Belinda's Dream', surprising in that BD really only gets going with the heat of summer. Her biggest and best flushes are yet to come!
'Belinda's Dream':
Surprise second this year to 'Medallion' which has long suffered from a poor location; first, under an enormous 'Madame Alfred Carriere', then under the nearly as big 'Sombreuil'. This year I hacked 'Sombreuil' back in preparation for digging out 'Medallion', since it seemed hopeless. Of course, faced with Mr. Shovel, 'Medallion' bounced back. The first flush was good, the second even better. 'Medallion is a tall, awkward grower, usually with an enthusiastic case of powdery mildew, but the flowers are enormous and billowy. When they are good, they are fantastic. Worth the wait and the too-brief period of perfection, to me, at least.
Rosa 'Medallion':
Even Mr. Shovel, given flowers like those, is happy to refrain.
I don't know how it happens, but every year I manage to find exactly one Plectranthus argentea seedling to replace the one I pulled out the year before. Its lanky habit allows it to perfectly mix in with this and that. 2010's this and that is Hydrangea 'Ayesha'. Classic pink and silver.
I love Belinda's Dream. It is one of my favorite roses!
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