Climbing Roses After Pruning, Then In Full Bloom

January 2014.  I cut back 'Sombreuil' very hard this year.  I was thinking very hard about digging it out.  I don't like the way I've arranged it with half of it sweeping over the front door and half of it onto the balcony railing, but that's not the rose's fault--it's mine. 
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April 2014.  It seems to like being cut back hard. 
Rosa 'Sombreuil' photo 
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Here's a more flattering angle:
Rosa 'Sombreuil' photo 4-9-5308_zps72c0e257.jpg

Rosa 'Sombreuil' photo 
4-8-5290_zpsd845ba14.jpgJanuary 2014  I also cut 'Iceberg' back hard.  It was far easier to arrange and manage than 'Sombreuil'.  I'm thinking to replace that 'Sombreuil' with an 'Iceberg'.
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April 2014
Rosa 'Iceberg' photo 4-8-5291_zps96ebb91b.jpg
Still thinking about it.

Comments

  1. Oh My! They obviously liked being cut back hard. So very pretty.

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  2. I'm always timid about cutting back hard, even though all evidence would seem to indicate the plants like it. "Oh Goody, a haircut!"

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    Replies
    1. If the plant is thoroughly established. And not every year.

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  3. Oh my Hoov, I could never part with my Sombreuil ! And in fact, I have eradicated every Iceberg as of last fall--too much blackspot, not an issue in your area I imagine. I never saw it 'in person' til I moved to Norcal. But I do love my Sombreuil..mine is on a fence, trained horizontally..

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    Replies
    1. Sombreuil is not the problem, it's the location. I do have another in the veggie patch. No, disease on 'Iceberg' is not an issue here.

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  4. What makes you want to replace 'Sombreuil' with 'Iceberg'? I remember gorgeous drifts of 'Sombreuil' in your photos in earlier years' posts of this rose area. I guess I don't share your dissatisfaction with its position and training over your door, in fact, I thought it was one of the loveliest climbing rose displays I've seen in the US!

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    Replies
    1. You are too kind!

      Iceberg: 1/3 the size, twice the flowers. Sombreuil is more impressive but has a lot of down time. Iceberg never rests. And I won't be able to climb a 15' extension ladder forever.

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