My roses are at their peak and looking absolutely splendid this year - I hope you all saw some of the beautiful arrangements on my Instagram page @MarthaStewart48.
I've been growing roses for more than 30 years. Many of my rose cultivars were transplanted from the gardens at Lily Pond, my former home in East Hampton, New York. Earlier this week, I shared images of some of my David Austin roses growing behind my main greenhouse - all highly prized for their lovely petal formations and beautiful fragrances. I also have roses planted along both sides of my lilac allée, around my vegetable garden, at my pergola, and in the perennial flower cutting garden - and all are blooming.
Enjoy these photos.
This collection of rose bushes is planted just past my chicken coops and vegetable garden. During late spring and summer, this area is filled with various shades of pink, red, and white fragrant rose blooms.
A rose is a woody perennial flowering plant of the genus Rosa, in the family Rosaceae. There are more than a hundred species and thousands of cultivars.
Roses come in many different colors, such as pink, peach, white, red, magenta, yellow, copper, vermilion, purple, and apricot.
Rose leaves are borne alternately on the stem. In most species, they are about two to five inches long, pinnate, with at least three leaflets and basal stipules. The leaflets also usually have a serrated margin. and remember, rose stems are often armed with sharp prickles, not thorns. A prickle can be easily broken off the plant because it is really a feature of the outer layers rather than part of the wood, like a thorn.
Rose bushes need six to eight hours of sunlight daily. In hot climates, roses do best when they are protected from the hot afternoon sun. In cold climates, planting a rose bush next to a south or west-facing fence or wall can help minimize winter freeze damage.
And be sure to plant them in a location with good drainage. Fertilize them regularly and water them evenly to keep the soil moist.
Among my many favorites is the swirled ‘Variegata di Bologna’ with its large, cupped flowers and petals of creamy white cleanly striped with purple crimson. It is one of the most striking of the striped roses providing a fantastic display in any garden.
Rosa ‘Mme Zoetmans’ is another lovely variety. It has full-petalled, rosette-shaped flowers with a button eye and a strong fragrance.
And here’s one in deep red with delicate ruffled petals.
Rose plants range in size from compact, miniature roses, to climbers that can reach several feet in height.
To produce an impressive show of flowers, always use nutrient-rich compost, composted manure, and other organic and natural fertilizers, such as fish emulsion. Organic amendments also help to encourage beneficial soil microbes and a well-balanced soil pH. We amend the soil here at my farm every season.
I also have thousands of roses growing along all four sides of my perennial flower cutting garden fence – some are climbing and spilling over the sides.
Many of these roses are old fashioned and antique varieties. They include: ‘Alchymist’, ‘Boule de Neige’, ‘Cardinal de Richelieu’, ‘Charles de Mills’, ‘Constance Spry’, ‘Dainty Bess’, ‘Pierre de Ronsard’, ‘Ferdinand Pichard’, Konigin von Danemark’, Louise Odier’, Madame Alfred Carriere’, ‘the Reeve’, ‘Pearlie Mae’, and ‘Sweet Juliet’.
I love this beautiful apricot-colored climbing rose growing up one of the garden’s trellises. Some of the newer roses added to the garden include a selection from David Austin – ‘Abraham Darby’, Graham Thomas’, ‘Heritage’, ‘Lady of Shallot’, ‘Golden Celebration’, ‘Snow Goose’, ‘St. Swithun’, ‘Benjamin Britten’, ‘Brother Cadfael’, ‘James Galway’, ’Teasing Georgia’, ‘The Generous Gardener’, ‘Wolverton Old Hall’, ‘Malvern Hills’, and ‘Jude the Obscure’.
I’ve also added roses from Northland Rosarium, including ‘Night Owl’, Poseidon’, ‘Quick Silver’, ‘Colette’, ‘Cecile Brunner’, ‘Ebb Tide’, ‘Jeannie Lajoie’, Lykkefund’, ‘Veilchenblau’, and ‘Geschwind’s Most Beautiful’.
I always knew I wanted many different roses in all sorts of petal formations. Double blooms consist of 16 to 25 overlapping petals in three or more rows.
The flat bloom is just as it sounds, with petals generally flaring out.
And this is a rosette bloom with many slightly overlapping petals of different sizes.
When watering, give roses the equivalent to one-inch of rainfall per week during the growing season. Water at the soil level to avoid getting the foliage wet. Wet leaves encourage diseases such as black spot and powdery mildew.
Over a section of my pergola are the climbing vines of my beautiful Rosa ‘Veilchenblau’ – the violet rambler also known as ‘Bleu-Violet’, ‘Blue Rambler’, ‘Blue Rosalie’ and ‘Violet Blue’ that bloom from May to June. Climbers always do best when well supported by a trellis or fence – one that is the appropriate height, width, and strength for the climber. It should be strong enough to hold the weight of a full-grown rose plant in both wet and windy weather.
From the carriage road, one can see the abundance of pretty blooms – my guests love to stop, take photos, and “smell the roses.”
And look at this gorgeous arrangement in my Winter House kitchen. If you didn’t already see them, there are more photos on my Instagram page @MarthaStewart48. Before placing in the vase, always recut the rose stems to eliminate any air bubbles that will prevent them from taking in water. And cut the stems at a 45-degree angle so they don’t rest flat on the bottom of the vase.
These flowers are just so spectacular this year and so very fragrant. What roses are blooming in your garden this season? Share your comments with me below.
My perennial flower garden continues to produce so many colorful and beautiful blooms.
This cutting garden has developed so well over the last few seasons. I really enjoy comparing its progress from year to year, and seeing where I need to add more plants to improve the display. Right now, there are gorgeous poppies blooming everywhere - those papery, tissue-like blossoms that look stunning both in the garden and in the vase.
Enjoy these photos.
It’s always so exciting to step into the flower garden and see all the blooms that open each day. My flower garden is brimming with pink, white, red, and lavender poppies in a variety of forms.
The name “poppy” refers to a large number of species in at least 12 different genera in the subfamily Papaveroideae, which is within the plant family Papaveraceae. They produce open single flowers gracefully located on long thin stems, sometimes fluffy with many petals and sometimes smooth.
Papaver grows mainly in the northern hemisphere, including within the Arctic Circle, with one species found in southern Africa.
Poppies are attractive, easy-to-grow herbaceous annual, biennial or short-lived perennial plants.
The plants typically grow to about two feet in height forming colorful flowers during spring and into summer.
Flowers have four to six petals, many stamens forming a conspicuous whorl in the center of the flower and an ovary of two to many fused carpels.
The leaves almost look like weeds when first emerging from the soil. They are lobed or dissected, appearing lacy, frilly or fern-like.
Poppies can be found in areas throughout Western Europe. The destruction brought by the Napoleonic wars of the early 19th Century transformed bare land into fields of red poppies, growing around the bodies of the fallen soldiers. In 1914, the fields of Northern France and Flanders were hit again as World War I raged through Europe. Once over, the poppy was one of the only plants to grow on the otherwise barren battlefields. Today, it remains a popular bloom and an enduring symbol of remembrance.
This poppy has delicate dark pink petals that get lighter in the center.
Poppies come in a variety colors including white, lilac, pink, yellow, orange, red, blue, purple, and gray.
Poppies require very little care, whether they are sown from seed or planted when young – they just need full sun and well-drained soil. Though it varies from one type to the next, most poppies fare best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9.
Poppies can be planted as soon the ground becomes warm and soft in spring. If there’s a frost, poppies will survive and are also able to germinate in chilly weather. Poppies should receive at least six hours of sunshine a day, but in very warm locales, a little shade in the middle of the afternoon, when the sun is most intense, is ideal.
This poppy is very light pink and white with a yellow center.
One tip – only water once per week during weeks that receive less than two inches of natural rainfall. And don’t splash any water on the foliage; moist leaves are more susceptible to pests and diseases.
This lavender bloom has both frilly and shaggy petals adding lots of texture to the garden.
In contrast, this poppy is very dark in color – more plum.
One of the more unique poppies is this pompom variety with amazing double and semi-double flowers in a delicate lilac color. The large, frilly blooms are truly eye-catching.
Here’s another in a more pink color. Though flowers are packed full of petals, their stems are strong enough to support the weight. Many of these poppy photos were taken with our Google Pixel 6 – a great phone with a terrific camera.
This poppy is smaller, more dainty, and more tissue paper-like in appearance. The gray tones are a favorite.
Poppy flowers are attractive to pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Never eat poppies. Most poppies are toxic to varying degrees. Virtually all species contain alkaloid compounds that are poisonous and can cause terrible side effects in both humans and pets.
Here are the poppy seed pods, which is what’s left on the stem once the flowers bloom.
Here’s a closer look – when the seed heads turn brown and a band of holes appear at the top, they are cut and the seeds inside are harvested and saved until they can be planted in the garden the following year. I hope you are able to enjoy the beauty of poppies wherever you live.
One thing I love is the intoxicating scent of a garden rose - especially an English rose.
Last year, I planted a new rose garden behind my main greenhouse not far from my flower cutting garden and raspberry bushes. The space is in full sun, so I knew it would be an excellent area for planting a variety of David Austin roses. Every gardener and rose expert is familiar with the rose hybridizer, David Austin, who started as a hobby breeder when he was a teen and went on to breed a collection of roses renowned around the world. His specimens have exquisite blooms and the most alluring fragrances. The plants in this garden are still small, but every one of them has bloomed and the flowers are breathtaking.
Enjoy these photos.
I have lots and lots of roses at the farm. Many are planted inside my perennial flower cutting garden and down behind my chicken coops along with my allée of lilacs. I also have some climbers growing around my vegetable garden. This ‘Vanessa Bell’ variety, with medium-sized flower cups held in large clusters of pale yellow to white is in the newest garden designated for roses – in an open area where I previously planted dahlias.
These David Austin roses are young and small, but every one of them is developing so nicely.
When selecting a location, plant roses in a sunny spot with good drainage. Fertilize them regularly and water them evenly to keep the soil moist.
This is ‘Carding Mill.’ The full blooms are a blend of pink, apricot, and yellow, giving the overall impression of orange. They also have a wonderful fragrance close to myrrh.
This rose is called ‘Tottering-By-Gently.’ This variety has simple single flowers in soft yellow with golden stamens. Paling prettily over time, they have a light musky scent, with notes of orange peel. ‘Tottering-By-Gently’ flowers freely, repeating regularly throughout the summer.
Some rose blooms are very full with many petals in at least three or more rows.
‘Lady of Shalott’ shows chalice-shaped blooms with loosely arranged, orange petals. The surrounding outer petals are salmon-pink with beautifully contrasting golden-yellow undersides. It gives off a pleasant, warm tea fragrance, with hints of spiced apple and cloves.
Rose leaves are borne alternately on the stem. In most species, they are about two to five inches long, pinnate, with at least three leaflets and basal stipules. The leaflets also usually have a serrated margin.
Rose stems are often armed with sharp prickles – they aren’t thorns at all. Unlike a thorn, a prickle can be easily broken off the plant because it is really a feature of the outer layers rather than part of the wood, like a thorn.
‘Eglantyne’ is a David Austin favorite. It has perfectly formed, soft pink blooms with a charming, sweet Old Rose fragrance.
The flowers of most rose species have at least five petals. Each petal is divided into two distinct lobes.
Other roses have multiple tight petals such as this one. Rose plants range in size from compact, miniature roses, to climbers that can reach several feet in height.
Another beautiful David Austin rose is ‘The Poet’s Wife,’ which bears rich yellow flowers that pale over time. The form has an outer ring of petals enclosing more petals. There is a strong, wonderfully rich fragrance with a hint of lemon, which becomes sweeter and stronger with age.
Around the entire perimeter of this garden, we planted foxglove. Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea, thrives in full sun to partial shade to full shade, depending on the summer heat. Each plant usually has a one-sided raceme with 20 to 80 flowers.
The downward-facing blooms are tapered and tubular with four lobes.
Each 1½ to 2½ inch long pink, purple, or white corolla has long hairs inside and is heavily spotted with dark purple edged in white on the lower lip, which serves as a landing platform for pollinators. The flowers are visited by bees – primarily bumblebees – which climb deep into the flower tube to get the nectar inside.
At the front of this garden, I decided to plant two large boxwood shrubs gifted to me by my friend, George Bridge, who first introduced me to boxwood more than 15 years ago. These boxwood look so handsome “guarding” this bed.
This rose variety has full-petalled, rosette-shaped flowers with a button eye and a strong fragrance.
This is a perfect white rose named ‘Tranquillity.’ This one has beautifully rounded flowers, with neatly placed petals making up the rosettes.
This is ‘Princess Alexandra of Kent’ with its unusually large, bright pink flowers that are full-petalled and deeply cupped. It features a strong fresh tea fragrance, which changes to lemon, eventually taking on hints of blackcurrants.
Here is ‘The Alnwick Rose’ – with broad, full-petalled shallow cups of soft to rich pink. In an upcoming blog, I’ll also share photos of the roses in my flower garden and down in the lilac allée – they’re all so beautiful this time of year.
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