My Blaze Climbing Rose

My Blaze climbing rose has finally begun blooming! Last year, I had one sickly looking blossom. My makeshift pine tree branch support tee pee has done its job beautifully. In March I hammered branches into the ground and then used twine to gently train the Blaze to grow against the support. The result is an interesting pyramid form in the garden and nodding scarlet blossoms. The scent is just lovely, a soft rose perfume that was a delight as we worked today in the flower garden, finishing the cement work on the walkways.  The walls around the butterfly garden, the rose garden, and the main pathway are finished, as is the rock wall that will now keep the hillside in place. One short wall and one long wall to finish and my long-awaited pathways can be finished. I tell you, laying down weed barrier fabric beats laying down a red carpet anyday!

When I was little, my mom had two Blaze roses climbing a trellis next to the garage. I loved those roses but they were sacrificed when my dad used the garage wall as the fourth wall of his greenhouse.  I have heard the rose hails from the 1930’s, but a quick look online didn’t turn up anything more than sales pages.

If you look very carefully, you can see more red peeking up from the miniature rose bush at Blaze’s feet.  I bought these Valentine’s Day leftovers at Lowe’s.  They weren’t in flower and were missing tags, but for $2 who’s going to argue?  They started blooming this weekend – all red.  Now I will have a shower of red roses in that corner of the garden!