Longtime readers of this blog will know roses struggle to grow in Tiger Gardens. This is in mostly due to the great deal of shade found here in Tiger Gardens. As a rule I don't add new roses to the gardens simply because I know that most roses don't do well. There are some exceptions such as 'The Fairy', a David Austin rose 'Falstaff' and a couple of unknown floribunda roses that somehow manage to survive here in the shade and still look good. When I was perusing garden catalogs last year it was with great interest I found a thornless, shade tolerant climbing rose. The price was right so I ordered it. Jung's shipped me my rose just in time for planting last spring and in the ground it went. The rose is called 'Zephirine Droughn' and it was listed as being fragrant. Bonus!
I planted the rose right by the gate leading to the backyard. There is a metal arbor over the gate and I currently had clematis growing on the arbor. The clematis are still there but even though clematis are pretty in bloom and have pretty seed heads their presence is not at all that substantial. I wanted a rose to grow over the arbor and felt the Zephirine would be a good fit.
All summer long last year that little rose grew and grew and was hardly ever watered. The Zephirine kept its foliage all winter and looked so good once things warmed up a bit that I was beginning to get most excited about blooms. Right on time the blooms came and are pleasing me so much that I am wondering what took me so long to buy this rose? It has actually more than quadrupled in size in the one year it has been growing here and is putting out so much new growth and blooms that I have been able to guide the rose not only over the arbor but along the top of the chain link fence. And about that fragrance, does anyone remember Avon's rose cream from the 1970s? It is the exact same smell as that; which is of course a true rose scent. I can hardly walk by the pretty pink blooms without sniffing the flowers.
Another rose that works well here in Tiger Gardens is an unknown. It is a fairly common rose because I see it in many front yards around town. This rose has no discernible scent but what a nice dark color it has. I have trained mine to grow on a split rail fence and for about two glorious weeks in the spring it really shines despite not receiving much sun....
in the garden....
Any favorite roses you'd like to share?
Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden
