I just love documenting each year's first blooms on my David Austin 'Tea Clipper' rose, a birthday gift from my friend Deberah several years ago. Actually, she's given me a David Austin rose bush as a birthday gift for several years in a row now, but 'Tea Clipper' will always be my favorite because of the name, the color, and the heavenly scent!
Earlier this spring I shared a photo of the lovely David Austin 'Wedgwood' rose that was in bloom (it's shown
here), and my 2014 rose bush gift was this cheerful 'Graham Thomas' rose, a climber. But oh, deer, do I have some unpleasant news. I have discovered that the deer are eating not only my hostas (including the treasured 'Tea and Crumpets' hosta I found last year) but also my roses! When 'Graham Thomas' arrived, the potted bush had about a dozen tight little golden buds, and within just a few days of planting I had lovely, lush yellow roses. But it was a sunny afternoon when I noticed how pretty they all were, so I decided to wait and photograph them the next morning when the light would be softer. I went out to check on the roses and there were none — just mere stalks, not even a bud in sight! I was not amused. Fortunately, one more bud appeared and blossomed, and at least I have this image as proof that 'Graham Thomas' was flowering in the garden in 2014.
And while I like to enjoy my roses outside, I decided the deer had munched the last of my David Austins for this season, so 'Graham Thomas' and 'Tea Clipper' were clipped and have since come inside where they can be admired as they deserve. The deer aren't too dear, are they?
Rabbits eat my hosta, too. Makes me mad. I wonder if that stuff you spray on the plants to repel deer, rabbits, etc., really works?
ReplyDeleteThis is the second two David Austins I've seen today---the first was a "Heathcliff" in a Father's Day tablescape. Simply lovely, one and all, and I'm charmed at the swirls of the configuration, like a peony's lavish curls.
ReplyDeleteRachel
Deer are just long legged rats! (sorry Bambi)
ReplyDeleteLove Graham Thomas and have that in our garden too. Just added Tea Clipper and yes I bought it for the name, but couldn't remember what it would look like. Thanks for the reminder, now I can't wait for mine to start blooming. It is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteYour DA roses are beautiful and I guess cutting the flowers to enjoy yourself is the answer so the deer don't munch them. I wonder if I'll have any blooms this year on The Mayflower I won? It's growing well and I've put a little fence around it.
ReplyDeleteSo pretty! I've seen "stuff" you can put out to supposedly keep dear away.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful roses! Very lovely Angela, thanks for sharing your photos.
ReplyDeleteJoanie