Once upon a time, only two years ago, I had 150 roses in bloom
and the garden was awash with perfume,
the last two summers have decimated my garden,
the combination of extreme heat, lack of water and
the will and stamina to brave the heat and drag
heavy hoses around, is a gardeners bane.
Even this though as nails bi-colour "Fourth of July' rose
has barely a green leaf on it, let alone a flower.
Like life, youth and beauty fade to give way to weariness
decrepitude and one last journey.
Yet the roses of yesteryear still bloom in our memory.
Click on the Logos at right and walk in meadows full of flowers.
i don't garden (vegetable or flower) for that very reason - i couldn't keep up with the watering to try to keep them alive during texas' heat.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day Arija.
Happy New Year belated.
Regina
Lovely roses!
ReplyDeleteLovely flowers!
ReplyDeleteIch wünsche Dir von Herzen, dass sich Dein wundervoller Garten wieder erholen wird!
Liebe Grüße
Chris
Exquisite flowers and beautiful captures for the day as always, Arija! Hope you're getting some relief from the heat! Take care!
ReplyDeleteThese roses are still beautiful,just like we can be as we get older.
ReplyDeleteAhh, hos beautiful. The colourful in the sesong photo is simply breathtaking! They blossom in spite of the dry and the heat!
ReplyDeleteSuch a gorgeous pink!
ReplyDeleteThe Austrailian weather and fires have been in our news a lot. I can only imagine the heat.
Beautiful flowers and I know what it's like to have lost a lot of flowers. We're not in the growing season now but even when we are I have a lot more flowers in my memory than are actually still growing. I wander around my yard and remember clematis and many varieties of roses, dutch iris, etc. etc. I've lost a ton of plants I never replaced but at least I have memories and photographs of them.
ReplyDeleteThe photographs of the beautiful roses are much easier to take of. I have no green thumb so just enjoy what happens. Be well Arija.
ReplyDeleteThankfully a lot of roses are quite hardy. I also established a huge garden once, but the water bills did me in eventually - water is a precious resource after all, particularly in South Australia. I remember the amount of work involved particularly weeding and pruning. These days I tend to admire the gardens of others, appreciating the work involved.
ReplyDeleteHope you are enjoying the cool change in the weather today Arija - blessed relief!
I love that variegated 2nd one, and so prolific too!
ReplyDeleteI hope that a kinder season will allow some of your garden (and mine) to recuperate. In the meantime, these memories of yesteryears roses are a gift. Thank you.
ReplyDeletePretty flowers. Hope you'll find time to visit my Hibiscus.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures!
ReplyDeleteHow sad and disappointing.
Your flowers are gone. I feel with you!
Last year Japanese Beetles attacked besides other plants my beautiful climbing rose bush and devoured every rose petal. If you have time please read my 2012 Review on my blog.
Lg Gisela
Nature plays havoc sometimes Arija doesn't it? And I am afraid we all finally get to the stage when we just haven't got the energy to fight it.
ReplyDeleteOne of the many reasons I believe it's so important to take photos -- we never know what won't be around to enjoy in the coming year. Beautiful blooms Arija.
ReplyDeleteI like these flowers. they are definitely very attractive.
ReplyDeleteThese roses are beautiful. I can't agree more with your words...how apt!
ReplyDeletethanx for your lovely weekend roses :)
ReplyDeleteThese are so beautiful! It is a shame that the heat and drought are such a bane to producing this beauty. Can you plant some in containers where they are easier to water? My gardening has gone downhill over the years, too due to bad knees and lack of energy. I try to keep enough perennials to give me some color and that is about it. I was never a great gardener...just a lucky one for the most part.
ReplyDeleteA post to ponder and I want to once again thank you for sharing your beautiful blooms with us at Today's Flowers Arija. Your photos are a gift!
ReplyDeleteWe don't garden anymore, but we made it easier on ourselves by moving away from the house and yards and never starting another one. There are times when I really miss having my own flowers (and yes roses are the truly special ones)but neither of us would be able to keep it up well now -- even in Oregon where it wasn't so terribly hot. You couldn't possibly do it in your heat!!! Just enjoy the memories, don't feel guilty!
ReplyDelete