Wednesday, March 4, 2015

2 of last years late spring roses--William Baffin and John Cabot



When I first started gardening years ago, I never imagined I would develop 
a love of  Canadian winter hardy shrub roses, most of which have 
little or no scent to them. 
There are many beautifully scented hardy shrub roses, 
but very few have survived in my zone 3/4 garden. 
(USDA hardiness garden zones)
There have been many dollars wasted trying in this garden. Luckily however
a few have survived, but don't flourish as the two roses 
I am going to share in this post.
The first rose I would like to introduce is William Baffin.
Such an amazing rose for large gardens. It would not do well to 
plant this in a tiny space as he loves room to grow.
I have four of these in this garden; two of them have reached their expected
8' to 10' height and are each about the same across. The other two are young yet
and I will be excited to see if they grow to be as beautiful as the others.
You can see one of the young ones in the background in the right of the photo below.
William Baffin has beautiful arching canes which can also
be trained to climb, although I have left mine to grow into a pretty fountain
shape in a bed near the road that runs in front of our property.

To take the photo below I am standing under the shrub taking the photo.
It gives you an idea of how abundant this rose's first late spring flush is.
It's first bloom is at the same time that the peonies and poppies are also
blooming and this is when I think this garden is prettiest.



I have heard many people say "why have a rose with no scent?" and I used
to be one of them, but the color and shape of the loose bloom is
worth it to me. And because I don't have as many
options as many gardeners who live in kinder climates for roses.


In the photo below, you can see how close to the road this front bed is and I
have tried to make the bed something lovely for those passing by while also
enclosing the rest of the property and making the area around our house more private.
The William Baffins in this bed when in bloom are big enough and showy enough
to be the right choice for it. I have several large rose bushes in this bed and
love it when they are all in bloom.
This is a major US highway going through Idaho from Canada down through our state
to Arizona and is busy-busy-busy so the large trees and shrubs help cut down on the noise.
A funny story about this photo below is that friends kept telling me that I was in
this very spot when they were on Google Earth and viewing our town,
so I had to go see for myself, and sure enough there I was weeding away.
Thankfully Google Earth has since been updated and I am nowhere
to be found in the garden!
You can see some of the canes of the William Baffin
in the background behind the tree.

In the photo below you are looking from the road which is higher than the garden
and in toward where our house sits and more areas of the property.
This Japanese lilac (Ivory Silk) also blooms the same time as the first flush of roses.
 The second rose I want to share is the John Cabot rose.
Another amazing hardy Canadian shrub rose from the same 
Explorer series.

John Cabot is also a large shrub rose or climber like the William Baffin,
although mine grow much fuller in form than the William.
I have six in the garden at this time and love, love, love them.

Here is one trained as a climber in the front bed on an arbor with a riverbank 
grape frighting for position. I'm afraid the grape is winning!
 


Another I have left to grow into a large shrub also in the same bed.
John Cabot has a slight scent  and really is a beautiful thing when left to himself.
(which is funny I should even say that--like I have any choice in the matter :)
Even though I'm the gardener here...they are still the boss of me.
They are the ones with the thorns!
Soon enough I will be seeing a little life in the garden.
None yet, but soon.
In the meantime I'm actually enjoying this long break from the garden.
Making lists of chores and things to move and of course, more things I can
coax Dale into building for me.  Maybe not this year, but surely next!

37 comments:

sarah said...

Such a magnificently lush and beautiful garden! It must be a real joy to you. It makes me feel quite small about my own paltry collection of plants :-)

Annie said...

I am so happy that you appreciate these two roses as I do. I have several of both varieties, also a few John Davis, and seldom see them mentioned on gardening sites. I'm in zone 5, just north of Spokane, in a snow belt, so maybe more like 4b. Canadian roses are dependable and bloom for such a long period. Are you familiar with Northland Rosarium in Spokane? It is worth the drive, especially in June when the gardens are in bloom. The anticipation keeps me going all winter. Now, if I only knew how to tell the deer these are MY roses. Your gardens look like a show stopper from the road. I know I would be applying my brakes and grabbing my camera!

Molly said...

Ohhhhh, it´s absolutly wonderful.
We have the *American pillar* in our garden and it seems to be similar.
Your pictures are beaaaauuutiful!
Your garden is totally amazing!
Lovely hugs
Molly

Shabby chic Sandy said...

Your roses are just beautiful! I just cannot wait to have roses again--ours have leaves already and I think the roses will be early this year. I am lucky as I live just an hour out of Portland--which is called "The city of roses". My favorite roses are the David Austin old fashioned looking cabbage roses. :)

Ulla said...

My dear,
you live in pure heaven!
This is so amazing!
Without many words....just enjoy every single photo!
Much much love, Olga.

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

These are both really beautiful and are doing so wonderfully for you. You have to grow what does best in your area. I have to do the same thing way down here in southeast FL.

Thank you once again for sharing all that beauty that surrounds you there.

FlowerLady

Jacqueline @ HOME said...

Oh June …. such pretty roses and ones that give you so much. I think that I've told you before that our back garden is North facing and we can't grow many roses. We have two white/plale lemon rambling roses and one very rampant Rambling Rector !! I shall try and remember to post photographs of them when they are at their best.
Your garden is so beautiful …. and that Japanese lilac is magnificent…. you truly have green fingers and I can't wait for your garden to burst into life.
Hope that you are all well. Lots of love. XXXX

Mari Mora said...

Tienes un jardín precioso y sacas unas fotos maravillosas.
Un saludo

Lin from A {tiny} Cottage In The Woods said...

So fun that you were caught gardening by Google Earth! :)

If I lived nearby, I would definitely slow down every time I drove by your place. Always something lovely to see!
Hugs,
Lin

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Oh so beautiful! There are plenty of lovely flowers that don't have a smell to them. Beauty is in the eye, not in the nose. :) Such gorgeous blooms! Best wishes, Tammy

Junebug said...

Oh roses, how I love you. You are my favorite, wait I've said that about every flower that blooms!But I do love Canadian roses for their rambling look and color! Lately I've been enjoying knock out roses. They also seem to flourish in my garden. I know if I was driving by I would take lots of pictures but I would also pull in and say Hi!! It is so Spring like here that I am enjoying being outside. Much love and keep those gorgeous pictures coming. Sista June!

Home and Lifestyle said...

Your roses are beautiful, June! I hope you can make more wonderful pictures next summer.

Hugs, Ingrid

bobbie said...

Thank you so much for sharing all that beauty ~ my first big smile of the day!

Row homes and Cobblestones said...

June on a day when we are having a major snowstorm you filled my eyes and lifted my spirits with your beautiful photos. I adore roses and yours are absolutely gorgeous. The colors deeply saturated and lovely. I wish I had the green thumb you have! Cute story about being captured by Google earth image. I love to visit your blog, you always post amazing beauty.
xoxo,
Vera

Dorthe said...

They look amazing dear June, such abundance of flowers sitting close to each other, sending their fantastic colours like happy welcomes, and together with the Japanese lilac, which is wonderful itself, they are sure to give bypassers a most beautiful experience, my friend.
Hugs from Dorthe

Victorian1885 said...

Hello June
Your Canadian roses are magnificent! What a joyful sight for the people passing by...
Have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs,
Wanda

Anne's Attic - Design said...

Beautiful roses, it really gets me excited for Spring and getting my hands dirty again. Hugs, Jo

Vicky said...

All your beautiful roses are just wonderful. I Love how you capture the beauty in your flowers.
Hugs, Vicky

My name is Riet said...

Hi Dear June. Your beautiful garden with all those pretty flowers looks like a park. Everything in bloom must be so excitimg. And the photo,s you took of all those beauties are the most beautiful i ever saw.
Have a wonderful weekend Dear friend.
Hugs from Riet

Judy at GoldCountryCottage said...

June, no body does a garden like you!. It's as simple as that! What a treat to see your beautiful blooms..Happy Thursday..Judy

Rosemary and Thyme said...

Oh my June, roses, flowers and an enchanted garden. What a sight for someone stuck in the middle of a snow storm. You have stolen my heart with these gorgeous pictures of your amazing garden.

I have David Austin roses in my garden. I hope they survive this terribly harsh winter. But your roses are divine. I would love to spend an afternoon in your lovely garden.

Hugs,

Janet

Bill and Mary Glidden said...

Hello friend! Been so long since I have been over for a visit. Loved reading about these 2 roses of yours and think I will try them!

I decided to follow the shemitah year- God told his people to allow the land to rest every 7 years and this is the year- won't put in a veggie garden or plant new plants but will try and do some much needed upkeep in the current beds.

We had about 2 feet of snow last week- the sun has come out and so it is melting but we are do for some more in a few days so there is still no puttering in the garden.

bee blessed
mary

Diane said...

Your roses and garden are just so enchanting, June. Diane

farmhouse-story said...

i esp love the trained rose mixed with the grape vine on the arbor--simply gorgeous!! love the william baffin!

Bente said...

Dear June. Your garden is like a fairytail that I love to hear over and over again. Gorgeous.
I am so exited to see how many roses that made the winter here in my garden.
Sending you a big spring hug.

HWIT BLOGG said...

I have one word...LOVELY!
Oh dear so beautiful...
Have a great weekend and take care now!
Titti

Debbie said...

Oh, June...you make me so excited to get outside, and start working in the gardens....but alas, there is a foot of snow still on the ground...lol.
Soon, but not soon enough!! giggle.
Love to you.
Debbie
xo

Cindy said...

June - Your gardens remind me of an English garden and that is the highest compliment I can give a garden. They are just beautiful and look so natural. I bet you're anxious to see their lovely blooms again. Spring will come - we're finally going to get above freezing this coming week :)
Cindy

Jacqueline~Cabin and Cottage said...

Oh so gorgeous! Makes me happy just looking at it. I would burst if I could live with a garden like this! SO glad you show it off on your blog. That we we can drive by and see it too!

https://joystudio.wordpress.com/ said...

Hi June - Regretfully, I have not had time to visit my favorite blogs such as yours, for a long time. I've missed seeing your beautiful photographs. Lovely.

Ingrid said...

just beautiful again your post June,I love your garden...x

Muggensteekjes said...

Hello dear June,
I love all the roses you are growing in your garden, they all look so pretty. Wish it was summer already, it will be so warm and lovely outside. Because I was so sick these last few weeks a little bit of sunshine is very welcome now.
Hugs, Ingrid x.

Pondside said...

Anyone who has ever tried to grow roses in an inhospitable climate and condition has reason to be thankful to the crew at the Morden Manitoba research station where the Explorer Roses were developed. I have grown the Baffin and Cabot roses and they did very well in Ottawa, which is one of the coldest and snowiest capital cities in the world!

suziqu's thread works said...

Oh June these two Canadian roses give off the most beautiful displays.
I agree totally you have to grow what is happy in your garden and this may take a lot of trial and error but these two are nothing short of spectacular - so lush and abundant in color, size and shape.
They have plenty of room to spread happily too with their long arches which you can train however.
Such beautiful images and I especially love the ones with the long vistas where we see the Japanese Maple growing so elegantly.
Adorable June and I wish I could be there in Spring as you start to see new leaves forming once again. In fact any time would be just the right time!
Much love and many warm hugs,
Suzy

Draffin Bears said...

Hi June,

Always lovely to see all your delightful roses - you must be so happy when they all start blooming.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend

Hugs
Carolyn

an angel at my table said...

I love your photography soooo beautiful. These two roses are absolutely stunning. I have two William Baffin and now I need to find John Cabot as soon as possible. Thanks for all your lovely pictures of your fantastic garden. Love from Sweden

LisaKH said...

Your garden looks absolutely stunning and you photography is the best! I think I'll try and do justice to some of your work by painting a few of them in oils, as I love to paint flowers. So lucky you are to have such a beautiful place. And I'll bet the harder you work at it, the luckier you get! Kudos to you, as you have done a marvelous job.
Lisa

lisakhering@yahoo.com