My original 'Polareis', shown here in front of pink and taller 'Lillian Gibson', is a little more beat up this year, but she's trying to maintain her 5 foot mature height. Dwarfed and outclassed a little by the hardier and healthier 'Lillian Gibson', I still think she'll come back with a vengeance with a little loving care this summer. She's been blooming just a few more days than her younger offspring, and you can see the fallen petals littering the ground at her feet.
Coming in from the east area of the garden, I'm well pleased by bright pink 'Foxi Pavement' and gray-white 'Snow Pavement', both just beginning to bloom here in the foreground, although I haven't got around to pruning the winter-damaged cane of 'Applejack' that spoils the picture hanging out over 'Snow Pavement'. 'Foxi Pavement' and 'Snow Pavement' are both unkept and loosely petaled, but they both attract bees like...well, like flies to honey.
Just behind them as I walk further towards the gazebo, the same roses from the opposite view of the first photo above, 'Survivor' and 'Hanza' fill the middle depth, with light pink 'Fru Dagmar Hastrup' just peeking in on the right. My gazebo, in the far background, lends a little structure to the photo and view. It's a little weather worn, but has stood through the worst of our storms, although I made a mental note today to replace the weakened wooden swing inside before it collapses under an unsuspecting Mrs. ProfessorRoush. I've seldom seen 'Pink Grootendorst' look better than she does this year. She's a gangly, rough, farm-raised kind of gal, rarely dressed up for the ball, but she's a pretty lass even so. I wouldn't ever bring her into the house in a vase, but in my garden, as a solid survivor of Rose Rosette disease, 'Pink Grootendorst' has earned her place.