My Sycamore tree has gone to fall colors, but my red roses are still trying. These are over-my-head tall.
It’s December and I’ve just dead-headed my roses one last time. I could just let them grow wild and rangy, but they’re already as tall as the eaves of the house. I’d love to be able to see them and put my face into them to smell them.
By January I’ll cut them down to knee height. Here in Southern California I don’t need to cut them way down or to protect them from the winter cold. I just need to cut out the old wood and give them a good feeding for Spring.
My roses are the hardy type. In the heat of summer I mostly stay inside under the AC and my automatic watering system cares for them. Sort of. By the end of summer, they’re usually a little tired.
But then, here comes the sunny cool days of fall and it seems to bring new life into them.
More pictures follow.
Marilynne
Red roses from another angle. In winter the flowers take on a preserved look.
The peace roses lose their vividness and become beautifully pale.
A few months ago I became fed up with the stringy, scraggly things that were supposed to be roses in my flower bed. I yanked them all out! I might try again next year…
Yours are beautiful, thanks for sharing them.
Love, Cindy
comment by Cinders — December 8, 2009 @ 7:03 pm