Rock Rose

Posted on May 5, 2020 by Enchanted Seashells by Princess Rosebud

I love roses of all kinds but this one has nothing to do with Rowdy Rosie; a nickname I acquired in another life during a brief stay in Steamboat Springs. (Read about it here: https://enchantedseashells.com/2013/07/02/the-story-of-rowdy-rosie/)

This one’s a hardy garden rose that does well in drought conditions.

Cistus is a genus of flowering plants in the rockrose family Cistaceae, of which there are about twenty varieties.

It’s a perennial shrub found on dry or rocky soils throughout the Mediterranean region, from Morocco and Portugal through to the Middle East, and also on the Canary Islands; they do really well in my SoCal garden.

I’ve had really good success propagating them, too. Here’s how I do it:

Snip 6-inch cuttings off stems that have not yet flowered.
Remove lower pairs of leaves, keeping only the topmost one or two pairs at the crest.
Dipping the cuttings in powdered rooting hormones spurs root growth.

Perfect for a hot summer garden with no rain in sight.

“…that which we call a rose…

Posted on April 25, 2020 by Enchanted Seashells by Princess Rosebud

…would smell as sweet.

First Robert Burns, and now Shakespeare?

During this Covid-19 pandemic, I seem to be living in an alternate universe of poetry and literature. Pretty soon, my brain will start to spontaneously remember all my years of French, and I’ll be ready for my trip to France to pay homage to the one and only Coco Chanel.

Once upon a time, in another lifetime, I memorized Juliet’s lines, Act 2, Scene 2, for an audition.

Nope, I didn’t win the role that time, but the words have never left me.

It’s a bit of a cliche considering my name, but a rose is a rose is a rose, according to Gertrude Stein.

JULIET

O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?

Deny thy father and refuse thy name;

Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,

And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.

’Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What’s Montague? It is nor hand nor foot,
Nor arm nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other word would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call’d,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for thy name, which is no part of thee,
Take all myself.

My love’s like a red, red rose

Posted on April 24, 2020 by Enchanted Seashells by Princess Rosebud

Robert Burns, of course.

I’ve been posting a lot about the beautiful flowers in my garden because I know how short lived it al is and I want to enjoy it while I can…soon the hot sun and blistering Santa Ana winds will dry up all the lush blooms. We had so much rain this season that it really looks like a floral fairyland at Casa de Enchanted Seashells.

Another day, another rose, a very red one, not yet open.

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A Red, Red Rose
by Robert Burns

O my luve’s like a red, red rose,
That’s newly sprung in June;
O my luve’s like the melodie
That’s sweetly played in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a’ the seas gang dry.

Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi’ the sun:
O I will love thee still, my dear,
While the sands o’ life shall run.

And fare thee weel, my only luve,
And fare thee weel awhile!
And I will come again, my luve,
Though it were ten thousand mile.

And almost completely gone but still drunk with a dancer’s graceful elegance:

Self-isolating roses

Posted on April 18, 2020 by Enchanted Seashells by Princess Rosebud

All the rain we had in SoCal a couple weeks ago caused my roses to grow like crazy.

Planted at least six feet apart in order to comply with all social distancing orders, here’s a couple of little bouquets displayed in a Waterford crystal sugar and creamer, just because…

…and my magical secret garden with a working windmill…

…as well as an afternoon visit for snacks from Mr. and Mrs. Bunny, also complying with social distancing directives!

I hope you’re enjoying a lovely weekend!

Life Cycle of a Rose

Posted on April 28, 2019 by Enchanted Seashells by Princess Rosebud

Not about ME, haha, but check out this most delicate ballet pink rose I’ve ever grown in the garden here at Casa de Enchanted Seashells.

The life cycle up to this point has been about a week long journey.

Just picked. The fragrance is so light and delicate. The very essence of a rose.

The petals are starting to open a tiny bit more in response to the sun and being indoors.

See the outer petals beginning to turn color? Still beautiful, though.

This morning, in her full glory at five inches across. More discolored, faded, and less pink petals.

Sweet rose. Almost at the end of her life, she selflessly shared all the joy and beauty she had to give. Soon, her petals will fall to the table and she’ll be gone.

How did this all get so depressing? Just like The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. Sheesh. I need to lighten up!

And now this, the finality and death of a once beautiful and vibrant rose.

Shaking off THAT doomed train of thought, here are more roses that I left unpicked in the garden.

Buds. Babies.

I love the peach and red dual tone of these roses.

Peppermint striped climbing roses. Very spicy fragrance.

Finally, a rock rose, California native.

All the rain we had in SoCal made a joyful garden.

Happy end of April and almost May, everyone!

The Senescence of a Rose

Posted on October 30, 2015 by Enchanted Seashells by Princess Rosebud

And yes, you can infer by this that I’m also facetiously and metaphorically referring to myself.

My camera’s eye followed this beautiful rose’s life on a newly transplanted bush from conception to senectitude (my new fave word.)

As the petals were soon to loosen, wrinkle, fade, and drop, the next gen formed.

The story of Princess Rosebud.

SIGH.

(Slideshow gallery of photos.)

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A Rose of Many Petals #Wordless Wednesday #Photography #Flowers

Posted on June 4, 2014 by Enchanted Seashells by Princess Rosebud

Lush, sumptuous, sensuous roses courtesy of my good RN friend whose visit included books on tape (I was unable to read anything for three days thanks to a torn retina and hellish laser surgery).

In full bloom from her garden, their fragrance is delicate and strong, as every rose should be.

Petals, Illuminated