My roses are finally getting properly in their stride now, after planting in 2012/13. Apart from ‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’ (whose buds have turned into an unpleasant grey mush) all are actually flowering quite well in spite of our very heavy rain.
This weekend I was admiring ‘Benjamin Britten’ … probably for the first time since it was planted! It’s a very tall rose that has been a little afflicted by black spot since I’ve had it – but strong growing nonetheless and finally making more of a bush instead of the tall gangly sticks of the last few years. And flowering well in the rain (don’t talk to me about black spot).
Quite an unusual colour – David Austen describes it as a strong salmon-pink that changes with age to deep pink. It has a tendency to be a little two-tone, verging on orange in parts.
Today I thought it would be nice to celebrate the fact that the elder has just started flowering here, and I’ve added a few blue nigella, as much for the different shape/texture as for the colour.
Now go on over to Cathy’s blog at Rambling in the Garden and have a look at all the creative arrangements that everyone else has produced this Monday.
Garden Dreaming at Châtillon 
Great display – a really good balance of shapes and colours, the ‘Benjamin Brittens’ are magnificent, and a very interesting looking jug that you’ve found to put them all in.
It’s rather an ordinary little jug Joanna, but pretty as you say. It came from Greece and was a wedding present from a lady whose garden I used to do. Nice memories – should have added that to the post, shouldn’t I?
Well it’s a wonderful gift and very appropriate for your beautiful bouquet.
Full blown roses are so opulent, today’s vase is gorgeous. I like the depth of colour ‘Benjamin Britten’ has.
Opulent is a good word to describe them. When I have them on the kitchen table they make me feel as if I am living in the lap of luxury!
Roses with elderflower makes a great combination. I got rid of all my roses because they all had black spot – ooops sorry – I know you didn’t want me to talk of the dreaded thing!
Oh – I could never do that, I love them too much. But when I lived in Britain (even in dry East Anglia) I did sometimes wonder about it. Fortunately this is the wettest spring I’ve experienced here – usually it’s too dry around now! Still – at least the roses will put on lots of growth for next year.
The roses look perfect with the touches of nigella and elder. Came across elder blooming in our local botanical garden last week–had never really noticed it before this year. The vase is a star.
Elder is really very pretty. We now have a purple leaved one that has pink flowers. Chloris at the Blooming Garden told me that if you make (non-alcoholic) elderflower champagne with it, it is pink. Looking forward to ours being big enough.
Love that pink. A beautiful arrangement that takes advantage.
Thanks John – it is really quite a special colour. I think he has been hiding his light under a bushel until this year!
Such a romantic arrangement – it’s lovely!
Thanks Eliza!
Love your graceful combination of colors and textures. I have to look up nigella, that is new to me. The roses are just lovely.
Thank you so much. I hope you did a vase as well today? I shall have a look later.
Pure magic with those roses surrounded by the elder flower!
Thanks Donna!
I love this shape of rose – and I know just what you mean about bush instead of straggly sticks! It’s great when our roes reach that stage isn’t it? The elder blossom is so pretty – is it on your boundaries and do you have a problem with seedlings? I took out my S de la M last year and replaced it with Gertrude Jekyll because I had never EVER had a pristiine flower from it
So do I Cathy! We had plans to put in some HTs for cut flowers this year and instead planted another 4 Austin roses because I can’t resist them. The elder is on our boundaries (quite a lot of it) – haven’t noticed seedlings (but maybe I will in future!). It usually is very hot and dry in spring here – fortunately it’s the first year I’ve had a problem with SDLM. I think the shape is so perfect, would be hard to imagine this time of year without it!
Gorgeous roses! None of mine ever look that good.
Oh Kris, how sad. But you know, the rest of your garden more than makes up for it! It’s superb.
Your Rose is a real rose colour and looks lovely with the blue Nigella and a collar of white elder. Elderflower picking is on my list for cordial making and this time I intend to add some red rose petals (from R. Fragrant Cloud) to give a hint of pink.
I like the idea of colouring elderflower cordial with rose petals! I shall be picking some elderflowers in the next few days for processing and might try that too. 🙂
What a nice idea – did you read a comment somewhere around here about how pink elderflower (from a purple leaved bush like Black Lace) makes pink elderflower champagne. Happy cordial making!
Love the effect of the elderflower buds echoing the vase texture. The roses are truly sumptuous.
How clever – didn’t notice that ‘echo’ – I’ll have to pretend it was deliberate, won’t I?
Really lovely !
Thanks Christiane!
Your roses are splendid – rose perfection.
A gorgeous rose Cathy! Such a rich colour and lovely frilly petals. Our elderflowers are opening too and today I could smell them in the garden. I might go and pick some tomorrow for cordial. 🙂
I love them … a real sign that summer is acoming!
I walked past an elder in full bloom yesterday and the scent was delicious. Your roses here are very pretty, Cathy. I’d like to grow more roses (but there is a long list of things I’d like to have..!). I’ve just scrolled back to catch up with your posts and have to tell you I LOVE the ‘end of month view’ shot of your rose garden and the way they all look so natural. What an amazing place you have. I look forward to seeing more. Sam x
Thanks for visiting Sam, glad you enjoyed. I do love elder as well – we just planted a purple-leaved one last year. Flowering for the first time!
gorgeous ♥
Thanks Alexandra!