Gardening
Mr. A_D and I were shopping for trees and plants for our yards at various places yesterday. We were hoping to find some Yoshino cherries, but it seemed that all our local suppliers are mostly offering "Kwanzan" cherries, "White Mountain" weeping cherries, or "Yae Beni Shidare" pink weeping cherries this spring. Slightly disappointed, I went to look at the bare root roses selections at Home Depot and found one "Sterling Silver" sitting at the very back of an almost-empty rack. All alone. It was quite unexpected to see it there. Of all mauve/lavender roses on the market, I usually see the "Angel Face" offered the most everywhere, not the "Sterling Silver"!
One of the oldest mauve/lavender roses, "Sterling Silver" was developed in 1957. Most contemporary lavender roses have this rose in their genetic lineage.
If you remember my entries from late February and early March, this is the rose variety mentioned as Ciel Phantomhive's favorite in the manga "Kuroshitsuji". XD I knew my daughter would just love it if we planted this rose in our yard. Of course, seeing it offered at the last place I'd expect to find it, and having it just sitting there alone on a shelf for the clearest possible view among all other rose bushes on all other shelves, I couldn't feel a bit of "meant to be" destiny sort of thing. The Universe has arranged it for me to get it right there and then! ^_^
It's also perfect since I lost my "Angel Face" two winters ago when it got really cold and I was looking for a replacement lavender/ mauve color rose. I did a bit of research and the opinions on this rose seem to be divided -- some have lots of success with almost no care at all, while others have no luck. I'll have to see how it does in my garden. I've had tons of luck with my roses, so I know this climate is not too bad for them unless the plant is particularly finicky. :D (The best rose in my garden is the Chicago Peace which is currently standing 8+ feet tall and blooms profusely all throughout the blooming season. I'll have to do a serious pruning this week.)
No two blooms are exactly alike. "Chicago Peace" is the first to bloom in late spring and the last rose still blooming in late October in my Colorado garden.