Thursday, September 07, 2006, 21:36

The Last Hurrah. . .

My rugosa roses are blooming again! Only a few blossoms this time around, though. Nothing like the number of blossoms in June. But still, I am delighted to have a few rugosa roses in September. Especially since I don't have any of the rose bugs chewing them to bits now.

So in the long run, even though the number of blossoms is far fewer in September than in June, I am probably actually able to enjoy *more* of the flowers because they're not being destroyed by bugs.

I don't know why I find it so depressing when the bugs eat my rugosa roses. I suppose it's because I spend all winter long waiting for the time when it will be warm enough for the rugosa roses to bloom, but then when they do, just like that, the bugs attack them and then not even the buds are safe. In a matter of hours, the rose bugs can chew up all the blossoms and then start to work on the buds for the next day's flowers.

But not this time of year. This time of year, the roses are just roses. They are not chewed by bugs. They are not eaten alive. And I am going to enjoy each and every one of them!

My moss roses (portulaca) are still going strong, too. Unfortunately, the weeds are also going strong in the portulaca. If I try to pull out the weeds, I will pull all of the flowers, too.

I have never raised moss roses before, and I have to say that I am extremely impressed with them. They hung in there during the hot, dry weather and needed very little water to remain alive and blooming.

I am going to have to dig up my little rock garden by the driveway next spring (the one Dad and I put in 30 year ago) and get all of the weeds out, and then I'm going to have to replant the irises. When I do, I think will plant some moss roses in the rock garden, as well. From what I've seen of the moss roses, they ought to like the rock garden just fine.

LeAnn R. Ralph