This is Rose Lady of Shalott, purchased from David Austin Roses last autumn. I bought four roses at the time, and planted them all in the front garden. Oh yes, I remember it well. We had had a glorious autumn, but when the plants arrived the weather was already on the turn, and wintry weather was forecast. So I prepared the ground, and dug four very large holes. Although I was wearing a coat, it was a short one, and to cut a long story short, I ended up with severe backache. Just before the wintry weather set in, I managed to get out into the garden and plant the roses. Really should have dug those holes whilst the weather was still warm. Oh well, you live and learn.
Anyway, this is the first of those four roses to bloom. I'm really impressed with it. The plant is full of buds, which should give a good display for its first year. I took this photo today because one of our regular summer deluges is forecast for tomorrow.
The rose is named after a character from one of Lord Tennyson's favourite poems. The poem is set in the time of King Arthur's Camelot. The Lady of Shalott lived in a nearby castle, but she was trapped in a spell. There was a lot of that in those days, you know. She was freed from the spell when she saw the reflection of Sir Lancelot in a mirror. Sounds just like an episode of Merlin, doesn't it?
And finally, I had this little visitor arrive in the garden during a thunderstorm:
Not the best photo, I know, but it was about 15 feet up in the hawthorn tree, oh and it was raining, heavily. I can say for sure that it is a moth, but other than that I can't be more specific. I think it might be a lime hawkmoth, but I can't be certain. One thing I do know, I've not seen one before.
Jej zasadzenie przepłaciłaś bólem pleców, ale ona Ci się odwdzięczyła, bo jest piękna. Pozdrawiam.
ReplyDeleteThe planting of back pain you paid, but she rewarded you, because it is beautiful. Yours.
Yes, I suppose it was worth the pain.
DeleteYes summer is over...again!!! That's a beautiful moth, think I've got a book somewhere, will try & find out what it is...and that's a cracking rose too x
ReplyDeleteMy calendar says it's the start of summer today, but my diary says it's midsummer on Sunday. No wonder we don't have long summers anymore.
DeleteThat is one gorgeous rose. I hope your back is better by now.
ReplyDeleteYes, it only hurt for a couple of days, and nights, but it was very painful at the time.
DeleteOh !!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful rose and photo !!!!
What a gorgeous rose! It reminds me of Summer and on a day like today I need some reminding!
ReplyDeleteWhat a spectacular moth, I've only seen photos of them. What a shame it wasn't lower in the tree, they are so colourful.
Is that summer, as in two days of sunshine and four weeks of rain, or do you mean a proper summer like we used to have ?
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteLovely Rose; it's such a shame we're having rubbish weather just as the roses are opening... Although it does mean I get to have more in vases indoors instead! ;)
I've seen quite a few moths around recently; flying during the day which I don't normally come across. Also saw a Cinnabar the other day! Although it didn't stop on my Ragwort (to lay eggs).
We've got two days of nice weather due tomorrow, apparently. Don't worry, the rain's due back on Wednesday.
DeleteLove the colour of your rose - mine are all in different shades of pink - time to get out of the rut I think.
ReplyDeleteMy roses have all gone into hiding at the moment. If a bud dares to open, it gets lashed with rain. I've got quite a lot of pink petals on the lawn.
Delete"She has a lovely face;
ReplyDeleteGod in his mercy lend her grace,
The Lady of Shalott."
I like a bit of culture.
DeleteSuch a beautiful rose! I hope you think the back ache was worth it in the end :-) I bought 3 David Austin roses in January, but the ground was roch hard - remember we had a drought back then??! So I planted all 3 in pots temporary, last month they all got a permanent home in the garden - digging was a breeze in the sogging wet ground.
ReplyDeleteThat's it; when I planted the roses last autumn, we were still in a drought. The ground was damp on the surface, but a lot harder underneath. Memo to self; don't dig holes in dry weather.
DeleteThe rose is a spectacular colour and the leaves look so healthy. I'm chuckling at your comment about long summers. I would ask if the rose colour stands up to bright sunlight, but I guess you wouldn't know yet.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't know what bright sunlight is yet. It seems to cope with normal rain, but it does bend over in a deluge though. Don't we all ?
DeleteThe people who name roses rank up there with the people who write wine labels. Maybe that is where all our poets have gone.
ReplyDeleteDo you mean they are all drinking wine ?
Delete