Two of the roses I inherited with the house were actually two rosebushes twined together. Sometime in the past, suckers from the root stock grew out and started to take over the cultivated rose that was grafted on top. Initially, I didn't know about suckers and thought that somehow there were two rosebushes that had just grown so much together I couldn't tell where each started. They were pretty well established when I bought the house. But I've since learned about suckers. Still, I do think the wild roses are pretty. All of these pictures were taken before I realized I need to cut them off if I want the cultivated rose to be healthy. *sigh* But... they are pretty. My initial intention was to leave them alone on the one bush that they'd mostly taken over, but in late 2009 I shovel-pruned that bush. They didn't bloom in 2009 at all because, as I learned, the canes need to be established the year before. I had hard-pruned all of the bushes. That whole corner is getting redone anyway.
Mid April 2008 | |
Mid April 2008 | |
Mid April 2008 | |
Mid April 2008 | |
Mid April 2008 I really like this picture. I think the rose looks like a heart. :-) | |
Late April 2008 | |
Late April 2008 You can see the cultivated rose that was taken over in this picture. It's the slighty brighter/lighter and larger red rose kind of to the left. |