Autumn Rose

Our extended summer has even prompted the somewhat picky "Irish Cream" rose to bloom a third time this year. I was really taken with the caramel color of the full blown bloom against the backdrop of the Japanese maple tree that's just beginning to turn. Since I was younger, I've always thought of autumn roses in a special way. Maybe it's the light that shines down on them, illuminating their petals in a magical way.

Back by Popular Demand... The Irish Creme Rose

The last post prompted a number of questions in the comments, so I decided that instead of answering the questions there I'd just post another photo of this lovely rose. This photo was taken back in May. Being the first bloom of the year the edges of the blossoms look a bit crinkled.

Some of you have asked if this is the real name of this rose. Yes, it is (believe it or not). It is really called the "Irish Creme" rose.

Others of you have asked if it has a scent. It surely does! The scent is a traditional vintage rose scent with a big of tanginess to it that isn't as citrusy as the Gold Medal rose but it does make it distinctively not musky. It's a bright scent that I usually associate with food.

I acquired this rose at WalMart, of all places. So not only is it unusually lovely, it only cost me about 5 or 6 bucks! It was a bareroot rose during the winter of 2006-2007. Since it was at WalMart, I'm assuming that it wasn't a new release and has been available for at least a year or more.

Finally, despite it being labeled as a "cool weather" rose it survived the summer of 2007 with record temps around 115 F (46 C). It got a bit leggy after that, so I cut it back (which is probably why it hasn't grown as much as roses normally do). We've already had a heatwave this year with temps over 100 F (38 C), and it did well even though the very tips of some of the leaves got crispy.

I think the trick to growing this rose in a hot climate like ours is to plant it where it only gets morning sun. It's planted on the east side of our garden so that the house casts shade on it in the afternoon and evening. It shares a bed with a Japanese maple, some lemon verbena, a hedge of rosemary, and other herbs that give it shelter. I let the lemon verbena and other herbs grow right up against it so the soil around the base stays shaded and cooler. I've got it irrigated with a small soaker hose going right by it's base and it gets watered every two to three days for about 30 minutes.

I'm glad I didn't see the "cool weather" label or I wouldn't have bought it. I would have missed out on this gorgeous and unusual rose being in my garden.

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A Bit O' the Irish

No, I haven't doctored the color on this photo. This photo is "as shot". That's the real color of my Irish Creme rose. Isn't it "yummy"?

This rosebush went in last year and has been slower than most in growing and producing. After I purchased it I happened to notice the fine print that said it is a "cool weather rose". Oops! I had to find a cooler spot in the front garden for it where it's sheltered from the scorching heat of our summer afternoons and evenings. It is fairing better than I expected and this bloom is the first "true" bloom it has produced. I think it's a great specimen so I had to share it.