Petal by Petal:: Rosa 'Maria Theresa '

Some might say that the gift of roses for Valentine's Day is a cliché, I might agree but not if they are beautiful, fragrant English garden roses like this variety Maria Theresa. Out of all of the roses that I have profiled in my Petal by Petal series, this might be one of my favorites for the amount of romance that they evoke.  The Maria Theresa rose has a vibrant pink shade and layer upon layer of petals that form a beautiful rosette shape.  They omit a wonderful aroma that is both sweet and floral without being overpowering like the majority of roses can be.  Are you looking for more rose ideas? How about 'Juliet' or 'Pink Piano'.  Speaking of Valentine's Day, do you have anything special planned? Continue for more...

Petal by Petal:: The Progression of an English Garden Rose {Gentle Hermione}

I love watching beauty unfold, whether it be a sunset that slowly starts out with a beam of orange and red and eventually nestles into a purple sky or a flower starting to bloom. I cherish small moments like these.  In the beginning of spring, I purchased two small English garden roses and did not think that they would grow that much during the summer season or even bloom; however, I was pleasantly surprised when my Gentle Hermione rose began to bud and has continued to do so over the warm summer months.   It  begins with a slightly pink bud and slowly opens into a pinkish-white bloom with many layers. This type of rose is incredibly fragrance - it has a large floral presence with a bit of sweetness that lingers on the tip of your nose. I hope you enjoy watching this beauty bloom as much as I did.  Continue for more...