Rose Corner Update with Unexpected Mix-up

If you have been following my blog for a while, you might have known that I have been trying to establish a rose corner in my garden.

There are six roses in my rose corner including two "New Day", two "Peace", one "Double Delight", and one pink tea rose (lost the name tag). 

"New Day" and "Peace" are those dormant rose bushes I bought from Costco.  I put them in the ground in early March, and now they are growing so well with shiny healthy leaves. Each one of them has four to six buds, and some are opening their first blooms today. 

I have been patiently waiting for them all blooms, so that I can share their beauties with you all.  And, today is the day (perfect for Easter)!

I lost the name tag for this one.  This rose has nice subtle scent, and about 5 inch across when it fully opens (Anybody happens to know the name?).

Pink Tea Rose

I have been crazy about this "Double Delight" since its first bloom.  Don't you just love this bi-color blossom? Here is a post that shows how it changes color when it unfurls.

Double Delight

This "Peace" is definitely becoming my another favorite!   Look the three stages of this flower.  It has soft, clear yellow flower with touch of pink on the edge when fully opens.

Peace ( stage 1)

Peace (Stage 2)

Peace (Stage 3) 

 Now here comes the "unexpected"!  The only kind I have not shown you so far is the "New Day".  Here is the description on the original box: "Bright , clear yellow roses of good form and spicy fragrance that bloom continuously through the season. medium-sized bush. Everblooming Hybrid Tea Rose."  I bought it for yellow is missing from my rose collection (well, now I think actually Peace is almost yellow), and the spicy fragrance will be something real nice...

Here are three pictures I took for the plants that I thought were "New Day" roses from bud to full bloom.  Do you see anything that matches the above description?!  Where is that "bright, clear yellow"?

The only explanation will be they were put in the wrong package from the beginning, or some Costco customer misplaced them into this box for whatever reasons... 

What should I call this color?  Maroon, Violet Red, or Deep Pink?  The flower is about 4 to 5 inch across, and if I dive my nose into it, it has nice fragrance (not very strong). 

Anybody could give a good guess of its name?  Despite of the mix-up fact, this is a very LOVELY rose, and I don't mind having them in my garden at all.  The only downside is now I have another two nameless roses! 

I know it might be very hard to identify this rose just by the picture, but I would greatly appreciate it if anybody recognizes this one and let me know its name, so I don't have to refer it to "fake New Day Rose" every time I mention it :)

UPDATE:

For the first pink rose, Noelle at http://www.azplantlady.com/ recognized it as "First Prize", and I checked the picture of "First Prize" on the internet, and seems they match my pink rose very closely.  So, I guess I got one less "Nameless" rose!  "First Prize" it is!  Thanks, Noelle!

For the mix-up roses, since nobody identifies the name yet, and Deborah at http://deborahsgarden.blogspot.com suggested call it as "Burgundy Surprise".  I love it!  So, before I can confirm its real name, I will refer this rose in my rose corner as "Burgundy Surprise".   Thanks, Deborah, very nice name indeed!

What is Happening to My Double Delight Rose?

My Double Delight Hybrid Tea Rose has been doing great since I got it in Feburary.  However, this recent week I noticed something is different ...

Here are 6 pictures showing the order in which the very first bloom unfolded.

First row from left to right: Day1 to Day3.  Second row from left to right:  Day 4 to Day 6. You can see the color changes from creamy-white, to red and then to crimson.  The color becomes deeper and deeper as the days progress.

The same cycle of color changing was also observed for the several blooms followed.

A new bloom started opening at the end of last week.  I happened taking the picture from the bud stage again.  See what is happening that is different.

Day1:  It was a rainy day.  It starts as a beautiful bud that already had intense red on the edge.

Day2:  unfolding... the outer pedals became pink.

Day3: The color was almost same as the first boom at its 3rd day.

Day 4: Changing just as expected...  Again, reflecting the similar color as the first bloom at its 4th day.  Expecting more red, or crimson shows up next day.

Day 5:  What is happening?! Where did those red go?  Whatever it is, I am LOVING this color!!!   Let's see what this will lead to...

Day 6 (today):  Go back to the normal cycle again!

Anybody knows what is happening to my Double Delight Rose on day 5? Does the recent frequent rain have some effect to it?  Any interpretion is welcome, either an educational guess or a scientific explaination!

This Double Delight Tea Rose is really giving me lots of joy!

My Favorites for the Month (February)

Simply Susan came up the idea for the favorites of the month.  Thanks Susan for the idea, and the tip to use Google Picasa to create the photo collage!

This is the very first bromeliad bloomed for me in my new garden (not counting those that were already in blooming when I purchased from the store).  It natuarally becomes one of my favorites for this month. This is a pass-along plant from my friend.  I was told that it is an ornamental pineapple, with red color, and won't grow much larger than the one in the picture except that the flower spike will be stretching taller.  Any idea what is its name?

Red and pink flowers are most appropriate to be my favorites of the February, for Valentine's Day, as well as Chinese New Year celebration.   (Dragon Wing Begonia, Petunia, Stock and Red Geranium).

Click the picture to enlarge

I can not forget those "little" flowers that have been adding interests and life to my winter garden. 

Blue Salvia has not stopped blooming since last November.  I love the pureness and the smile face of the white voila.   The dwarf chenille plant seems very happy tucked under the sago plam tree with their red fuzzy flowers.  The purslane is another non-stop bloomer in my garden.

Click the picture to enlarge

My most favorite of this month has to go to the Double Delight Rose I newly purchased this month! These are the same flower in their different stages, can you tell the order? The color changes from creame white, to red, and to crimson as the bud unfolds.

Click the picture to enlarge

I can not believe February is almost to the end...  Spring should be just around the corner now!

Another Rose for Me

This Valentine's day I received a gift from my hubby (I bought for him.  LOL), a Double Delight Hybrid Tea Rose!

Growing roses in Florida garden is somehow challenging due to our hot and humid weather in the summer.  All of my three rose bushes suffer black spots from time to time.  Although I tried to use the rose spray to control them, they always manage to come back.  Fortunately they seem have not affected the roses' blooming yet. 

I learned that there are two kinds of rootstocks are excellent for Florida's climate: Fortuniana and Dr. Hughey.    So, when I saw Home Depot has Fortuniana rootstock roses for sale, I grabbed one right away.

I love this rose especially for its bicolor, creamy-white and red to crimson.  Is it gorgeous?!