Given that Greensboro is in hardy zone 7, we usually have our first frost between September 30 and October 30th. (Monday, October 19th felt pretty close to a first frost in Greensboro).
With or without our help, roses are getting ready for winter. Rose hips tell the plant that the season is coming to an end. The roots search for water to hydrate for the winter. Hopefully, you have long put your plant food away and made that trip to the garden store for mulch to insulate your roses, tucking them in for their long winter's nap. As is the case with the freshly-picked roses above, roses seem to get one last burst of energy in the misty, crisp fall air when the bug population has died down and the red clay has cooled. You're really not supposed to dead head or trim this late in the season, but we couldn't resist bringing these flowers inside. Since the vase is filled with WATER (front row and center), we're going to link up with Watery Wednesday.
I just bought a knockout rose this summer and it is doing well. I don't pamper them and usually they die. I did have an old rose that lived here for 40 some years and finally gave up the ghost. I like them but not the insects they usually bring -- aphids for one. So if it has aphids I don't have it long.
Posted by: Abraham Lincoln | Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 06:44 AM
Re: Abe's comment--a friend told me once that people don't live forever, so why should we expect plants to? Enjoy them while you have them. JTM
Posted by: Jane Mitchell | Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 10:32 AM
I love the colors and lighting in this scene and how the flowers contrast with the darker background. Very vivid! Now you've reminded me that I need to prune my rose bushes!
Posted by: Linnea | Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 11:27 AM
When I was bemoaning the loss of several shrubs around my childhood home, citing them as orginal plantings from the home's construction in 1925, the gardener who was listening to my plight replied, "Well, after 75 years of neglect, I'd say somebody got their money's worth." Alas, he was surely right.
The photo is lovely.
Posted by: Alice | Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 11:34 PM
That is a very unusual vase of a lovely lime green colour. You don't need roses in winter, the vase itself is a beautiful ornament.
Thanks for visiting.
Posted by: ann chin | Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 12:21 AM