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Walk Through The Garden, 2008A
Walk Through The Garden, 2008previous rose ------- next rose
'Basye's
Purple'Rugosa, 1968, R.E. Basye
If all you ever saw were catalog and web pictures of this rose, you'd probably not even consider her. Alas, until holography is perfected, just take my word for it, this is a must-have rose!
Imagine an opal, violet, purple and magenta, made flexible and layered onto a rose petal. The purity and depth of color is just fabulous; no drawing or photo can capture its complexity. The flowers come in flushes all summer, and individual flowers seemed to last, at least last year when the plant was very young, about five days.
Be aware that this is a very thorny rose! Handle her with care and she will reward you with eye-candy that can't be surpassed!
Unfortunately, I have a feeling that this might end up being a greenhouse rose for me. Rugosas don't seem to do well here in the extreme dryness and the alkalinity of the soil. No matter how carefully I prepare the soil around her, she shows chlorosis, and there is usually considerable winter die-back. Nevertheless, she does come back around every year, and these huge, magnificent flowers are worth every once of care you give her!
Can you imagine it with moss and spots?!
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