Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Wildflower Wednesday ~ Carolina Rose


Carolina rose has been in full bloom for the last 2 weeks and it's lovely.



The bees love it. The whole shrub is abuzz with bumblebees.




While trying to focus on a flower

a bee would invariably appear. Even if you're not a bug person you have
to admit they're adorable. They were buzzing around so fast -- literally
rolling in the pollen -- that I could not get a sharp focus on them.




Rosa virginiana is a lot like Carolina Rose but the stems
are a deep burgundy and I can't detect the lemon-and-rose fragrance
that Carolina has. The fall color may turn out to be better though.


It's also time for Carolina Bush Pea (Thermopsis villosa). It's large, larger than the Baptisias, which gives it a stately quality. I've heard people complain about short bloom time but I haven't had that problem here. I love the yellow spires.


I'm trying to encourage Carolina Rose to stretch itself over the back part of the big perennial bed, as the only thing besides the rose that doesn't seem to mind the pine tree roots is the lush carpet of Bermudagrass that has established itself there. Carolina Rose likes to sucker.

Thank you gail for hosting Wildflower Wednesday.


26 comments:

  1. Okay, if it can handle pine trees and bermuda grass then I'm going to plant several! I constantly battle with the bermuda grass around here. It wants to grow in my beds but not in the lawn where I need it. Carla

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  2. Beautiful and I do love the Bumbles too! Where are you located, what zone?

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  3. I love these simple and elegant flowers!

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  4. Beautiful photos. The tiny prairie roses are starting to bloom here. I noticed along my lane growing in the tall grass.

    The bush peas are interesting. Look a little like digitalis.
    Marnie

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  5. Very pretty pinks! I'm most interested in that thermopsis. I saw it in Gail's garden and immediately thought baptisia. I sure can't tell them apart but both are beautiful!

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  6. I love this rose~it's my favorite. The sweet scent, the gentle pink even the leaves are nice. I love the stately thermopsis, too~and the flowering period has been better then baptisia. Well, to be fair, 18 inches of rain killed that bloom! So glad you have joined WW! gail

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  7. A 'bee'-utiful photo shoot of this sweet pink rose.

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  8. Great photos, as usual ! I love bees busy in my garden. If you ever change your header up there, consider the gorgeous white roses you posted last week, you took such unbelievable lush shots of those, take care, Gina

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  9. Bumblebees and roses? What could be better?

    Thank you for the garden walk,

    Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island

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  10. What a sweet rose and I love the long pointy buds too. It sounds like a real winner dealing with pine roots and bermuda grass.

    FlowerLady

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  11. you are right, they are beautiful.

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  12. lovely pictures, and please, do offer that bee a trip to eastern Norway, I need some help over here :)

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  13. I'm having so much fun looking at everyones wildflowers - those roses are enchanting. I grow Thermopsis in my garden as well - its a good yellow and a dependable perennial. I agree bees are adorable - I have a girlfriend who likes to rub their furry backs. I'll leave that to her.

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  14. I love the simplicity of the roses. They remind a little of 'Dainty Bess'.

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  15. Fabulous rose SB! It's so delicate looking and I love that shade of pink. Glad it makes the bees so happy ~ you captured some terrific photos of them enjoying it.
    I hope my Thermopsis looks like yours someday ~ right now it's pretty puny. I'm going to try and find the tag to see if we have the same one.

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  16. It looks like a buffet for bees. I think they are adorable!

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  17. The beauty of the flower lies in its simplicity. I saw some wild rose in the Himalayas, and they were white.

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  18. Good to know about the suckering. It is a sweet rose. Love the pale pink color.
    Our Learning Garden has a Bushpea, will have to see if it is blooming today when I go up there.

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  19. You have the most beautiful roses, Sweet Bay! And anything that can compete with pine roots and bermuda grass certainly sounds like a winner, not to mention the bees obviously love it.

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  20. Oooh, your Carolina Rose is beautiful! I do love the bees as well.

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  21. I like the simple pink flowers of your Carolina rose, and it looks like the bees do too. That soft pink would pair well with many plants.

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  22. The Carolina Rose is so pretty!

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  23. The Carolina Rose is beautiful. Looks like the bumblebees appreciate its scent and pollen.

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  24. Wild roses are such a treat.

    love the Carolina Bush Pea too

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  25. Lovely photos of your Carolina Rose and Bush Pea. I have seen bees acting as you describe ..."rolling in the pollen" it is quite a site and very hard as you say to capture their image! I always think ... now what do I do with such abandonment? ;>)

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  26. I love the bee in the rose! :)

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