A Hodegepodge

Here is a hodgepodge of what's been blooming here for the last couple of weeks.

The Polyantha 'Caldwell Pink'
 

 

A seedling; not tagged, so it could be a combination of anything: Gallica, Alba, Moss.. maybe I need to search harder for that label.. The seeds were sent by a lady with a zone 4 garden.
 

Not burned up yet
 

Louisiana Iris 'Sinfonietta'
 

Hippolyte, planted in the wild end of the big perennial bed. Wild native bamboo still grows rampant here among the Goldenrod and Aster 'Miss Bessie'. Hippolyte starts with pink buds, opens to a vivid deep fuschia color
 

 

and then darks to shades of purple and slate as it ages.
 

A view of the neighbor's pasture and horses. Those brown skeletons on the neighbor's side belong to some yellow-flowering legume.
 

Rosa palustris, Foxglove Beardtongue, Knockout, and behind that a Witch Hazel.
 

Carolina Bush Pea, now almost finished, was in its prime about 10 days ago. A mecca for bees.
 

 

 

Larkspur next to the vegetable garden
 

Hardy Amaryliis, also next to the vegetable garden
 

Iris japonica by the hay shelter. Naturally since Butterfly Weed likes good drainage there's one nearby blooming practically in the ditch.
 

Bee resting on Penstemon 'Midnight'
 

I hope you are enjoying the weekend.

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.
 

 

 

Trying to focus on a flower,
 

just wait a second and a bee will 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.

The big bed in May

The look of the big bed has changed a lot over the last month.

R. palustris scandens, on 5/13/10
 

5/19/10
 

A beauty like this needs to be seen from all sides.
 

One of the very last Bearded Iris. Looks like Earl of Essex.
 

In their place Iris virginica are blooming. Not the best display, since it was very dry in April and the first half of May, but any are welcome.
 

Carolina Rose
 

Another view of R. palustris with Carolina Bush Pea in the foreground.
 

The Baptisia are finished and the Spiderworts have started.
 

 

 

On the fence

There are two Swamp Roses near the gate that guards the grass road which runs between the pastures and down to the creek. On the other side of the Swamp Roses is a ditch, then a long stretch of 3 rail fencing that runs to the woods.
 

View from the other side of the ditch. One of the Swamp roses is tipped back, a result of Swamp Sunflowers growing next to the gate too.
 

 

The rose fragrance is very strong, but on this rose the oils are very votaile and they soon burn off in the sun.
 

Next to the long stretch of fence are more roses: a white mystery climber that I started from cuttings from a rose behind Glen Lennox Shopping Center in Chapel Hill, a rose dubbed 'Seven Sisters' that may really be 'Dorothy Perkins', Mermaid, Lamarque, and a possible Dr. Huey.
 

Possible 'Dorothy Perkins'
 

Frances of Fairegarden suggested that the Glen Lennox rose is 'Alberic Barbier' and I think she is right. It all fits: the glossy leaves, the yellow buds, the apple/ tea fragrance, the absurdly long canes. She nicked it Killer but I can't call it that, not with Mermaid nearby. You have to give the hellcat her due.
 

 

 

 

 

 

Looks like 'Alberic Barbier' to me. Thoughts?

Update: I posted a link to this post on the GardenWeb Antique Roses Forum and the consensus was that this is 'Alberic Barbier'. It's good to put a name to the face! Frances you have an excellent eye, and I have to say that I thought from the beginning that you were right.

I first saw this rose about 20 years ago when going to the drive-through window at the back of the State Employee's Credit Union. There must have been a series of them planted along the wall opposite the bank, as they stretch on for what seems like at least 100 feet, in the most romantic jumble of creamy white flowers.