Portland, City of Roses

Founded in 1917, Portland’s International Rose Test Garden is the oldest official, continuously operated public rose test garden in the United States. In the beginning, even though World War I was raging in Europe, hybridists sent roses from around the world to Portland’s garden for testing and to keep the new hybrids safe from being destroyed by the bombing in Europe. The primary purpose of the garden is to serve as a testing ground for new rose varieties. Portland's Rose Festival, in its 102nd year, kicked off this weekend and the first roses on my porch are happenin too.

The nose knows when a rose is a rose. To me, roses aren't complete without that powerful damask fragrance, so I choose them accordingly. This red one is Mr. Lincoln and his velvety dark red petals are surpassed only by the classic fragrance---he's a keeper! Drink in that fragrance---in the 'language of flowers', roses mean love.

This one's a climber, Golden Showers, with a fruity rose fragrance and nice form. I like it because it's resistant to black spot and other foliage problems too.

True, it's not a rose, but since it's on the porch blooming right now, this pretty clematis, "Dr. Ruppel", deserves some show time too. Plus, roses and clematis just go together so well.

My prize beauty, "Aloha". A super duper fragrant pink, the fluffy petals are light on top with a darker reverse, AND, as if that weren't enough, she's also an heirloom 'own root' rose, not a hybrid. The bush on my porch came from a cutting I took off the mother plant---that's the beauty of 'own root' roses. The foliage is really healthy, and the form divine, life is good.