A Few Days Later

It didn't take too long to begin to see the some difference in my roses after spraying them with Malethion.  Between the sunny skies and spraying, St. Swithun (I think my favorite rose) is starting to look better. 

St. Swithun has some of the largest, fleshy pink roses on a vigorous spreading bush.  Its flowers easily have 100 to 120+ petals and have a heady mush fragrance similar to Myrrh only sweeter.  I don't know how else to say it, but when I breath its fragrance it makes my heart ache.  Here is a picture of it from last Summer.  If only I could let you smell it through the screen.  With Conrad Ferdinand Meyer as a grandparent, St. Swithun inherits its Rugosa cold hardiness.

I Hate Thrips!

There are very few things in life that I hate.  Thrips are one.  Grammatically that can't be correct but I hate them so much I don't care.

Thrips are tiny insects that are attracted to roses.  They set up house in the buds and flowers causing them to brown and not open.  I find that they tend to affect my pink and lightly colored roses most.  Above you see the promising flowers of St. Swithun ruined by them.  They are about the only thing I am willing to bring the sprayer out for.  They snuck in on me sometime over Easter, while I had my back turned.  The worst thing is that everythings looks great, plants are healthy, buds are growing, then brown.