Some of you may remember me moaning and groaning around here a couple years ago because I couldn't track down a Boule de Neige, the Bourbon that is now considered a Noisette. An OGR, in other words. After several years of searching, I happened upon Pam's Angel Gardens in Florida and she "made" me one from her "mother plant."

It arrived last spring while I was in the hospital with pneumonia and somehow survived the lawn guy's planting of it for me--which included stomping down the soil around it with his heavy boots. Gulp! It didn't bloom last year--about all I was up to was keeping the roses watered.

So this spring, I was so excited to see buds all over it. Then my camera went on the blitz! Got that fixed yesterday, and finally--here are some pics of my long-awaited Boule de Neige.

First buds--lots of them!

Then this week the buds started opening, and look at the pretty roses that emerged!

Here's kind of a close-up.

And here's a final pic. (Ignore the alley out there. That is one of Boule de Neige's duties--to obscure that less than aesthetic view behind it!)

I'm so excited over this rose--I'll probably be taking pics all summer and urging you to "enjoy it" as much as I am. : )

Here is the Hybrid Perpetual Mrs. Laing looking exceptionally good today:

And another OGR newcomer to my garden--first time blooming: Clothilde Soupert. A polyantha that sprawls all over the place! (That's black iris Superstition to the right.)

Next time I'll try to avoid taking pictures in the glaring noonday light. Early morning and evening produces much better camera light, don't they.

Kate