Roses - A Faint Hope After All

3 years ago

Hello, dear rose friends

I didn't expect to post again so soon, but I can't help telling you about my rose bushes, which just a little while ago looked completely moribund. Imagine my surprise when yesterday I suddenly noticed new shoots on most of my roses, even the ones that had dwindled down to a few skinny sticks., which is actually pretty well all of them except for three 5-gallon ones from the local nursery. I should probably keep my mouth shut until the situation unfolds further, one way or another, but I am quite excited. Call me crazy, but I asked my guides and angels to have a talk with the ground squirrels, never for a moment thinking that anything could change. I mean, what could possibly stop those voracious mouths? I should also mention that my skinny, almost leafless and viciously armed Wild Edric near the back door now has two blooms and ten buds! I truly don't know what to make of all this but I had to share!

Featured Answer

titian1 10b Sydney

3 years ago

Ingrid, it's so heartlifting to see this.

I may have posted about this before, but I once had a cottage in the country, and I had a very noisy possum (thumping and shrieking) who lived in the space above my bedroom ceiling. The ceiling was pressed tin and had a ceiling rose with holes in it. I thought he (or she) probably watched me from there. One night, after some weeks of us yelling at each other, I decided to speak quite differently to him. In a quiet voice, as he was thumping about overhead, I said "We both live here, let's make the best of it.". The possum's entry to the attic was directly behind my bed, and after that, apart from stealthy footsteps at night going down, and in the morning going up again, there was silence.

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Comments (13)

summercloud -- NC zone 7b
3 years ago
That's really exciting! I'm rooting for your roses (get it) and I think they'll keep growing!
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Melissa Northern Italy zone 8
3 years ago
Ingrid, best of luck! I hope you get roses!

Titian, that's a good story and a good moral.
judijunebugarizonazn8
3 years ago
I’m so excited for you, Ingrid, and I’m glad you didn’t keep your mouth shut when you have such hopeful news to share! I pray they continue to grow and the ground squirrels find other fodder.
K S 7a Yakima
3 years ago
That's great news Ingrid! I hope the animals stay away and let the roses recover. Wonderful to hear that Wild Edric is looking good! In any case it is always heart-lifting to have some blooms. :)
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw
3 years ago
Hallelujah! Some encouraging news on the rose front. Fingers crossed that you will have a glorious rose garden.
Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
3 years ago
I'm so glad to hear this, Ingrid.

I found a snippet of a rare lilac, St. Joan, alive yesterday after I thought it had entirely been sucked down by a gopher last Fall. I am going down to dig it up and pot it this afternoon, so I can protect it during it's recovery. I'm taking my husband for emotional support to help, even though the remaining plant is minuscule.

I plan on planting a rose in a root cage there. St. Joan will be years until blooming, but I will be there.
Rosylady (PNW zone 8)
3 years ago
This is such great news Ingrid! I truly believe in "asking the Universe" for our heart's desires. If you persist, a solution with eventually present itself most of the time.
Ingrid_vc zone 9b, San Diego Co. inland
Original Author
3 years ago
Aw, thank you from the heart for all your lovely comments. I admit that when I went outside this morning and saw that nothing had been touched I threw out a handful of dog kibble to the little varmints (I mean little darlings) as a thank you for their forbearance. The one closest to the front door had very prominent nipples so she must be eating for four or five. They do get all the kitchen scraps, absolutely nothing goes in the trash bins, and they scarf it all up. Better that than the roses, right?
User
3 years ago
So happy for you!
BenT (NorCal 9B Sunset 14)
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
You have such a kind and balanced view of nature, Ingrid, I very much hope those squirrels will allow your remaining roses to prosper for you to enjoy.

Sheila,

Excited that your rare lilac is still alive, too.
jerijen
3 years ago
I can't tell you how this lifts my spirits.
Ingrid_vc zone 9b, San Diego Co. inland thanked jerijen
Karen Service
3 years ago
What a wonderful find, Ingrid! I hope its blooms are inspirational.