Tag Archives: rose

flower, gardening

ILO

This spring, I planted a new rose at our summer cottage: Rosa ‘ILO’. Adding a new plant is always a small adventure. No matter how much information you read beforehand, the real story begins only after the plant finds its place and starts growing in its new surroundings.

The rose was planted beside a path that winds through a wooded area near the cottage. It is a peaceful spot where sunlight filters through the trees and highlights the flowers when they bloom. The location felt right from the beginning. Surrounded by woodland and natural vegetation, the rose adds a beautiful splash of colour while fitting naturally into the landscape.

Although this is only its first summer, Rosa ‘ILO’ has already made a positive impression. The flowers are a lovely bright pink, standing out clearly against the surrounding greenery. Their colour catches the eye even from a distance and brings a cheerful touch to the scenery. Whenever I pass by, I find myself taking a moment to admire the blooms.

One feature I have particularly appreciated is how long the flowers seem to last. We have had some very warm weather recently, and many plants struggle to look their best during extended periods of heat. Yet the blooms of Rosa ‘ILO’ have remained attractive remarkably well. Even after several hot days, the flowers continue to provide colour and interest, which is always welcome during the height of summer.

Another reason I chose this rose was its reputation for being relatively easy to grow. Not every plant demands rich soil and constant attention, and that is often an advantage at a summer cottage. Some of the most rewarding plants are those that quietly settle into their surroundings and thrive without much fuss. So far, Rosa ‘ILO’ appears quite content with its new home.

Of course, the first growing season tells only part of the story. A newly planted rose is still establishing its roots and adjusting to its surroundings. It will be interesting to watch how it develops over the coming years. Perhaps it will become larger and fuller, producing even more flowers as it matures. That is one of the pleasures of gardening—or perhaps more accurately, growing plants in a natural setting. The future is never entirely known, and each season reveals something new.

For gardeners in Finland, there is always one question that cannot be answered immediately: how will a new plant cope with winter? Summer allows us to enjoy flowers and growth, but winter is often the real test. As Rosa ‘ILO’ was planted only this spring, its first winter will be an important milestone. I am curious to see how it manages once the snow arrives and temperatures fall.

For now, however, there is no need to think too far ahead. The rose is blooming beautifully, the woodland path is surrounded by summer greenery, and Rosa ‘ILO’ has already brought a little extra colour and enjoyment to the cottage. That feels like a very promising beginning, and I look forward to seeing what the coming seasons will bring.

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flower, gardening

Tove Jansson

Every now and then a plant arrives in the garden that immediately draws attention. This summer, that honour belongs to Rosa pimpinellifolia ‘Tove Jansson’. I planted it this spring, and although it is still settling into its new home, it has already made a memorable impression.


The flowers are unlike anything else among my roses. The colour combination is remarkably bright and cheerful, with vivid yellow petals edged and blended with brilliant shades of red. The contrast is striking, especially on sunny days when the blooms seem to glow in the light. Even from a distance, the flowers catch the eye and bring a welcome burst of colour to the garden.


There is one small disappointment. Each flower lasts only a day before fading. Just as you begin to admire a newly opened bloom, it is already nearing the end of its brief performance. Yet perhaps that fleeting beauty is part of its charm. The flowers are not meant to linger. Instead, they encourage you to appreciate them while they are at their best. Thankfully, the shrub continues to produce new blooms, ensuring that there is always something fresh to enjoy.


Roses are not always easy plants in my garden. The soil is not especially rich, and some varieties would certainly prefer better growing conditions. Fortunately, Rosa pimpinellifolia ‘Tove Jansson’ is known for being less demanding than many modern roses. It seems content enough where it is planted, and so far it has shown healthy growth despite the limitations of the site.


One of the reasons I chose this rose was its reputation for hardiness. In northern gardens, winter survival is always an important consideration. While it is still too early to judge how it will perform after a full winter, I am feeling optimistic. The plant appears vigorous and well adapted, and I am hopeful that it will return next year stronger than ever.


This year’s Midsummer has been bright and beautiful, and the rose has fitted perfectly into the season. Its fiery flowers seem to capture the warmth and light of the longest days of the year. Even though each bloom lasts only a short time, the overall display has been both memorable and uplifting.


As with any new addition to the garden, there is still much to learn. For now, I am simply enjoying the colours and watching how the plant develops. If it continues to thrive and comes through the winter as expected, I suspect Tove Jansson may become one of the most distinctive roses in my collection. It has certainly made an impressive start.

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flower, gardening

Tornedal

I would love to have the garden full of roses but unfortunately they do not do that well up here in the north.

There are exceptions though. Tornedal (Rosa Majalis ‘Tornedal’) is one of them. It can tolerate the long and hard winters extremely well.

The blooms are beautiful and many. Unfortunately the blooming season is very short but love the variety.

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gardening

Pink Peace

Rose Pink Peace

I have always liked roses. There is simply elegance and beauty in them that is hard to beat. This spring I looked into my mom’s garden and found out that the winter had claimed its toll. Everything looked black and dead. During the winter we did not have much snow which would have protected and covered the delegate flowers. First frost came when there was no snow in the ground and the end result was destruction and death.

Living up here in the north makes it a bit challenging to grow roses. There are only few spices that make it year after year. Mothers’ day was coming and I started my search for a perfect rose.

If the rose had been for me selecting the color would have been an easy task. When it comes to roses I simply adore red. It has always been my favorite color among flowers. But this was going to be a gift and I had to abandon my obsession for red. Luckily I know my mom. It had to be pink or purple. Those are the colors for her and there is no doubt in my mind or hers.

I could spend hours and hours in the Internet looking and reading about plants. The usual end result is that I find a dozen plants I want to try and buy. Unfortunately this time was not an exception. After I had selected ten different roses I decided that it is time for a break. In the next morning I viewed the results and knew that I had found the one I was searching.

Pink Peace, what a name for a rose. Pink Peace Hybrid Tea Rose is bread from the Peace Rose. A promise of large flowers was simply too tempting. And what a flowers they were! When the first bloom opened it was the size of my palm and simply perfect. From my mother’s face I could see that I had made the right choice.

But my choice is a risky one. Not sure that we can enjoy the beauty next year. The winter might just be too much for our precious. I guess we just need to wait for the next spring to find out. And I need to prepare myself for a new search for a perfect rose.

PS. I bought the rose from viherpeukalot.fi. The plants came quickly, were vigorous and healthy. In other words I was happy with my choice of provider.

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