Rosa 'Rhapsody in Blue'

I already have English lavender plants and geranium 'Jolly Bee' waiting to go in as well. The cistus is so overwhelming and getting leggy - it 'has' to go!

Ah, Rhapsody.....what a beauty! Mine has finished it's first flush now but I'm hopeful for more flowers later! What a colour though eh?

Yes, it is! I saw it at Wisley a few weeks ago, and wasn't all that struck - but when I saw it again today - it decided me. It has lots of buds, Karen - and I didn't know it was the 'rose of the year'!

Have you dared to look at Geranium 'Sirak'? That's the one I was telling you about - seen in an open garden ages ago, ordered from Wisley and didn't arrive...but I stumbled on them today....out will come some a.p.gs to make space for this beauty - I got FIVE of them! :-)))))))

That is beautiful Spritz......

Five!!!? Well done you!!

That was all their stock!

Thanks, Milky - as you read, I've been after this one for ages...:-)))))

Blimey, good job they didn't have a dozen then!! lol! It's beautiful and you have plenty of room.....once you dig other things out of course! lol

:-)))))))))))))) More will go if I think of, or see anything else to take their place.

Oh, I think you will!! That's the fun of gardening isn't it....continually improving them!

I agree....I'm sure something will occur to me. It's east facing, mostly, where these nuisances are.

Tricky! I don't have that problem, front faces South East; back North West! It's quite a nice perspective really...only problem is the NE facing long fence with has no sun at all in the winter...but we're getting there.....

Strangely, that's where my Heleniums are, and they're fine. I don't want any more, though - it'll have to be something that flowers earlier.

Ah yes, something to bring some spring interest to the border....Hmmm....now then...what could it be?.......off to bed now...will probably wake up thinking about plants, usually do!! Goodnight Barbara...away for weekend, speak next week! x

Maybe - we have a big family 'do' as from Saturday evening......have a nice w/end. x

Magic !

Enjoy! Remember you telling me about it before......lovely! Hope you don't get too exhausted! x....I really am going now.....

Thank you, Valadel! I surprised myself by falling for it. :-)

Bye Karen! xx

There is one of these in my dad's garden - beautiful colour. It's done well this year. Like the photo

Thanks, Mark. I was surprised that I liked it when i saw it again after the Wisley trip, where I wasn't sure about the colour - but I did like it, and now I have it in my garden! :-))

I bought two of these last year Spritz...they are in bud now for the second time...lovely

They're doing well, then. That's good to know. :-)))

This is quite a change in the line of "blue" roses! Most have been a washed out lavender or a muddy "mauve" this one marks a change!

It was voted 'The Rose of the Year' one year, I understand. It still isn't 'blue', is it?

Excuse me for coming in on this thread ... I'm currently looking through plant labels I've finally gathered up & have one for 'Rhapsody in Blue' (Frantasia) ... 'A sweetly fragrant shrub rose with iridescent purple flowers' ... voted rose of the year 2003 by the UK's leading rose growers & breeders! Height 5ft. I planted mine in Spring of this year & have had 2 flushes of flowers ... certainly not blue though!

You don't need to say 'excuse me'...

That seems strange, Shirley. Did you take a photo of the flowers? Were they like mine?

That label fits my rose to a 'T'. I agree that the flowers on mine aren't blue, I'd call them purple, too.

Spritz ... photo of this on my Garden page 2 ... poor quality but you'll see the form looks different to yours. Mine was a David Austin rose. Take a look & see what you think please ....... also, Karensusan has 2 pics of this rose on her garden page for comparison.

I think they are ALL genuine 'R.in B.' Shirley! :-)))