Roses.

[Callaird]

I bought a white rose bush at the beginning of May in memory of my gardener boyfriend who died at Easter.

It is in a lead planter, I buried a few things in the bottom of the planter in a ceramic pot and a birthday card for him.

The roses have started to bloom, I have one white rose, one pink rose and a yellow rose! Does anyone know why this has happened?

I bit woo I know but I am (wishfully) thinking that he is messing with me! But I would like to know why this was happening!

I have a photo and will see if I can work out how to put it on my profile.

[Eyesunderarock]

You probably have a Joseph's Coat rose. Did you buy it from a garden centre and it got plonked in the wrong section.
What did the label on the stem say?

[Eyesunderarock]

If you take it back, they should refund the money.
I have several varieties of white rose that are lovely, got them from David Austin roses who are very reliable.

[Hassled]

It sounds absolutely lovely, and a really nice way to remember him.

Am I right in thinking that roses tend to be grafted (like apples) <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=1.bp.blogspot.com/-WDEc1AqD3Pk/UZOKmTjNvOI/AAAAAAAAAJE/Vdj6Nj9UTUM/s1600/1.jpg&imgrefurl=pasionrose.blogspot.com/2013/05/rose-grafting-roses.html&h=224&w=380&sz=14&tbnid=wuxhgMCXhdLnKM:&tbnh=71&tbnw=120&zoom=1&usg=__F2NgBcWel4rr1RMGGXwQg9ne9Yk=&docid=Fm1L8R3jKaJo3M&hl=en&sa=X&ei=DyTXUdjgM_Ly0gXZ3YCgBg&sqi=2&ved=0CEMQ9QEwBA&dur=2674" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">- explanatory picture ? So maybe three different roses were grafted on to the same plant? I want one!

[Hassled]

A Joseph's Coat, you say? I feel a trip to the garden centre coming on.

[Callaird]

I bought it from a reputable website, they say that it shouldn't happen, that no-one else has let them know if it has happened. That their roses are grafted onto white root stock and as far as I can tell the bush is one stem.

I actually quite like it! It's his rose, it has him buried beneath it, I'm not sending it back. The company have offered to replace or refund but it's his!!!

[Eyesunderarock]

Yup, grafted.

[Eyesunderarock]

Think of him sniggering happily at the joke.
Do they know what variety it is?

[Callaird]

I've googled Joseph's coat and it doesn't look like that!

I can't work out how to make my profile public. Do you need to be signed in to view a profile?

[Eyesunderarock]

I can see the rose, it's not a JC.

Ask the nursery what it is, they sell it so they should be able to identify it.
Looks like a sort of Peace rose.

[Callaird]

It's a floribunda. I think! I know nothing about flowers at all but I found floribunda rose in the paperwork when trying to google it.

I think profile is open now.

[Eyesunderarock]

Floribunda is the type, like a tea rose or a moss rose. It doesn't tell you what the colour is.

[Eyesunderarock]

It is beautiful, what is the scent like?

[Callaird]

I ordered a white rose bush! People said white was a sign of peace and rememberance so that's what I ordered.

I did have a mild panic when it arrived as I know that he loved red roses and planted them in most of the gardens he tended (or his gardens as he called them!!)

But again, I know nothing about flowers or gardening, I kill even the most hardy plants, even killed a rubber plant when I was younger!

(I can grow strawberries though!)

[Callaird]

The smell is lovely! Very heavily scented. Reminds me of childhood (35 years ago) when we used to pick the petals off my (very busy and hard working) dad's rose bush and make perfume with water!

[Eyesunderarock]

We used to do that with my grandfather's roses!
Lovely scent, floribunda means a lot of flowers, a surprise to make you smile?
I'd keep it. They are very hardy and difficult to kill.

[Callaird]

I am going to keep it. I think it is pretty. The pink rose was much darker when it first bloomed but has faded a lot and I think the yellow one will fade too. The white one was a bit more cream coloured when it first bloomed too.

I just wondered if someone knew if there was any reason for this to happen but seems that aside from grafting, which the company says is not likely, no-one knows.

Unless anyone can tell me different, I am going to believe that it is his way of letting me know that he is still around watching over me! Call me irrational but as I am still grieving I can pull it off!!

[Eyesunderarock]

Good response. I am sorry that he died and left you, but you sound as if the memories are good.

[TheFogsGettingThicker]

It is lovely, and I think it has more "personality" as it is.

I can see it is definitely now HIS rose, and is therefore unique to you both .

[Callaird]

I'm sorry that he died and left me too. He wasIS a good man and I love him very much. I have some great memories but wish there were more. He was only 36 and we were only together for a year, although I'd known him longer. It's just so unfair. And I miss him.

The rose has actually taken my mind off things for a while and imagining him messing with me has made me smile for a bit!

Sorry!!

[Callaird]

Thank you theFogs. It is definitely his rose. I have put a photo of it as it is today in my keepsake album I am making of memories and photos of him. I hope it does this every year.

There are two more buds yet to bloom, I'm hoping for a blue and a purple one now!

[funnyperson]

I like it, I think it is pretty.

[Callaird]

Thanks funnyperson Me too!

Now another question.

The pink rose which bloomed on Tuesday, the day after the white one which is fine, has dropped half it's petals.

Does anyone know why this would be?

Like I said previously, I know nothing about gardening, I planted it in a planter as I am hoping to move soon, I used compost from the garden centre that had little tiny balls of nutrients. It said it was fine for fruit and vegetables. I water it early morning and late evening, I try to keep the water to the base. I haven't fed it. Is there a good rose food?

It made me sad!

[cantspel]

If you like bananas feed it your banana skins. Just chop them up and put it around the rose bush or blend them and add them to the water you water it with as roses love potassium and it will do wonders for the blooms.

I think it is a lovely just the way it is.

[hollyisalovelyname]

Callaird just read your original post and want to send my sympahy to you. What a lovely idea you had. I'm not great with roses- not bad - but not great. Feed it, use roseclear and dead head is as much as I know and they still come back. I do use the banana skins but i just fling the whole skin at the root I shall cut it up in future!!!

[Rhubarbgarden]

Beautiful rose.