It's alive!

[vettecat]

As some of you know, I used to grow roses. I'm a bit of a rose freak, and when I was living at home, a piece of yard was designated as mine. At the peak I had nine rosebushes, all different colors and scents... the homegrown ones get really big if you treat them right.

But after I moved out I wasn't able to keep up with them. Roses really need frequent attention to be happy, and I couldn't get over there often enough. So over time they weakened, and sadly the winters started killing them off... until only one little rosebush was left.

I had been feeling sad about leaving it there when the new owners took over the house, figuring they'd probably tear it up without realizing what it was. But we don't have a yard with our condo, and our place doesn't get much sun, so I didn't think I had a choice.

But the day before the house changed hands, I was talking with my mother, and she offered to keep the rosebush at her place. (Her condo gets a lot of sun - she has some very happy plants up there.) So we zipped over, dug up the rosebush (with some difficulty), and put it in a pot. I knew the shock of the transplant might be too much for it, but at least this way it had a chance.

It's been at her place for about a week and a half now. This morning she told me that it has some new leaves. Yay! I can't believe it survived, I was really worried about it. But I'm really happy that it did. It'll be nice to at least have one still around. Hopefully it'll continue to grow and be healthy.

What's really amazing is that this was one of the first bushes I got, so it's more than 10 years old, and it was always one of the smallest. I would never have expected it to be the one to survive. I guess you just never know!

Comments

[angwantibo.livejournal.com]

That's pretty amazing for a zone 7 rose! The link says "weak grower... not very winter hardy..." It must have been located very close to the house to stay warm enough. Or did you insulate it in winter?

It's a much older breed and that means smaller and hardier. That probably helped with the transplant.

Looks pretty.

Congrats! I miss the roses at my old house in Brighton. I don't miss watering them, though! They drink like elephants!

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

I know, I was always told it doesn't like cold weather so it's amazing that it hung on. It always has been a small bush but I guess it stayed stronger that way. (And, yes, they do like water!)