Second Year Winner.

[leene_chan]

Every year I make the mistake of underestimating Polareis, our only rugosa rose. Once again she takes the prize as the first rose to bloom in our garden. Her flowers are beautiful and smell wonderful, but somehow I always ignore her in favor of the Austins/Buck roses/OGRs. Maybe that's because right now, with her monstrously spiky canes and lettuce-like foliage she makes a really odd, wild-looking plant. Of all the roses in our yard, she's the closest to becoming a real shrub.

Lots of blooms on deck, but the weather's been lousy; Belle de Crecy, Charlotte, Winter Sunset, Darcey Bussell and Marianne are all trying to open their flowers, but there hasn't been enough sun. I guess that Polareis doesn't care!