Sneak Peek: The First Rose!

Posted in Around the Garden on April 17 2012, by Ann Rafalko

This just in: The first rose of the year has bloomed in the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden. Let’s hear a round of applause for Rosa blanda!

Rosa blanda (Hudson’s Bay Rose, Labrador Rose), Species (1773).
A North American native, this very hardy rose bears large, single, fragrant rose-pink clusters of blooms in spring. Height and spread 6 feet with nearly thornless canes and red hips in fall. (Zone 3, nr, ff).

This if a full three-weeks ahead of last year, when we posted the first pictures–including R. blanda–on May 9th. In fact, according to Peter Kukielski, Curator of the Rose Garden, this year’s peak bloom is predicted for early May–an occurrence usually reserved for the first week of June! Peter also says that there are a handful of other roses showing some color.

In other peak blooming news, the Azalea Garden is fast approaching the spectacle that is 100% bloom. Keep an eye on our Azalea Watch Tracker. Manager of Plant Records, Jon Peter, has hinted that peak bloom might begin as early as this weekend.

Spring sure is hopping at the Garden. So why not come visit nature’s showplace? It’s a wonderful time, inside–at the last week of the Orchid Show–and out–amidst our 250 acres! For up to the minute updates, follow us on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, or Pinterest, or friend us on Facebook!