This past week Portland, Oregon (across the Columbia River from my home) celebrated their annual Festival of Roses.  Right on cue, roses throughout the region started their seasonal show.

Today’s vase, a tall crystal one with heavy base, features three varieties of rose along with Paeonia lactiflora ‘Sara Bernhardt’ Peony.

The above photos are of Rosa ‘Charisma’ — a short floribunda shrub with flowers that start out as lovely, tight, light-orange buds edged in red, and open out to a ruffled hot pink blossom with tangerine highlights.

Rosa ‘Easy Does It’ has a layered ruffled blossom in luscious pink to orange tones.

Rosa ‘Madame A. Meilland’ (aka Peace Rose) blooms all summer in a corner behind a mature hydrangea. It is now nine feet tall, and as I walk out the front door of my home (a split-level) I am greeted by Peace Roses at nose and eye level!

Thanks to Cathy at Rambling in the Garden for providing incentive to get back into the gardens and posting!