Autumn Blooms

If you push me, I'll admit that fall is my least favorite season of the year.  With the time change, it is dark when I come home from work.  My gardening energy flags, as evidenced by the tall weeds waving in the crisp air.  The roses' gangly branches reveal jaundiced leaves.

We had rain this week, which is a good thing for the garden, but prevents actual gardening.  Today, we are having a brief respite.  I went outside to take stock and snapped these pictures.

DEJA BLUE

DEJA BLUE is a Miniflora, which basically is a miniature rose with a larger bloom.  It is a light mauve with a darker purple edging.  It usually has quite nice form, although this one's center is askew due to it growing practically upside down.  I had it in the pot for a couple of years and have only recently planted in the ground.

PINK INTUITION

This lady, PINK INTUITION, is so photogenic, especially in front of the blue of my house.  (Yes, I'm the only blue house in the neighborhood.)  Her stripes are so distinct and the bloom lasts forever in the vase.  Of course, there is no scent since nobody is perfect.

RED INTUITION

Her sister, RED INTUITION, is also blooming.  (Do related roses have the same length cycles?  It seems so.)  She looks a little pink here; she is more red in real life.

Camellia 'SAWADA'S DREAM'

I know this isn't a rose, but my camellias are starting to bloom.  I call them my winter roses because they bloom just when the roses start looking shabby.  I take a certain amount of pride in SAWADA'S DREAM because I actually got it free from Nuccio's Nursery.  The person there said that since I live near the coast, I should only buy single camellias, not doubles, for they would not open.  I did buy a lot of singles that day, but I really wanted to try a double.  Hence, the guy threw in this SAWADA'S DREAM for free since he was sure that it would be a dud for me.  Well, ta-da!  She is lovely!