In late January, this rosebush was a tangled mess of roots & twigs, nothing more.
I amended the soil, added water and compost tea. I whispered prayers as I weeded, released an entire carton of ladybugs over the rosebed when an aphid infestation hit. And ealier this morning, Pope John Paul II made his grand debut in my garden!
Bird by bird, rosebud by rosebud…this is how miracles reveal themselves, I've finally realized.
I'll show you more blossoms at some point (ha, did you harbor any doubts?), but it seemed appropriate to feature this one on Thankful Thursday.
ETA: Pope John Paul II in full bloom, just in time for Mother's Day! Pure white petals, strong citrus fragrance…a slice of Heaven, here on earth!
The subtle touch of pink at the edge is pretty.
I like that too! It’s supposed to be pure white (hence the name), but I’m partial to pink, so there you go! 🙂
Oh YUM. *drools*
Good job with the Pope rose!
*curtsies* Thanks! PJP II was afflicted with lots of ailments early on, so I’m especially happy to see it come into bloom.
Lovely 🙂
Thanks for stopping by to “smell the roses.” 🙂
Beautiful roses. Will any kind of tea work or are some blends better than others?
It’s not the kind of tea you’d sip with a friend…it’s a sachet of organic ingredients called “Bu’s Bru.” Like Miracle Grow, but much, much better for your plants & soil.
Easy-peasy directions: You steep the teabag overnight in water, stir to aerate, and then sprinkle it on/around the rosebushes with a watering can.
I’ve linked to its manufacturer in my entry…but believe it or not, you can buy it on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Bus-Brew-Biodynamic-Compost-Bags/dp/B003WIL2OK/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a delicate rose before. It’s beautiful.
It is, isn’t it? And so fragrant! I feel lucky to have it growing in my garden.
beautiful.
congratulations.
Thank you, Heather!
I feel like a proud mama, showing off my little rosebud. But with a flower as beautiful as this, is it any wonder? 🙂
Yay!
*big smiles*
A rose expert told me she created a private sanctuary in her yard, designed especially for her Pope John Paul IIs roses. She planted a trio of PJPs, and then surrounded them with (purple) Our Lady of Guadalupe roses. My garden’s far more humble (see also: eclectic), but wow, I’ll bet her rosebed is a show-stopper!
Breathtaking.