About six or seven years ago, my mother started “rustling” roses. She proudly did this and did not hide her criminal activity from anyone. She scoured the country side, bar ditches, and cemeteries looking for heirloom rose varieties. As I have written earlier, I am blessed with many heirloom plant varieties passed down from my grandma and mom. (See Family Iris, Great-grandma’s Rose, and Plants from Grandma’s Garden to name a few.) But mom went wild experimenting with cuttings that she secretively obtained. (She started carrying around pruners, pots, and a bit of dirt in the back of her car so she was always prepared to snatch a new specimen.)
I have reaped the benefits of her quest. Since she has moved north, I am the only one left with her rustled roses.
Here is the biggest monument left to me from her quest, a monstrous hedge rose. I love it when it blooms in late spring and early summer. It is covered with small, pink double roses and is a fantastic hide out for all the wrens and sparrows in our yard.
The roses have taken over part of the back fence.
I not only love the looks when it blooms, but it blocks out part of the neighbors!
A close up view.
Mom’s “rustlin'” days are over with (mostly because not many wild roses survive in the northern climate where she now lives). But, I am so glad she has shared these contraband roses with me.
Note: I just emailed these pictures to The Antique Rose Emporium, and received a prompt email back identifying my roses as “Dorothy Perkins.” Mike, from the Emporium, wrote: “It was introduced in 1901 and became a tenacious survivor, characterized by clusters of flowers every spring on a vigorous climbing rose. It does mildew but doesn’t affect vigor.” Please check out their site. It is fun to browse and learn about all the heirloom roses and their histories. Thanks to them for the help in identifying the rose that mom rustled.
