First rose of the year!

...in our garden at least. If only I could "photograph" the fragrance!

Rosa setigera in bloom

Rosa setigera, known in English as "climbing wild rose" and in French as rosier de la prairie or rosier à feuilles de ronce, is a woody perennial native to eastern and central United States and southern Ontario. The wild roses are currently blooming exuberantly at Riverdale Farm.

Garden bloggers' "Bloom" Day

I just found out yesterday about the Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day tradition. Unfortunately, the only outdoor blooms I have seen in Toronto this year are those snowdrops on Woodbine that I've already posted about twice. So here are the closest approximations to blooms in my (landlords') garden today:

Left: rosehips.
Centre, top: Hibiscus syriacus seed pods.
Centre, bottom: New York aster puffs (Symphyotrichum novi-belgii 'Believer').
Right: creepy bellflower seeds (Campanula rapunculoides).

Rosa: bushes and berries in winter

Rosa spp., known in English and French as roses, are shrubs, most native to Asia, but some are native to Europe, North America, and north west Africa. While commonly grown for their beautiful, often fragrant flowers in shades of pink, red, white, or yellow, allowing them to set fruit ("rosehips") extends the shrubs appeal through the cold winter months.