The weather was amazing today. I think it was in the 70s here! Ran around in a shortsleeve t-shirt most of the day, thought about putting on shorts! Where is my snow?

But here's a Kordes' Perfecta to help with the lack of blooms for me!

Well, not yet mid December yet but soon. Your rose is lovely. Some of mine are still blooming also.

What other plant provides flowers 7 months out of the year? I can't think of many! I brought these in yesterday - the last bouquet of the year. Some years my last bouquet is in late October, other years it's in November, but this is the first year that so many blooms continued into December. Talk about a Christmas Rose!

And such a nice variety of blooms!

Let's see, what's in there:

Vavoom!
Cherry Parfait
Paloma Blanca
Country Dancer
Day Breaker
Peace
Love & Peace
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Iceberg
Queen Elizabeth

America also had some blooms, but they were too high up (at least ten feet) for me to get at them. But now that I think of it, I could have leaned out the window and snipped one or two. Golden Celebration was also in bloom, but a little past its peak to include in the bouquet, as it would have shattered quickly.

And now the long wait till next May begins.

Sigh.

The colors of the birds on the deck are going to have to sustain me till the blooms of next spring arrive.

'Tis the last rose of summer,
Left blooming alone;
All her lovely companions
Are faded and gone;
No flower of her kindred,
No rosebud is nigh,
To reflect back her blushes,
Or give sigh for sigh.

I'll not leave thee, thou lone one!
To pine on the stem;
Since the lovely are sleeping,
Go, sleep thou with them.
Thus kindly I scatter,
Thy leaves o'er the bed,
Where thy mates of the garden
Lie scentless and dead.

So soon may I follow,
When friendships decay,
And from Love's shining circle
The gems drop away.
When true hearts lie withered,
And fond ones are flown,
Oh! who would inhabit
This bleak world alone?

You know, Mike, I've always loved the song composed on the basis of that poem, especially Deanna Durbin's rendition of it, but I think I've never read all of the lyrics before. They're a little bit sinister. Maybe I've been watching too much TV, but the sentiments expressed strike me as the rationale of those peculiar serial killers known as "angels of death."

Oh, my! I never thought of that! However I find I like many songs only until I actually hear and understand their lyrics, so add one more...

The rose bouquet is lovely, though.

I always thought the poem was just a metaphor for finishing off the last beer in a six-pack!

A much more light-hearted interpretation; I like it!

Got some snow Saturday night.. was out until 1am and the roads were crappy! Haven't seen a rose bloom in months, but had a vinca blooming last week! Yesterday the high was about 17degs and it was down to 4degs when I got home at 1030pm.. the wind was extremely light, thank goodness, otherwise it would have been brutal.

That weather sounds aweful, It is about 60 degreees here but that is overly warm for us this time of year. Temps supposed to drop again in the next few days.

At least Home Depot admits that these are dyed roses! But they're pretty... however, I'd rather spend the $70 on buying rose bushes.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/...

They are at least very unusual. I think they are pretty but would never spend the money for cut flowers. I would rather plant something in the garden instead.

The worst thing yet is when they sell Poinsettia's spray painted all kinds of garish colors and then add glitter to them. There oughtta be a law....

Calsurf73 said:The worst thing yet is when they sell Poinsettia's spray painted all kinds of garish colors and then add glitter to them. There oughtta be a law....

Let's get a poisonous plant and make it even more dangerous... LOLL but I do think they're pretty.

This is what the "premier" nursery here in the Metro is selling
http://tagawagardens.com/tgpoi...

And since we're the home of the Denver Broncos & Tagawa's is the Official Nursery of the Denver Broncos, LOOOOOOOOOOTS of Blue & Orange poinsettas.

As long as people keep buying, the insult/assault to the poor plants will continue.

Remember when PLASTIC flowers were in style ?
When I was kid in the '50's and '60's my mom had this big white milk glass bowl that sat on the dining room table which was filled with hideous plastic football mums. As the seasons changed, she'd swap it out for plastic tulips, daffodils, etc. which were equally as horrific...especially as they faded with each passing year.
I won't even go in to what she had at out at Christmas. Oy vey !

Mike - I do plastic flowers in hanging baskets on either side of my door. Lot cheaper than buying petunias that I forget to water & then they promptly croak. I also switch them out with festive autumn leaves & then plastic poinsettas for Christmas (which reminds me.. I need to do that either tonight or tomorrow).