Out for a Sunday Drive

I knew I forgot something yesterday

. . .

I wanted to write about the drive we took yesterday.

I thought we were just going on a "cigarette run" for the husband

but we left the bank going in the wrong direction.

Asked where we were going . .

found out we were going for "a drive."

This is a Joseph's Coat Climbing Rose

Notice how the flowers look like they are different colors?

In the life of the "flowers"

they will go through color changes

a bud . . .

 Three different stages of the actual bloom.

 And here is the info tag
in case you think it is something you would like.

Basically,

I do not like roses.

They look to "perfect"

and have absolutely no smell.

I have read

that they have lost their smell

]through genetically trying for that

"perfect" specimen.

BUT,

I do like the Joseph's Coat.

I will buy them

without even seeing a bloom.

And,

I LOVE roses

that smell like

"powder rooms."

When we lived in Logan,

we planted a HUGE BLOOMING

climbing pink rose

right outside our bathroom window.

(Can't stand a bathroom with the windows down in the summer

and since our window opened onto our neighbors driveway

some camouflage was needed.)

This rose had the BEST smell.

reminded me of that talcum powder

that was so prevalent when I was growing up.

Clean,

fresh

and comforting.

I have jet to find another one like that

BUT,

I did find something interesting

plus it smells great.

This is the Don Juan Climbing Rose.

It's blooms are so dark

they almost look black.

Their smell . . .

ah, yes, their smell.

It is just delicious.

To hard to describe,

but reminds me of the

smell of roses when I was growing up.

You know,

back in the horse and buggy days

before botanists started messing with plants.

This is the plant.

Don't the blooms look almost black?

 Not a great bud picture
but there are four of them just waiting to open.

Again,
the actual bloom is 100 times prettier than this.

Finally,

this is the tag you look for if you want one.

Last but not least,

a Russian Hollyhock

and a Columbine.

This is the hollyhock.

If the picture on the tag is correct

it will be a single,

old fashioned

yellow.

This is the
Columbine Garden.
The one on the right is the new one.

 Close up of the older columbine
Somehow, there are two different colors
coming up together.
Must have gotten two different plants in the same pot
when this one was bought.

Newest Columbine.

I HAD

to post close-ups

of all three of the blooms we have this year.

This is the older blue and white

that grows from the base of the pink one.

The pink columbine

that

TOWERS over it's blue siblings.

This year's blue purchase.
I think it is more purple than blue . . .
hope it stays that way.

And what

a productive

drive it was.

Signed,

Lover of the Joseph's Coat Rose

(9509)