Alister Stella Gray

It does not surprise me to hear that _over there_ this rose is a long
bloomer, but the whole garden crew here  would probably have a fit. They
keep complaining that well, yes, it is not a bad rose after all, but it is
not worth the efforts, because it has too short a blooming period(They would
probably rather have one of those eternal blooming and boring HT)
I have 4 ASG roses  growing  along the parapet wall of Villa Aurelia. They
grow fast and have to be pruned to keep them within their limits (a 4 m.
high treillage, and each plant is more than 4 m.wide) They bloom only once,
in May, and are literally covered with hundreds of lovely scented flowers.
The garden is inundated by their perfume, but after perhaps three weeks it's
all over, and the Fall bloom is not very exciting. Or at least it was not
until some days ago, but when I finish to write this message I will go have
a look...who knows. 
On  another parapet I planted other roses, and some proved more reliably
long performers in this climate, including Cl. Cecile Brunner, Blush
Noisette and the modern, but old fashioned looking, Pierre de Ronsard (which
has no smell, alas!). I have to add that we water, to keep these roses
blooming for a long season. If we did not, I guess they would go dormant
during the summer and start again now. 
Talking about plants that bloom only once but are unforgettable, did I ever
mention the Caesalpinia sepiaria I grow on yet another parapet? We raised it
from seeds and planted it in open ground some 5 years ago. After having
smothered its parapet, Caesalpinia assaulted  an ancient wall 6 mt high,
reached its top and clustered with its flowers the wrought iron balaustrade
of the above balcony. Last year it started to climb a very old Quercus ilex
nearby, and it has now reached the top, some 12 m. above the soil. When the
canary yellow , erect panicles of flowers emerge against the dark foliage of
the oak, it is really a wonderful sight. The only drawback are the powerful
thorns, that recommend the plant for hedging against intruders or animals,
but make it very unpopular with gardeners and casual passers by.

Alessandra
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