While we technically had a climbing rose back at the farm (with nothing to climb on), this is the first time I've deliberately purchased one, and am so excited for the initial bloom of this Don Juan climber.
Why? Well beyond it's gorgeous red and intoxicating scent, it's survived a really, REALLY tough spring where it and all of our roses (and fruit trees as well) were attacked with rust and other fungal diseases...which is why you do NOT see the whole climbing apparatus quite yet, as I'm waiting for it to fully connect to the trellis as well as let the leaves on it recover to a healthier and yes, more photogenic, place.
Along with that, I'm growing this beauty in a pot. While I've usually only had roses potted in the months before moving them (like when we brought all but one of my beloved roses from our first home to the farm), the back wall of our house - which happens to be completely windowless and therefore begging for a wall trellis! - is also where the oh-so-slight slope ensures a soggy clay soil in winter, not the well draining mecca that our other bushes are in. So it sits atop the gravel border in a tree-size container, and has grown exponentially faster than our other climber that I have on our south-facing fence. Yep, it needs watering more, but considering it comes from our duck pool, I'm not stressin'.
The last bonus about the Don Juan? It's one of the few varieties that will thrive in part shade (btw - Heirloom Roses is an awesome site to search for rose varieties that fit your climate, sun and size needs...I didn't buy this there as I took advantage of my local nursery's 20% off sale in spring, but it's still a worthwhile shop), and because of that it's THRIVING the east-facing wall of our home where it gets sun from morning to early afternoon, then drops into the shade. Score! It's been around since 1958 and for good reason. I'll show you more pictures as it embraces the trellis hopefully later this summer...
"Roses don't always grow in the courtyard of kings, they can also grow in the backyard of beggars." ~ Anu Malik
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