The Weather Again (Thursday, December 3, 1998)

What could be more interesting than the weather? Really! This ever-changing constant in my life is endlessly fascinating, always offering me something to react to, discuss, prepare for, blame for frustrations, etc. etc. If there were no weather, life would be dull indeed. Rosarians keep an eye peeled at all times for the extremes of weather conditions that warrant a response. The precious roses must be protected, coddled, covered, uncovered, watered, dried out -- all at the dictates of the skies. Actually, I've learned that roses are far less fussy than most rosarians realize but I certainly do notice their responses to changes in the local climates. A week ago I was rhapsodizing about the glorious late Indian Summer we were enjoying here on the California North Coast and prophesying more weeks of the same. Only days after this pleasant fantasy I found myself in my greenhouse making cuttings while sheets of freezing rain pelted the thin skin of the structure and the dog insisted on coming inside with me to wait out the downpour that was accompanied by dramatic claps of thunder and a few minutes of thick hail. The temperature plummeted in seconds and I shivered with the first solid premonition of winter. So much for Indian Summer! Now my little acre has an aspect that says "Winter" quite clearly. The wet earth doesn't dry out, even if the sun shines for a few days. The shortening days don't provide enough "rays" to make my latest planting of lettuce jump -- it sits there, growing very slowly, the promised salads weeks away. And the roses are bravely making their last attempts at blossoms. But what welcome attempts they are! It always amazes me what appears around the place during these dark days. Mermaid continues to stay green and healthy and the winter blooms are the largest and most beautifully-colored I have enjoyed all year. As I write I can smell the bouquet I have on my desk, perfect flowers from Lady Hillingdon, Baron de Bonstetten, Salet, Baronne Prevost, Mrs. R. M. Finch, General MacArthur and (my favorites of all) the Unknowns -- the Manchester Cemetery Bourbon, one that came to me from Texas known as Apricot China, and a glorious yellow Hybrid Tea I found in the Placerville Union Cemetery. How wonderful, these last, late offerings from the garden. How welcome and how precious.

Previous Rose Wraps Many Changes (Monday, April 17, 2000) Where's Alice??? (Monday, August 16, 1999) Ah, the Celebration...... (Wednesday, May 19, 1999) Long Time, No Wrap.... (Tuesday, April 6, 1999) Is It Spring Yet??? (Wednesday, March 10, 1999) Mothers Day in Mendocino... (Friday, February 26, 1999) Old Blush (Tuesday, February 9, 1999) Plum Blossoms (Wednesday, January 27, 1999) The Dead of Winter (Friday, January 15, 1999) The Old Year Passeth.... (Monday, January 4, 1999) Alba Madness! (Thursday, December 10, 1998) The Weather Again (Thursday, November 19, 1998) El Nino/La Nina (Monday, November 9, 1998)

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White Rabbit Roses
P.O. Box 191, Elk, CA 95432
Proprietor: Alice Flores
Colophon