It’s About Thyme
by CHRIS WINSLOW
Plenty of plants have been putting on fantastic displays of color for us this spring – as we all breathe a sigh of relief at the passing of the drought. And surely some of the most dramatic have come from our trusty old friends – the antique and old-fashioned roses.
They’re tough, resilient, beautiful, and every gardener should have at least a couple of them in their landscapes. As you drive around Buda and Kyle, look around and you’ll see what I mean. Here are some that I have noticed recently.
A beautiful Lady Banksia rose is on display over on Elliott Ranch Road. This rose has been planted along the fence line, at the road in front of the property, and I bet it hasn’t been watered by human hands for years. It is a thornless evergreen, cultivated in China for hundreds of years before being introduced into Europe in the early 1800s. She blooms in massive clusters of yellow double and semi-double flowers with a faint scent of violets.
At the entry to Elm Grove Elementary School are two spectacular examples of Mutabilis roses. This shrub rose variety has been in the southern states since the 1860s.
What’s unique about this China rose is that the petals darken with age… instead of just fading. The flowers open sulfur-yellow then turn to orange then light pink to dark pink and end in crimson.
The flowers consist of five-petaled singles that sometimes resemble butterflies… hence the common name, the Butterfly Rose. An additional attraction is the dark burgundy-bronze new growth foliage.
We mustn’t overlook some of the modern roses that have taken up the traits of the tried and true antiques. At Sue Ellen’s in downtown Buda there’s a beautiful display of Knock Out roses. They come in a variety of colors and in single and double flower forms. In fact these Knock Outs are showing up everywhere. Look for some nice displays of them at the South Park Meadows Shopping Center in South Austin.
Also in Buda, near Raby’s Roots, you see a flourishing Belinda’s Dream that seems to just grow out of the concrete. This hardy modern rose has huge clusters of rich, pink flowers that smell wonderful. Just think of the car fumes she has to inhale each day. Doesn’t seem to bother her!
With careful selection, there are tons of antique, old-fashioned and modern roses to choose from that will give your landscape a spectacular look with little to fuss over. Many seem to thrive in the harshest conditions. Happy rose gardening everyone!
Hi there Chris,
My 10-year-old asked me what the name of all the worm-looking things that are falling off the trees here in Austin. I can’t seem to find an answer from Googling it, but your article popped up. Does it have anything to do with the pollen from the oak trees?
Sincere thanks!
Laura Elisabeth Fielder
Dear Laura,
Those worms are forest tent caterpillars and oak rollers. They come from moths and love to eat the new growth. If they ate the pollen we would surely like them but they only eat the new, soft leaves.
If you have a question for Chris, send it via email to [email protected]. Or mail a postcard to It’s About Thyme: 11726 Manchaca Road, Austin, TX 78748. www.itsaboutthyme.com
