Roses are a passion and they are my muse when I dabble in paint.
There is no doubt in my mind that I tend to be a wee bit obsessive when it comes to roses...
David Austin Rose
Jude the Obscure
Boldly blooming today in our Humble Bungalow Garden.
David Austin Rose
Gertrude Jekyll
Her intoxicating and heady fragrance scents the front border.
Reliable and stalwart Climbing Royal Sunset puts on a great show all summer long.
Her scent is very sweet and has a slight citrus fragrance.
A little luxury is growing roses and picking a few to bring inside our humble bungalow.
I notice roses wherever I go.
Paris and the South of France did not disappoint me...
there were masses of roses that stopped me in my tracks.
"There is nothing more difficult for a truly creative painter than to paint a rose, because before he can do so he has first to forget all the roses that were ever painted."
~ Henri Matisse ~
I dabbled in the paint pot when I was in Auvillar.
Something about the clear blue skies and the bright yellow sunshine inspired me to use bold colours.
The France Holiday Series is drawing to a close soon and life is returning to "normal" here in The Humble Bungalow.
I have felt a definite shift inside me since going to Paris
taking time and allowing my thoughts and feelings to slowly percolate...
I'm taking notes of the small changes within me.
I would not have expected to feel so refreshed and invigorated after 3 weeks away.
Considering the scenic beauty of the landscape
the architecture and history
the rich culture
and idyllic setting it should not come as a surprise...
"a change is as good as a rest."
There is plenty to keep me busy here at home...
I've been taking time to savour the memories of my trip.
I learned one thing about myself while I was away.
I need to slow down like the people I met in the south of France.
I have a "do list" and try to do it all in one day!
So the lesson ~ test will be to slow down my pace...
(if I can)
and take time to stop and linger over a coffee
read an extra chapter in my book
So taking time to stop and smell the roses is a good place to start.
Oh and I forgot a few of my Paris purchases...
so there will be more in a future post.
25 comments:
I think you might not mean "enervated?"
I am so curious as to how your roses came to be. All at once? Over the years? Where do you find them, what are your criteria?
Your roses are beautiful. Did you walk through vineyards in the South? Sometimes they plant roses at the ends of the rows of grapes. When the roses start to droop, it is time to give the vines some water. M, my French student, is coming in a few minutes and I have found a book that I bought in Paris for us to read together. Lingering is good.
Beautiful roses! Your climate must be perfect for them. Ours are just starting to push out buds.
I love this post and you can talk about roses as much as you want! So sorry I lost my 20-year-old Graham Thomas this year due to a deep freeze that killed so many plants last November. We went from 77 degrees to -13 overnight. Even the hardy David Austins had a hard time with that. Your roses inspire me to plant anew!
Thank you I meant to type invigorated...I have amended the post.
The rose habit started with a few small ones in the late 1980's and then...when they thrived and I won best bloom of show at the Vic Horticultural Show and won the silver rose bowl I was head over heels in love with roses.
Before long my lust list for roses grew and far exceeded the space I have to grow them in...so climbing roses have been a way for me to have more flowers without sacrificing space for the others...my criteria when choosing roses are that they are repeat bloomers, fragrant, large multi petalled varieties and hardy. We have clay soil so their roots are usually damp which keeps most roses happy as they love water and are greedy feeders.
I visited on vineyard on my last day in the South of France and I did not notice any roses near the vines...but it's a charming and creative idea!
We've had a warm winter and an early Spring so they have been very happy. The local strawberries are several weeks ahead of when they usually ripen and I am guessing that the other crops are following suit...
Oh dear I am sorry that you lost your DA Graham Thomas...I will try to take a picture of ours and post it for you. I lost my Peace rose after about 15 years...I think sometimes they get tired and weak and are vulnerable to the elements....replanting is a great idea!
Although I do not have a green thumb or, as the French say, "la main verte" (a green hand) like Mme Mère, who could coax life out of any seedling, I adore roses. When I was born, she planted a Ste. Thérèse rose bush in my honor, my patron saint. I have no doubt it's still blooming somewhere in Toulon, although we are long gone.
Mme Mère would adore your roses. Next week, it will be two years since she left us. You've no idea how this post touched me. Thank you.
xoxo, M-T
Beautiful post. The roses are starting to come up here in Brooklyn and Rose Night is next week the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. I hope to attend! I'm doing a post on peonies and hope to have it up in the next day or so, the peonies were stunning this year in mid-May. They made me so happy. Can't wait to see another Paris purchase post from you. You should write an in-depth review about Hermes as well, particularly the service. I find it very interesting to read how the service is from H to H around the world. For instance, I love the Wall St. boutique in Manhattan but have mixed feelings about Madison Avenue. Tell us what you learned about visiting the Mothership! xx
I love that you've used bold colors in your new rose paintings. I think the line "a change is a good as a rest" is so true.
Beautiful photos. That shot of the pink climbing roses is sooo typical of what we saw on our trip as well. I loved the bright flowers against the old stone...and those shutters! When we first saw them on houses, I exclaimed to my husband..."Look shutters...that...shut!" They are NOT just decorative...but useful as well. Loved that about France.
Your climbing Royal Sunset is stunning. We have many roses in our California garden, they never cease to delight. Some are quite finicky, but so beautiful they are well worth the extra effort. Thank you for this beautiful post. Happy weekend!
From Margie in Toronto - just absolutely lovely flowers - you definitely have a green thumb! I've just been catching up on all your Paris posts as I've been away myself. So glad that you had such a wonderful time and I loved all the photos (and thank you for so many links) - I'm going to bookmark a few as Paris is probably my next overseas trip. I've never been so I'm hoping 2016 at the latest. What I tend to do is an overseas trip one year and the next year here in Canada or the US (and that's the year I also buy a few things for my apt. - the paycheque only stretches so far). I'm just back from Iceland so a very different type of vacation from yours - but lots of fun. I always look forward to your posts so thank you again for taking the time.
Your roses are beautiful...roses seem to look their best in a well love and tended garden, such as yours. Were you able to visit the Bagatelle when you were in Paris ~ extraordinary!
I look forward to seeing your other purchases.
No I did not visit the Bagatelle...I must look it up online and see what I missed...
Oh and when I was a house guest in Auvillar we opened the windows at night and closed the shutters in the heat of the day...they are quite beautiful as well as being functional!
Margie,
Thank you and your travel plans sound quite tempting. Advance research has paid off for us when we visit somewhere new and I wish you good luck on your next trip and if it is Paris I think you'll be every impressed with the city, bistros, cafes, bakeries, museums and the shops...if you get the chance do try to spend a few days in the more rural / country area of France as it just oozes charm.
Roses are really not difficult to grow...if you buy a hardy plant and give it food, water, and prune it every year you should be rewarded with gorgeous blooms.
That rose sounds like a great one to start with, and such a fitting tribute to your Mme. Mere.
Your roses must indeed be spectacular with all the California sunshine and heat!
I would love to see some pictures if you get the chance...
It's interesting how we find new energy...beautiful scenery inspires me to be creative and also meditative.
Your roses are beautiful! My roses just finished their first flush of bloom this year. I planted a David Austin Zepherine Drouhine climbing rose this spring. It shows no sign of blooming yet, but it grows taller every day. I hope it will grow to be as beautiful as your climbing roses are.
The quote I know well, and your art roses are perfect just as they are, you are a true outsider artist, love the Rose paintings, and the innocent feel I get from them is art gallery at its finest.
Beautiful post and will see you soon.
I also paint roses, and can be seen in my etsy solds, as well as older blog postings.
Xoxo
Dore
gorgeous flowers x
Your roses are exquisite! We are having our first spring in new (old) home and enjoying new surprises every day. My very favorites are peonies, and we have a border of five, from soft pink to vibrant fuchsia. Such a welcome after a long, cold winter.
Enjoying your French travels very much!
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