I first started growing Ghislaine de Féligonde back in 2012. If I remember correctly, it was purchased through Vintage Gardens before they closed. I fell in love with the pearl-like buds followed by the blousy flowers in shades of cream to apricot and tiny, bright red hips. Ghislaine is breathtaking when in flower but she is also incredibly robust, disease resistant and shade tolerant making for a wonderful addition to a natural garden setting. Here are some photos of our Ghislaine de Féligonde, a clone of the first one I grew in PA, blooming in our garden last spring.
Just lovely! I’ve gotten stuck in Instagram and haven’t seen the blog for awhile – my loss! Your garden looks so mature and I really do love the grass between the beds which is often seen in French gardens, but not so much in the US. Grass is much more complementary to the roses. I have mulch and it is hard to keep neat looking after dragging the hose around in it. Ghislaine – I have one and always dread deadheading it. How do you deadhead yours – wait until the entire bract is finished, then remove the whole thing, or remove every spent blossom? The latter is what I was trying to do, and it was driving me crazy.
Hi Andrea! I agree with you about the mulch. Something I like even better is pea gravel for between the beds. It’s so tidy and nice to walk on even if there has been heavy rains (which we’ve had a lot of this season.) Ghislaine: I don’t deadhead. Mine never repeats, anyways, so what’s the point is my thinking. Plus, if I don’t deadhead, then I get those lovely hips to look at all winter! 🙂
Thanks, Laurie, that makes me feel better about not deadheading. My pathways will be gravel one of these days. The mulch was a quick fix that became permanent – you know how that goes.
Yes I do!