Friday, November 18, 2011

Looking Back

Want to see something pretty?  Most roses are pretty from the front, but this one is different.


This rose is best seen from the back!


The back of rose petals is called the reverse.  This rose is 'Prairie Sunset'.  A pale butter yellow on its reverse makes the hot pink color on its front stand out.  As the sun's rays stream through the petals, the lighter reverse makes this rose glow.  I can't seem to keep my eyes off this beauty.  And my pictures don't really do it justice.


Prairie Sunset grows upright, up to 6 ft. tall, and grows taller than it is wide.  Slight scent.  Should be hardy to zone 4.  Occasional blackspot.  Which is sad, because this rose is beautiful and a bit surprising with its contrasting lighter reverse.  I recommend you place this rose in the back of the garden (where you can hide some of the blackspot on its leaves).  But be sure you put it where the light will shine through its petals.  You don't want to miss that golden glow.  It's like a shining jewel.  Oh, how I wish you could see that in my pictures!


I also wish it had a different name.  Prairie Sunset is pretty, but Dr. Buck got carried away, naming at least a dozen other roses with some form of Prairie in their names.  This includes one called Prairie Sunrise.  Prairie Sunset, Prairie Sunrise - very confusing for someone with a simple mind like me!


Still, I certainly understand the Sunset part of its name.  I do think it resembles a beautiful, glowing sunset.  Don't you?

19 comments:

  1. Wow, what a gorgeous rose. I love the different color on the underside of the petals. Looks almost like the new Ketchup & Mustard rose that is coming out.

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  2. Jeg kom tilfældig forbi din blog.
    Hvor har du dog eg flot forside på din blog.
    Smuk Rose.
    Tak for kigget.

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  3. Very pretty. My favorite time for it is where it's still opening and you see both colors a lot.
    Cher Sunray Gardens

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  4. What a lovely combination of colors! If you saw them together in a paint store you might say "hmmm..." but on the rose they really do look like sunset colors. You make me wish I had more space so I could put in some roses!

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  5. It is absolutely stunning! I may have to look for this one in the future to add to my garden.

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  6. Lona - haha What a name! I hadn't heard of the Ketchup and Mustard rose! My house has a red dining room and a yellow kitchen. When I was telling my sister what colors I had painted, she said "oh, yeah - ketchup and mustard!" Really, the colors aren't that bright! I'd like to see this new rose, though.

    Landbohaven - Thanks for commenting. Google Translate didn't do too well on the translation, though. I take it you like my blog header?

    Cher - I think so, too. I rarely look at this rose straight on - I want to see the sides.

    Stacy - Well, I guess you're right! I've never thought about butter yellow and hot pink together. Might be a sophisticated and fun color combination for decorating!

    Cottage Dome - It is really pretty. I do wish I had placed it a little more to the back of my garden.

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  7. You are right! It looks gorgeous from behind!

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  8. Holly, this is an exceptionally beautiful rose, just love it! I just recently started to appreciate roses with a different color on the reverse. So far I only have Baronne Edmond de Rothschild, which shows this phenomenon, but it is quite striking, too. There is always one more fascinating rose to discover, isn't it?
    Christina

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  9. Magnificent rose! is it fragrant?

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  10. That is a lovely rose. You could build a whole bed around it using its colours as the theme, couldn't you?

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  11. Holly, There is nothing like advice from someone who knows rather than wants to sell - e.g. growing where the blackspot can be hidden and yet can be lit to show the off the contrasts. Few of us look that good from behind!

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  12. One - This is the one rose I don't look at from the front!

    Christina - Yes, I love roses with that extra interest of a different reverse. You're so right - there's always another rose to learn about and love.

    Dewi - There is a slight fragrance, so it doesn't disappoint totally, but it's not notably fragrant.

    Lyn - So true! And what a gorgeous and striking bed that would be! Great idea!

    PatioPatch - haha I would hate for my 'good' side to be my backside! :)

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  13. Beautiful rose! Such a pretty contrast of colors. It looks lovely in the picture, so I imagine it's even more stunning up close in the garden!

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  14. Indie - It really is stunning in real life. It really does glow. I should be mad at it about the blackspot but I can't seem to care as pretty as it is!

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  15. Holley this is an amazing rose...I love flowers that look beautiful from behind...and this is a #1!!

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  16. I do think it resembles a sunset ... what a beautiful rose. I love the last two photographs.

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  17. Donna - I never think much to look behind the flowers, unless it is obvious like this one. I agree it's #1, or close! I'm going to have to look at the backs more often!

    Gardening Blog - When the light shines through it, it glows like a sunset, too. You can see it from far away, and it draws you in.

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  18. Wow! How amazing that it can be so bright and so different on both sides. Isn't hybridization wonderful?! She's a beauty.

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  19. Sherry - Gosh, can you imagine having grown this experiment from seed, and seeing its bloom for the very first time? I bet Dr. Buck was just beside himself!

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