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Hello Garden Photo of the Day readers!
For years we have admired Carla Zambelli Mudry’s botanical displays in Malvern, Pennsylvania. Her expansive woodland garden serves as a living gallery, showcasing a rich assortment of spring bulbs, hydrangeas, Japanese maples, clematis, and roses. Today we turn the spotlight on the roses that are currently bursting into bloom.
The first roses of the season have arrived and are truly spectacular. Carla’s collection, aside from the Floribunda “Queen Elizabeth” (Zones 5–9), focuses on antique and old‑garden roses, complemented by a select few David Austin cultivars. This shift has occurred because antique roses are readily available as own‑root, bare‑root plants, endure winter better, and remain healthier. While many modern roses boast impressive scents, nothing matches the fragrance of an antique such as “Pink Leda” (Zones 4–10).
As an early adopter of David Austin roses, Carla introduced her first “Abraham Darby” (AUScot, Zones 5–10) when the variety was first released in the United States. She also now loves the climber “Lady of Shalott” (Ausnyson, Zones 4–11). This year she re‑introduced “Benjamin Britten” (Ausencart, Zones 4–11) as an own‑root, bare‑root plant; although still short, it is already showing remarkable potential.
Many gardeners believe roses are challenging, but with a consistent care routine—regular feeding, bed maintenance, and pruning—they are surprisingly manageable. Proper feeding and tidy beds are the keys to a healthy rose garden.
The first roses of the season are exhilarating, especially when they are as bright and bold as this double bloom.
Carla mentions that she re‑introduced the Benjamin Britten variety into her garden, a wonderful, bright red‑pink double bloom. The plant is still establishing, but she already has this vibrant cultivar in a similar color, covered in blooms.
Roses are available in a delectable range of colors, but there is still something so pleasing about the creamy white varieties. These roses will glow during the day but are particularly magical in a moonlit garden.
Double bloomers are often favored by gardeners, but if you’re looking to attract and support pollinators, the single-bloom varieties are the way to go. This deep red variety is a stunning color, and the open flowers allow easy access to its nectar.
Any unfurling flower is a pocket of potential. When all goes according to plan, you will be rewarded with beauty. Roses are particularly wonderful to watch as they transform from a simple bud to an explosion of ruffled petals.
On the opposite end of the color spectrum from the light rose we saw unfurling above, this variety of bright magenta roses is covered in fully opened double blooms.
Lastly, Carla’s rose collection pairs beautifully with another genus she collects—clematis. Her wide array of flowers allows for fantastic color combinations, such as this bright white rose contrasting with deep purple clematis.
Thank you so much for sharing these photos of your enviable rose collection, Carla! Roses can be a contentious plant for some gardeners, but it is clear that you have cracked the code and found varieties that thrive in your garden and bring great joy.
What varieties do you collect in your garden? Do you have a rambling rose garden, a parade of perfect peonies, a haven of natives, or a menagerie of rare specimens? Let us know in the comments below, or consider sharing photos of your plant collection with the blog. Follow the directions below to submit your photos to Garden Photo of the Day!
Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you’ve visited.
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You can also send 5–10 photos to [email protected] along with information about the plants in the pictures and where you took them. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you’re proud of, failures you’ve learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.
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