Earlier this spring, I lamented the loss of Rosa 'Rio Samba' (see "where is the warmth" entry). I have wanted this rose for years and finally last year I built a bed just for roses so I could add it. Everyone loved 'Rio Samba's brilliant oranges and reds.
In early December we had single digit temps. I figured whatever damage could be done had already happened, so I did not cover any of the roses. This March 'Rio Samba' looked dead. 'Tropicana' and a white floribunda looked to be in better shape. I dug out 'Rio Samba' and just pruned the other two.
I could not bring myself to throw the 'Rio Samba' stem away, so I potted it up and sat it on my roofdeck, not really expecting anything. As the weeks went by, the two I left in the bed did nothing, while 'Rio Samba' showed signs of growth. I thought it was just the rootstock sprouting from below the graft, but no 'Rio Samba' was alive.
I had already replaced the 'Rio Samba' in the rose bed or Ma would have killed me, but what a pleasant surprise to now have two. Last week I removed the other dead roses and added the rejuvenated 'Rio Samba' along with a transplanted wild rose that was struggling in the overcrowded meadow.
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