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The "Standard of Ur" from ancient Mesopotamia

The "Standard of Ur" from ancient Mesopotamia

24 February 2010

Rose leaves are red



Spring is on its way. You may doubt it if you are in the frozen part of the country, but here in Southern California, we see the signs. Naked trees with tiny shoots of green exploding from branch tips. Finches brightening their colors in preparation for mating. Leaf clusters bursting out from rose bushes.

I love the new leaves on rose bushes almost as much as I love roses. New rose leaves can be red, burgundy, or bronze; flat or folded or frilly. Here, for your enjoyment, are some pictures I took last of new rose-bush leaves.

 

  

  

  

  

  
  

 

9 comments:

KAnderson said...

Your pictures were great. Well done.

Charles Gramlich said...

Lovely color. Lana and I were remarking this weekend on how many trees have buds on them already, even though we have had some brutal cold.

Travis Erwin said...

Great shots. I'm ready for spring but they are calling for over a foot of snow here this weekend.

Angie said...

Great pics. :)

Our new townhouse (into which we're moving on Monday, yay!) has at least one rose bush out in the tiny fenced yard. I have no clue what kind it is or what color or anything. It'll be fun to see. And now I'm wondering whether any of its leaves are red or bronze right now. It'll also be fun to find out what the other various plants were. There weren't many, IIRC, but the rose bush was the only one I recognized.

Angie, who's used to California and has no clue what grows commonly in Washington

Sphinx Ink said...

I never realized that new rose leaves were red, etc., but now that I reflect I recall seeing tiny new red leaves on my rosebushes. How enlightening. Great pix, too. Thanks for the close encounter with Nature.

Lana Gramlich said...

So very pretty. I haven't seen a proper rosebush in years.

Bernita said...

~yearn~
Mine are all still dormant and will be for another month at least.

Shauna Roberts said...

Thanks, KEN and SPHINX INK!

CHARLES, even though we've had a lot of cold weather and rain lately, the trees have started budding and wildflowers have been blooming as if spring were coming at its normal time. The plants must be cuing to the length of the day, don't you think?

TRAVIS, I've been amazed at how much snow Texas has gotten this year. Are you at record levels?

ANGIE, congratulations on your new house. Enjoy your rose bush! After two years in California, I still don't know most of the native desert-tolerant plants yet, and I still make gardening mistakes based on years of living in subtropical New Orleans.

LANA, I know your back yard is pretty shady, but what about your front yard? If you have a sunny spot, I could give you some recommendations for roses that should grow well there.

BERNITA, hoping your rose bushes rouse from their winter slumber soon!

Steve Malley said...

Sadly, that means autumn is coming for me. I'm still waiting on summer... :/