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Thirty Days in the Garden: Lady Banks Rose

It’s Lady Banks rose season. We have a pair of these climbing roses (Rosa banksiae) growing on either side of the orange tree. Their soft yellow blooms are cheerful and a nice way to brighten up the fence. The orange tree growing in the same corner is densely foliated, providing shade year-round. The roses grow just outside of the orange tree’s perimeter, along two fences and the back of the garden swing.

Lady Banks Rose Rosa banksiae

Lady Banks is a low-maintenance rose, requiring little water or fuss. They bloom once a year in spring, and the show is spectacular. Tiny roses cascade along a thornless vine.

I’m supposed to prune the vines just after they bloom for vigorous growth the following season. The problem I have is that I’m never quite sure that they’ve finished blooming. It’s hard not to want to preserve their beauty as long as possible.

Lady Banks roses

I think I did better last year given the prolific blooms, but when I look at some of the nursery photos online I think I can do better!

Our back fence, left of the orange tree

No matter. They’re a garden darling and they are here to stay.

The vine arched over the walkway to join the bougainvillea

In other news, Mike and I received our first dose of the Moderna COVID vaccine this morning. It took weeks to find available appointments for our first jab. They scheduled our second appointment before we left. Four weeks from now we’ll return for our second dose. By early June we’ll be fully vaccinated.

We’re impressed with the efficiency of the process. We were in and out in under an hour and that included check-in, paperwork, the jab, and the obligatory 15 minute waiting period before we could leave.

I hope the vaccine is making it into your arm soon if you haven’t received one already. I’m feeling hopeful for the first time in a year.

Now back to those roses.

13 thoughts on “Thirty Days in the Garden: Lady Banks Rose”

  3. A beautiful rose – we had (have) one spanning the old stone wall on our terrace in France. It’s probably in bloom now which will help make the place look pretty for potential buyers. Fingers crossed

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  4. How beautiful! I have the same problem pruning my azaleas which I think is why we haven’t got very many blooms the last two years. It looks like we may do better this year.

    Stephen and I have had our first dose. I’m glad so many people are. Still many to go.

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  7. Oh, my goodness, those are some gorgeous roses!!! I am just sick with envy looking at them and so happy that you have them in your life. And an orange tree!!! We had snow yesterday… I was at the nursery last week and they had lots of rose bushes out for spring planting and now I’m going to go back and take a good look at them. I have to replace a fence in the backyard and then it would be a good time to put in climbing roses….

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  8. It is such a pretty rose, Alys. Not having thorns makes it doubly welcome.I understand about not wanting to cut off the flowers when running. I have an oregano plant; even though the flowers are insignificant, the bees love it. I try to leave it as long as possible for those hard working girls to get the full benefit.
    I am so pleased you will be fully immunised soon. You need something to lighten your heart! Our roll out has been a shambles.

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  9. Heavens to Murgatroyd ! This would be the jewel of any garden. I really must try to visit in the spring, it’s a whole new garden. Does this rose have a scent hon? In our grocery markets, we can by really tiny roses that look like really frilly and pretty. But they’re very tender, so just for indoors up here. Oh, how I wish I could have your pretty things in our yard!! xK

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