The First Floribunda Rose - Gruss an Aachen

Floribunda Rose
Rosa 'Gruss an Aachen'
Synonyms: Salut d'Aix la Chapelle, White Willow Glen #1

This rose was photographed at the All-America Selections Garden at Eisenhower Park on Long Island (East Meadow). The garden is right next to the Dahlia Society’s Trial Garden. Here is a link to the history of the AAS. They have a noble mission that started in 1932.
History of the All-America Selection Organization

The Cornell Cooperative Extension Service of Nassau County maintains the garden in East Meadow and it certainly meets the criteria of a AAS garden, which is “a AAS Display Garden provides the public an opportunity to view the new AAS winners in an attractive well-maintained setting.”

Now about the rose. 'Gruss an Aachen' is considered to be the first ever of the Floribunda class of roses. This was the first time I had seen it and it was blooming profusely. It had a wonderful fragrance and the color undertones and shading was really beautiful. It supposedly changes flower color with the outdoor temperature. This must be its hot color as it was blazing on the day I was taking its picture (90+ deg. F). Any rose that was bred in 1909 and can still compete with all the modern cultivars must be special.

David Austin actually categorizes this as an English Rose because it has a lot a lot of the traits of what he thinks of as the ideal English Rose. Other people classify it as a China type and still others as a Floribunda. It is also known as a Polyantha and Hybrid Tea. I am going to leave the classification to the experts and just enjoy the rose.

It certainly could grow in my garden anytime. It is hardy to USDA Zone 6 and has the added benefit of being able to grow in part shade conditions.

Parentage: Frau Karl Druschki × Franz Deegen
Breeder: Philipp Geduldig, Germany, 1909
Average Diameter of the flower: 4 inches
Petal Count: 40 to 50

ABC Wednesday – Z is for Zinnia

ABC Wednesday – Z is for Zinnia
Zinnia elegans 'Zowie Yellow Flame'
(ZIN-ya) (ELL-eh-ganz)

If you are here for Wordless Wednesday scroll down to the next post and thanks for visiting.

In many ways this plant exemplifies what the breeding in annuals has brought us over the years. Petunias, Marigolds and Zinnias are three types of plants that have benefited from the work of these programs. I don’ think even 10 years ago I could have imagined a Zinnia that looks like this one. I really like the growth habit, flower color and the disease resistance that have been included.

‘Zowie Yellow Flame’ was introduced in 2005 and won the prestigious All-American Selection award in 2006. This Zinnia is both semi-double (flower) and semi-tall (plant). It is easy to grow and makes excellent cut flowers. One trial had the flowers lasting up to two weeks in vases. Since I have already featured this plant before I thought I would do a little more research into Zinnias themselves.

'Heartland Red' Zinnia

Zinnias originate from Mexico and were brought to Europe in 1613. They are named after a medical professor, Johann Gottfried Zinn. Who along with his book on the anatomy of the eye, wrote about the plants he saw around Gottingen, Germany and is credited with making the first scientific description of the flower. There are all types of shapes and sizes available amongst the hundreds of cultivars. The smallest plants are 8 inches tall and the tallest range up to 4 to 5 feet. All colors are available except true blue. Zinnias are not particular to soil and are drought resistant.
Some pink Zinnias I saw this summer in Queens, New York

I can’t believe we made it all the way through the alphabet. Twenty six weeks seem to go by very fast and although botanical pictures are hard to come by this time of year I hope we make another trip through the letters.

Here is the ABC Wednesday Blogroll:

mrs nesbitts place
hin's photoblog
tech the man
a bit of this a dash of that
Little Rock Daily Photo
photoxication
Kissing the Dogwood
strolling through Georgia
Ruth's Garden Blog
kate isis
photography by kml
AVCR8TEUR'S Blog
Salty Dogs
The Modern Goddess
Simply Sage
author blog
kai
Mollitudes
ten forty
Neva
Ackworth born, gone West
Secluded Habitat
katch photo
Mr. Mapper
The Max Files
Oswegan
Watch me, No Watch me
Peter Miller
Lynette
Andrea’s Thought of the Day
Photowannabe
RuneE’s Visual Norway
Happy One
Jim Baker Photography
Azure
HPY
cre8tiva
NYCindividual
Lilli and Nevada
Bonnie
Outhouse of Canada
imac

Black Leaf Millet (Pennisetum glaucum 'Purple Majesty')

Black Leaf Millet
Pennisetum glaucum 'Purple Majesty'
(pen-ih-SEE-tum) (GLAW-kum)
Synonyms: Ornamental Millet, Pearl Millet

This is an interesting accent plant that I am seeing more of. I have grown it before from seed and purchased it in small pots in the spring. This year I cheated and bought some in August for planting with my mums. One thing I liked about getting it later in the season, the plants were a lot shorter. It grows to about 4 to 5 feet in the garden. As I said it is an interesting accent both for it’s color and vertical shape. I never knew the scientific name until I went to write this post. I see it is actually a grass and related to couple of my favorite Ornamental Grasses, Fountain Grass. I especially love Purple Fountain Grass even though it is closer to red. Since this plant is hardy to USDA Zone 8 I grow this as an annual. It last pretty late into the season.



I just planted mine in the garden without looking up the cultural requirements and had good luck. For best results this plant likes a sunny spot (which intensifies the leaf color) and good drainage. It doesn’t need a lot of water, which doesn’t really matter to me, but I know is a concern and a good trait for some gardeners. It can tolerate heat. This plant won the All-America Selections Gold Medal Flower award, which is rarely awarded and only to plants that represent a breeding breakthrough. They have been testing new varieties of flowers and vegetables since 1933. Here is a link to more history on the awards.
All-America Selections/History



In the outtake department this plant was my backup ‘I’ subject for ABC Wednesday. I am not sure what species (I wish I had written it down) of Ironweed this is. Ironweed (Vernonia) is a large perennial that some people consider a little weedy. I like it for its height, purple blooms and ability to grow in moist areas; it also blooms pretty late in the season. It is fine for the back of a mixed border or woodland garden. There are some medicinal uses and supposedly you can use the stems to build a kite.