Roses are universally popular, but I’ve never been sure. The blooms are gorgeous, yet the foliage and thorns can be a bit mmhhhh. This year though, the hot dry spell followed by cool rains have boosted their growth. I’ve chosen, perhaps for the first time ever, a rose theme for #SixOnSaturday.

First up is a non-fragrant shrub rose that I keep because there are always so MANY flowers. So many this year that the branches are weighed down to the ground. I’ve cut lots for vases, and there are lots more.

Against the west wall, in the teeth of the prevailing wind, a peachy little number loves the breeze.

Nearby, a rose is busy trying to grow through a forsythia that really needs a good prune. Not sure about the raspberry ripple colours here.

Hard against the west wall of the house is a climber that I need to keep tying into supports to stop it thrashing around. It rewards me with sprays of pure white blooms, these a little pock-marked in purple by the rain.

I love this new one. A David Austin rose, possibly Strawberry Hill. the blooms are fist sized, full and smell slightly spicy. Only knee-high this year, but I think this one will reach 1-2m.

Last, yet very much not least. This looks like a very old rose, clearly been here for many many years. Old fashioned, huge thorns and massive blooms (an out-stretched hand’s width). They have a really classic ‘rose’ smell. Perhaps I’ll save the petals and try to make rose tincture, tea, or syrup.

You’ll have seen from the water drops that our weather is….Scottish….I guess it is a relief that we’re not having the 40 deg C heatwave that is plaguing countries a bit further south. Great weather for growing kale, not sure about my squash…hold your breath for a veg-special coming on a Saturday soon.

Join the sixes on Mastodon via #SixOnSaturday, but we need a few more folk to toot on the topic: come join us. All you need to do is find 6 things in your garden to show us. Then post on social, or add a link at Jim’s blog below. For regulars, our organiser is Jim at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. Also on twitter @JamesLStephens. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot