- A Warm Weather Girl's Struggle During a Freeze

As the winter weather sets in, many of us rose enthusiasts are left wondering how our beloved bushes will fare during the harsh conditions. I've had my fair share of experience with this, especially when it comes to my 'Rio Samba' roses. Located on the East side of my house, these shrubs have been a constant source of beauty and joy throughout the growing season.

However, this year was different. A sudden and unexpected freeze hit our area, leaving many of us scrambling to protect our plants. My 'Rio Samba' roses were no exception. Despite covering them completely with mulch, they still suffered from leaf burn. It was a heartbreaking sight to see my once-lush bushes struggling to survive.

But I wasn't the only one affected by this freeze. Many of my other rose bushes also showed signs of damage. 'Sophy's Rose', for example, had minimal leaf burn on its East border, while 'Heritage' and 'Abraham Darby' had some new leaf damage. On the other hand, 'Graham Thomas' suffered from a lot of new leaf damage, and 'Teasing Georgia' had only minor burning.

The English roses, with the exception of 'Gertrude Jekyll', were also affected by the freeze. Most of them are grown on their own roots, which may have contributed to their vulnerability. The Knockout family of roses, however, seemed to fare better, with most of them showing burned foliage only on their newest leaf tips.

One rose that surprised me was 'Frontier Twirl', a Griffith Buck shrub rose. Despite being covered due to extreme damage last spring, it suffered very little damage this time around. I believe this is because it was putting on so many new blooms right before the freeze.

The mystery roses - yellow, pink, and red - also showed minimal damage, while 'The Fairy' and 'Carefree Wonder' were slightly more affected. On the other hand, some of my most beloved roses, such as 'Griffith Buck's Front Door Rose', suffered from leaf tip and new foliage burn.

As I observed my garden every morning since the freeze, I noticed that many of my roses were still struggling to recover. The conditions created by this freeze were certainly challenging, but it was interesting to see how each rose reacted differently to the stress.

In conclusion, while my 'Rio Samba' roses and some other bushes suffered from leaf burn during the recent freeze, they are slowly recovering. It's a reminder that even in the toughest of times, nature has a way of bouncing back. As I continue to tend to my garden, I'm grateful for the opportunity to learn more about how my roses respond to adversity and how I can better protect them in the future.

Amazon rio samba rose bush