While Shrub ROSES thrive in my gardens, the common Tea ROSE variety (the type of ROSE you buy by the dozen at a flower shop) struggles. Over the years I have been disappointed countless times after planting and babying varieties advertised as able to withstand the harshest northern climates.

The ONLY Tea ROSE that happily comes back every year is the one seen here....and it happens to be the first one I ever planted. Unfortunately, when I added it to my gardens about 12 years ago I lost all the paperwork that came with it so not only do I not know it's name I cannot even remember what company I purchased it from. VERY unlike me. So I refer to it as 'THE' ROSE.

'THE' ROSE is a beautiful combination of subtle color changes that morph from pale peach to glowing gold on the same petal. Out in my gardens after dark (and a heavy early evening rain) I just loved the way the water still clinging to the blossom sparkled in the light of my flashlight.