Roses and Bees

American rambler on one corner of the wall

The roses have started to come out now. I have nine in the main garden, a mixture of climbers, and others and  one American rambler in the front garden whose name I don't know which spreads all over the wall and ends in a bunch at the edge.

Mme Alfred Carriere

Of the climbers the main one in the garden at present is perhaps my favourite,  Mme Alfred Carriere, a wonderful climber which when it has finished it's main flowering will carry on with a few flowers all the Summer. It is practically thornless which is a blessing

Papa Meilland, a French rose, usually hybrid tea but mine is a climber

Papa Meilland  from the back

Another great rose is Papa Meilland, mostly available in this country as a hybrid tea, but I have a climbing Papa Meilland which peers over the hedge and has wonderful scent all summer. 

Abraham Darby, a wonderful pale orange which flowers for ages and smells wonderful

Then there is Abraham Darby,  a spectacular climber with deep pink/orange roses which go on flowering for ages. The only trouble is that its heads are too heavy and bow down. It smells delicious though. 

Felicia, a small-flowered rose which blooms all summer long

I also have Felicia, an early shrub rose with lots and lots of little pink flowers which goes on flowering for ages.  

There are lots of bees in the garden. Of course I have honey bees. I can't identify most of the others  but these two are very common and recognisable. 

Hairy footed flower bee, female is almost completely black and is seen up to May

Buff tailed bumble bee,  very common in my garden