EARLY WILD ROSE

ROSA BLANDA SHRUB, 5' TALL, THORNLESS...

...FLOWER

Tuesday, 8:00 AM.  58 degrees F at the ferry dock, 56 on the back porch.  Wind variable and calm.  The sky is clear, the humidity 80%.  The barometer is falling, now at 30.25", predicting thunderstorms Wednesday night and Thursday morning.  The holiday weekend should be pleasant and sunny.

   Yesterday's post described the new Salmo (the original name of lumber baron Pike's mansion nearby) trail through the Pike's Creek marsh.  There were some interesting plants along the trail, which I didn't mention.  Among them were some very pretty wild roses, that I have identified as Rosa blanda, which is known by several common names, among them early wild rose, meadow rose, and prairie rose.  

   It is native to southeastern Canada, the Great Lakes states, and south and west into the prairie states.  Its flowers are mostly single, with five petals that are light to dark pink.  The flowers have little scent.  The leaves are pinnately compound, the leaflets toothed.  The plant is virtually thornless. which is a good identification characteristic. The shrubs along the trail are about 5' tall.

   Rosa blanda grows in full sun to part shade, and prefers sandy soil and a moist location. The red rose hips add winter interest.  Although it is not as floriferous as cultivated roses it is quite pretty, and is a good plant for native landscapes.