Moon Shadow is the first to bloom of the new roses planted in 1998.   It is a striking lavender color, with a very sweet fragrance.  It compares favorably with the picture that was in the catalog (see Rose_News).   Here's a later shot.

Moon Shadow has joined in the 1999 bloom.  Here are the first few blossoms.

This is a very floriferous rose, witness the following shot.  Remember, this is only the second year this rose has been in the ground.

Now in its third year, Moon Shadow has begun to bloom in 2000.

Moon Shadow has started its second flush in early July.

Late October, and Moon Shadow produces one last blossom.

It's the end of May, 2001, and Moon Shadow has begun to bloom, one of the last roses to do so.

Moon Shadow did not want to wait this year -- it's mid-May 2002 and it's begun to bloom.

Moon Shadow was very badly damaged by the winter of 2002-2003 and has spent the year trying to recover.  It's had some good growth and I'm hopeful that it will be back next year.

Ever the optimist, that's me with regard to my roses.  In 2003, we had growth but no blooms.  Then we had the horrible winter of 2003-2004.  And that's enough said about that!  In 2004, overcoming the odds, we again had growth but no blooms.  Others might have ripped it out but I gave it time.  Then came the even more horrible winter of 2004-2005.  What was left was surely dead!  It sure looked like it this spring but I gave it time and it began to grow again so I pruned out the dead wood and waited.  But surely there would once again be no blooms.  Surely not.  I mean, it hasn't bloomed since 2002!  That's three years ago!

SURPRISE!

It's now Memorial Day weekend, 2006, and Moon Shadow came through the winter in good shape.  Though being overshadowed by Louise Odier, it's still managed to bloom.  Once the spring flush is over and I prune back Louise Odier, Moon Shadow should do much better.

The fourth week of May 2007 brings the bloom of Moon Shadow.

What a difference a day makes!

One more day ....

Another blossom begins.

Poor Moon Shadow!  After all its been through, it's so overshadowed by Louise Odier that I don't know how it managed it, but it has bloomed -- early June, 2008.  Once the spring flush is over, I'll prune back Louise Odier and give Moon Shadow the room it needs to grow big and strong.

Just one day later ...

Given its poor growth last year and the miserable winter of 2008-2009, it's sad but not surprising that Moon Shadow has now passed on from my garden.

Last Updated: 03 Mar 2023

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