Monday, January 05, 2009

National Velvet

A Rose Touched By Gentle Sunlight

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON


When we built this house, the Authorbloglets and I created the garden and planted everything that grows in it. This rose bush is in our back yard and it is the only one of its kind that we have - the best way I can describe the colour is to call it bronze.

It has an unusual scent as well. I'm not sure about the breeding background, but I'd love to know where the characteristics of this subtle scent came from. It's more like the buttery scent of a Fuji apple than the waft of a traditional rose.

I was tinkering around in the garden when I noticed that the late-evening sun was playing across the petals, endowing them with a quality that was almost like watching rich velvet. I had to resist the urge to touch it - and to get my camera instead.

Visit Luiz Santilli Jr for the home of Today's Flowers.

36 comments:

  1. This rose looks so beautiful that it seems almost unreal!

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  2. That is very pretty with all the shadows!

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  3. Beautiful rose. I post a rose too.

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  4. Very beautiful rose, David! Lovely colour too. Have a wonderful, rosy 2009!

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  5. Your rose is what poetry and paintings are made of! Beautiful but arn't all roses! Smiles to you today!

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  6. BLooming gorgeous!!

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  7. David, you have me stumped. I have a whole bookshelf of Rose books but was not able to find any mention of National Velvet. I'll keep looking. Can you give me a few more clues, i.e. year of purchase and aphoto in ordinary light, preferably with leaves and hips. It looks and sounds David Austinish. Size and shape of bush would be helpful too.

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  8. David, this color has attracted my attention since you started sharing it. Wondering what type of rose it was I went looking. Is it an Apricot Rose?

    Cheers!

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  9. Anonymous6:26 AM

    Beautiful shot; funny to see roses in full bloom while my gardenis almost bare.

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  10. Very lovely Rose. Smiles B

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  11. Very lovely Rose. Smiles B

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  12. Beautiful. Makes me yearn for the summer.I can almost smell it.

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  13. Once again a wonderful rose photo David!
    My Grandmother's garden was always full of roses and you have reminded me of my wonderful childhood, so thanks!!

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  14. You can almost feel the softness of the petals, as soft the feather of peacock. Beautifully captured, David

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  15. A very, very beautiful rose. I'm using my imagination to inhale its fragrance.

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  16. Anonymous7:27 AM

    I love roses. This yellow one,is very beautiful. Perhaps it is called "Velvet."

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  17. what a beautiful color, I love roses too, visit my red roses, thanks.

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  18. Anonymous8:08 AM

    That is a beautiful color and a beautiful photo. I'm glad you went to get your camera.
    :-)

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  19. great photo.....

    Gill in Canada

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  20. Anonymous8:36 AM

    What an unusual color ... I don't think I've seen one like it before, but I shared the last roses of the season from my yard in Southern California this week at Happily Retired Gal and Sacred Ruminations, especially for all those folks who are currently snowbound. I'll be cutting those bushes back in the next week or two so I'll have no NEW roses to share until Spring time.
    Hugs and blessings,

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  21. Anonymous8:45 AM

    yes! that's a very beautiful rose, great macro shot! love the color too.

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  22. Planting roses is one of the best ways to "put down roots," I think. I've planted dozens in the last two years (all dormant now, of course), but I don't recognize your beauty.

    That scent: how delicious!

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  23. Just the hint of summer I need on a snowy blowy day like today.

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  24. Mmmm, I can almost feel its softness.

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  25. Gorgeous flower, David. That's my absolute favourite time of day for how the world around me appears. Bathed in sunlight. It's just perfect on your rose.

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  26. That's a gorgeous rose. A part of the family!

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  27. stunning image of a gorgeous flower!

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  28. So beautiful, I thought it was called a Peace rose, didn't know it was called National Velvet. The smell is like peaches right?

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  29. What a beautiful rose that is, indeed! I love roses -especially yellow ones or any shade too! This one very much reminds me of the roses my son-in-law gave daughter Mandy last February for her birthday and Valentine's Day combined. So very pretty!

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  30. Okay, winter dropped in on December 21 here and already I'm longing for Spring and roses, roses, roses! Lovely picture...gives me such a longing.
    Sandi

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  31. Anonymous3:40 AM

    My favourite of all flowers and a beautiful picture.

    CJ xx

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  32. David: A wonderful capture of the beautiful rose. Congrats for being the first link on TF.

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  33. Beautiful rose and I like your description of it's smell.

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  34. Love the yellow color b/c it has a bit of orange in it. And you can see the texture of every petal!

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