The little white beauty with red edges is Hebe's Lip (1829). It's the day before the Celebration of Old Roses and I'm harvesting short-stemmmed roses for a centerpiece display at Vintage Gardens.

The roses in the first shot were in a bucket like the one above

set on shadowy ground in a setting like this. I tried to cut very fresh blooms, many just opening, many in bud to arrange in clusters

in this three tiered basket.

Here's a view toward the front. All these roses and many more greeted happy lovers of our favorite flower.

It took many hands to fill the specimen tables. Here's one laden car with excited roses ready to

share their glory.

 And what a great day it was !