I Want My Cecile Back

Butterfly clinging to spent Cecile Brunner blossoms.

Putting a plant in the proper location with pay you back in spades. I planted this Cecile Brunner climbing rose two years ago as a small plant.

Look at it now.

Look at it no

Watching this beautiful old rose’s first blooms open made me so happy. Though the days were overcast and cool, the tiny pale-pink blossoms held the promise of spring. But spring never came. Nope, we went directly to summer. We had daily temps in the nineties for a week. Hot and gross. I watched the little pink buds open and droop faster than my face in my fifties. 

I was terribly disappointed that I had so little time to enjoy that carpet of soft pink.  Cecile Brunner climbing roses bloom only once. I felt so cheated. I needed to see that profusion of little pink blooms just once more before the onslaught of hot summer temperatures. I was so disheartened that I decided to deadhead the whole vine. 

It’s not like I didn’t have at least twenty more important chores to do. I just couldn’t help myself. I cut every one of those tiny spent blossoms off that damn vine until my carpal tunnel started acting up, and I don’t even have carpal tunnel. I think I developed Cecile tunnel. 

I left only a few dead blooms at the top of vine on the roof, which I couldn’t reach. 

I have heard that deadheading will cause Cecile Brunner to bloom again, and I have also read that it won’t. All I can do is wait and see. 

Have you had any luck getting your Cecile Brunner vine to bloom a second time in one season?  Please tell me about it!

Comments

[rosenatti]

I feel your pain. My backyard is an undulating landscape of wilted pink blossoms. (My Cecile Brunner is a big, big girl.)

[chigiy Binell]

Hi Rosenatti,
How old is your girl? It is amazing how fast they grow. I am getting another one for mother's day because I have the perfect place for it. Yay!

[Jacqueline]

Please do a follow-up story in a month or so? Hope it works!

Beautiful photos.

[chigiy Binell]

I will Jacqueline! I hope I have something to update.

[rosenatti]

I believe my Ms. Brunner to be well over 30 years old, but she doesn't look a day over 29.

[chigiy Binell]

Hi Rosenatti,
Wow, she must be huge and so well preserved:) I just bought another one for myself for mother's day. I will let you know how she does in her new home.