But at least you HAVE rain!
Out here, we'd give a lot for rain.

Jeri

Please send some our way! The newscasters are starting to say the nasty "D" word (drought). So sad to lose a year's blooms, whether by drought or by rain. If we can just keep our plants relatively happy, there's always next year. (That's what I keep telling myself as I see the crispy little petals falling off my blown roses.)

Ouch--nothing makes me cringe like busted-off and smashed canes. Sorry to hear of your damage. Nothing left to do but sigh and prune--it will grow back quickly, and you'll have a good flush in July, I'll bet. It's weird, we usually get lots of big supercell storms out here in Nebraska that mess up my roses pretty badly, but this year it's been very quiet, storm and tornado-wise. I probably just jinxed myself.

oh, no!!!! How horrid!!! Hugs to you, Jeff. This is awful! And one of your beautiful tree roses smashed, how I hope and hope it wasn't your Julia Child!!! Such a dream tree rose ... I cannot believe the devastation... Hugs, hugs, hugs... Guys, hush with the rain! brings very bad luck/karma, don't mention a peep... that is what global warming is all -- sudden terrible storms and drenchers, from polar meltdowns for up-coasters like Maine, New Jersey, Rhode Island, etc, and horrible increase of droughts for those landlocked... To terrifying to mention...

I too am worried when tornados hit... My tree roses are now too heavy for me to carry in the house, so they will be left to fend for themselves if my BF is not there to help me bring them inside... I can just imagine myself having a complete nervous breakdown when Kansas gets its tornado winds...

Jeff, your roses are soooo spectacular and stunning and I cannot even begin to fathom the huge shock and upset this must be...Tons of hugs and condolences... The only comfort is that you are such a good gardener, and they are lucky to have you... They will make their best recovery just for you I am sure of this!

My condolences, Jeff, I know how terrible I would feel. It's really heartbreaking when the roses are at their most beautiful and suddenly everything is destroyed, or at least so it seems at the time. I do hope that in a few weeks things won't look so dismal and your roses will make a nice come-back.

Ingrid

Jeff I do feel for you. I was poised for my most impressive spring flush to date over the past couple of weeks and for the first time in years we have had an appreciable amount of rain during springtime up here in Northern CA.

However in California we must endure it like brave soldiers:) Truth is I fed them all with alfalfa tea on Saturday and then with all the precipitation I am now expecting big things and my veggie garden is loving it! So very much trying to have a glass half full perspective here but yes, it can be frustrating at times.

Kate

It IS heartbreaking to lose the anticipated reward of hard work and months of waiting. The only plus is that the moisture will sustain the roots in the ground - and once you prune back the damage, the nature of the rose will take over and they will mend.

In my experience nothing recovers as quickly as roses. Despite their reputation for being fragile most are hardy and determined to bloom. Given moisture and sunshine and care most if not all of your bushes will recover. I hope that all that will be lost is one cycle of blooms. Believe me, I having wept over one lost bud on a stingy bush, know that is not a small thing, but the roots of the survivors will likely be stronger than ever. The rewards may be late coming but they will come.

All a part of gardening, I'm afraid. I was going to try to show this weekend, but nooooo. Can't even find a decent Blushing KO to enter in the Judge's Class at West Jersey tomorrow. Oh, well. As Jeri said, at least we have rain. The roots are happy, happy, happy. I haven't had to turn on the irrigation system yet, and that is a good thing.

We didn't get the high winds that you had yesterday, but it is just a matter of time until the first coastal storm hits.

I want to thank everyone for their condolences and kind words of support. I also realize now that what is a curse to some is a blessing to others. So to those that need rain I hope some finds its way to you.

I'm sure the damage could have been worse as the Topsy Turvy tree rose that did fall didn't have one broken cane. And if George Burns could live to be 100 I'm hoping the rose named after him shows the same vigor. Also as you have pointed out after the rain passes the cleanup and nurturing begins so they can go back to being the beauties they were before.

You guys are truly great!!

I am sorry you have experience so much damage.

I can't complain too much because the weekends have been pretty nice. A cool, wet spring usually means everything gets a good start and provides a nice summer garden. Since I seeded about 75% of my front lawn, the cool and moisture are helpful. Grass doesn't grow much in summer conditions.