
'Honey Perfume' floribunda rose
A 'Honey Perfume' floribunda rose, photographed in the Roxborough Park Rose Gardens at Baulkham Hills, on the border of Castle Hill. North-western Sydney (Hills District), on Thursday 29th October, 2020. Floribunda roses are characterised by clusters of flowers as opposed to hybrid tea roses which typically produce flowers singly on each stem. Therefore, in this image you can see lots of rosebuds on the one cluster. My Canon EOS 5D Mk IV, with the Canon f 2.8 L 100mm macro lens

My pastel pink hybrid tea-rose
Hybrid tea-rose at the Roxborough Park Rose Gardens, Baulkham Hills, north-western Sydney (Hills District). Photographed some time ago now with my Canon 60D and a Canon 100mm macro lens. Re-edited today, Wednesday 24th June 2020, adding a little glamour.

'Paris Pink'
This is the David Austin rosa spp 'Paris 2000' floribunda rose. Growing in a huge colony of David Austin heritage style roses at the Roxborough Park Rose Gardens, located at Baulkham Hills, in the Hills District of Sydney. Photographed by me yesterday, Sunday 20th December, 2020, on the occasion of my late afternoon visit to Roxborough Park Rose Gardens, in northwestern Sydney. My Canon EOS 5D Mk IV, with the Canon f 2.8 L 100mm macro lens.

Pink raindrops
My 'Seduction' floribunda rose following an afternoon storm. Sydney on 19th December, 2021. Photographed here at Cherrybrook in the Hills District of Sydney. The 'Seduction' rose is a Meilland rose from France. My Canon EOS 5D Mk IV, with the Canon f 2.8 L 100mm macro lens. Processed in: Adobe Lightroom and PhotoPad Pro by NCH software.

The lake
The lake at my local park. This is Fagan Park, Galston. North-western Sydney. One of Sydney's hidden gems. An oasis for all. Photographed at about 6.00pm on Friday 29th October, 2020. The sun was about to set for the day!! Dedicated to the memory of one of my most favourite movie stars, Sean Connery. 1930-2020. Larger than life. Perhaps looking down right now at Fagan Park and other such idyllic places. My Canon EOS 5D Mk IV, with the Canon 16-35mm lens

Christmas at Castle Hill, Sydney
Bizarre Christmas decorations at sunset in the Arthur Whitling Park, at Castle Hill, in northwestern Sydney. This park is up above the Metro Railway Station and adjacent to the new high-rise apartments that have shaped Castle Hill in recent years. It is right opposite the Castle Towers Shopping Centre, often my 'second home', especially for coffee - lol. I have lived in Castle Hill (and nearby Dural) since the 1980s and I have not seen 'decorations' like this!! And I am still getting used to the high-rise apartments as well. Photographed on Tuesday evening at Castle Hill with my Samsung Galaxy S20+ mobile phone camera. And no tricks, no enhancements - this was the sunset!! And, look, my favourite Mapbox geotag thing says that this is "Rogan's Hill". Not so. Nowhere near it. I love the Mapbox. Just as well it does not have a contract for the SatNav in cars!!!

Variegated rose-scented geranium
My variegated rose-scented geranium which won a ribbon at the 2015 geranium and pelargonium show in the Hills District of Sydney. This geranium dates back to the 1940s and 1950s when my grandmother would propagate and grow geraniums from cuttings she "acquired" from all over Melbourne, including the Treasury Gardens in the city, as well as the historic garden of 'Ripponlea' at Elsternwick. She would propagate, grow and then show her geraniums and pelargoniums at the Royal Melbourne Show. This particular geranium has won its prize because of the variegation of colour on the petals, but also because it has the fragrance of a rose - or, at least, a delicate version of this. It now lives in the garden here at Cherrybrook, in Sydney. My Canon EOS 5D Mk IV, with the Canon f 2.8. L 100mm macro lens.

Fagan Park, Galston
Fagan Park, at Galston, in north-western Sydney. This is a view looking east across the lake. Photographed on Friday evening, 30th October, 2020. My Samsung Galaxy S20+ mobile phone camera. This is my local park and it is very close to my home at Cherrybrook. It is a place of great serenity and tranquility. When my children were little (and not so little!) I would often bring them here for walks, picnics and to feed the ducks. See: www.google.com/search?q=fagan+park&rlz=1C1CHBF_enAU89... and: www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/_resources/documents/lifestyle/par...

Centenary floribunda rose
This is the Centenary floribunda rose, propagated by Nati Brothers Roses, of Middle Dural (north-western Sydney), to recognise the Baulkham Hills Shire Council 'Centenary Year' in 2006. There is also a similarly named floribunda rose available in Europe and the UK. Photographed in the late afternoon on Thursday 29th October, 2020. Roxborough Park Rose Gardens, at Baulkham Hills in the 'Hills District' of Sydney. The map says 'Castle Hill' but most people regard this as Baulkham Hills. My Canon EOS 5D Mk IV with the Canon f 2.8. L 100mm macro lens

Woburn Abbey
My 'Woburn Abbey' floribunda rose. Photographed in the Roxborough Park Rose Gardens, at Baulkham Hills, Hills District of Sydney. My Canon EOS 5D Mk IV, with the Canon f 2.8. L 100mm macro lens

The lake at Fagan Park - a different view
The view across the lake at Fagan Park, in Galston. Located in the Hills District of north-western Sydney. Photographed from the pier on the eastern side of the lake yesterday, Monday 2nd November, 2020, at about 6.00pm. My Samsung Galaxy S20+ mobile phone camera.

Tears of a firefighter
My 'Firefighter' hybrid tea-rose has arrived! 'Firefighter' is so very special. It was named 'Firefighter' to honour the Firefighters who lost their lives on 11th September, 2001. I was waiting for it to bloom more than any other flower, or rose, here at Cherrybrook, in Sydney, in 2020. When I look at this rose, with its fire-engine red colour, I will reflect upon the vision that I have in my mind, even after so many years, of seeing those brave firefighters going into those twin towers - to their doom. Just devastating. ‘Firefighter’ was bred by Joseph Orard, in France, in 1998 and was introduced into the United States by Edmund’s Roses in 2005 as “Firefighter” and into Australia by Swane’s Nurseries in 2009. My 'Firefighter' unfurled today, Thursday 15th October, 2020. I photographed 'Firefighter' in the late afternoon after a thunderstorm swept across the Hills District of Sydney. Quite symbolic I thought. This is a brand new rose for me - it is very similar in colour, texture and fragrance to 'Mister Lincoln' (my favourite all time rose). This is the first 'Firefighter' for Spring, 2020. It is especially fragrant and is a rich dark red rose, although it is tagged as 'fire-engine red" by the growers. My Canon EOS 5D Mk IV, with the Canon f 2.8. L 100mm lens

'Olympic Gold' floribunda rose
'Olympic Gold' floribunda rose. Roxborough Park Rose Gardens, Baulkham Hills. Hills District of Sydney. My Canon EOS 5D Mk IV, with the Canon f 2.8. L 100mm macro lens

The heart of the Abbey
This is 'Woburn Abbey', an orange floribunda rose, growing profusely at the Roxborough Park Rose Gardens - in the Hills District of Sydney, at Baulkham Hills (near Castle Hill). My Canon EOS 5D Mk IV, with the Canon f 2.8 L 100mm macro lens

Rainbow Warriors
These are 'Rainbow Sorbet' floribunda roses at the Roxborough Park Rose Gardens in north-western Sydney. The roses had withstood the storms that have lashed Sydney in recent times. I call them 'warriors' because they continue to bloom despite the rain. Photographed on Sunday 20th December, 2020, at Roxborough Park - Baulkham Hills (near Castle Hill) in the Hills District of Sydney. My Canon EOS 5D Mk IV, with the Canon f 2.8 L 100mm macro lens

The bridge
The bridge at Fagan Park, Galston. Arcadia Road, Galston, in north-western Sydney. Photographed in the late afternoon (about 6.00pm) on Friday, 30th October, 2020. My Canon EOS 5D Mk IV, with the Canon 16-35mm lens

Crimson Princess
'Crimson Princess' hybrid tea-rose at the Swanes Garden Nursery, in their rose garden, today - Wednesday 10th June, 2020. Light rain was falling over the Hills District of Sydney but nevertheless I ventured out to Swanes on Galston Road, Dural, to purchase a new standard rose, but also to view the rose gardens at the front of the nursery.

Faded treasure
My pink 'Queen Elizabeth' hybrid tea rose, at the Roxborough Park Rose Gardens, Baulkham Hills, north-western Sydney. This variety of hybrid tea rose is very highly awarded, having won the AARS (All American Rose Selection Award) in 1955, ARS (American Rose Society) Gold Medal in 1957 and the prestigious Golden Rose of The Hague in 1968. It was inducted into the World Rose Hall of Fame in 1979. And, of-course, it now grows in the Hills District of Sydney!! My Canon EOS 60D and a Canon 100mm macro lens, together with some editing voodoo magic in the room of light!!

Sorbet queen
This is 'Rainbow Sorbet', a floribunda rose, at the Roxborough Park Rose Gardens, in the Hills District of Sydney. Roxborough Park is on the border of Baulkham Hills and Castle Hill, in northwestern Sydney. About 45 minutes from the city via the M2 motorway. Photographed on Sunday evening, 20th December, 2020. My Canon EOS 5D Mk IV, with the Canon f 2.8L 100mm macro lens. Processed in: Adobe Lightroom and PhotoPad Pro by NCH software. A 'Smooth Chestnut' filter from the Flickr photo editor

The end of 'Peace'
A 'Peace' hybrid tea-rose in its final stages of flowering, at the Roxborough Park Rose Gardens, in northwestern Sydney, where there is a large section devoted to 'Peace' roses, as well as the very distinctive 'Chicago Peace' rose, which I will upload an image of here in due course. Photographed in the late afternoon on Sunday, 20th December, 2020, at the Roxborough Park Rose Gardens. Located in Baulkham Hills (near Castle Hill), in the Hills District of Sydney. The gardens are maintained by the horticulturalists at the Hills Shire Council. My Canon EOS 5D Mk IV, with the Canon f 2.8 L 100mm macro lens

'Pristine'
This is 'Pristine', a hybrid tea-rose growing in the rose gardens at Roxborough Park, in north-western Sydney. Located at Baulkham Hills, near Castle Hill. The gardens are maintained by the Hills Shire Council. Photographed in the late afternoon, in between the rain that has been a feature of Sydney in recent times, on Sunday 20th December, 2020. 'Pristine' has been lucky to withstand the heavy rain and, as such, the blooms are not as "pristine" as once they may have been. But to me that makes them like warriors - and adds to their fragrant charm. My Canon EOS 5D Mk IV, with the Canon f 2.8 L 100mm macro lens.

Wild Child
A trio of 'Rainbow Sorbet' floribunda roses just back from what appears to be 'The War Of The Roses' - aka the stormy weather that has been a feature of Sydney in recent days, including right this very minute, as the rain pours down at Cherrybrook. The rose on the right is clearly weather beaten but still blooming gallantly - a real 'Wild Child'. Do you remember this song 'Real Wild Child' by Iggy Pop from the movie 'Pretty Woman'? Well here it is anyway: www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-JWmyWyjbI These 'Rainbow Sorbet hybrid tea-rosess were photographed yesterday, Sunday 20th December, 2020, at the Roxborough Park Rose Gardens - Baulkham Hills (near Castle Hill) in the Hills District of Sydney. My Canon EOS 5D Mk IV, with the Canon f 2.8 L 100mm macro lens

The Queen's Gambit
This is the queen of pink roses - 'Queen Elizabeth', a grandiflora rose, first bred in the United States in 1954 by Dr Walter Lammerts, to celebrate the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, of England. Photographed yesterday, Sunday 20th December, 2020, in the very late afternoon, at the Roxborough Park Rose Gardens, where I encountered an army of pink 'Queen Elizabeth' grandiflora roses, on the march and very determined. Roxborough Park Rose Gardens are located at Baulkham Hills (near Castle Hill), in the Hills District of Sydney. The gardens are one of Sydney's premier rose gardens, and are maintained by the Hills Shire Council. And if you haven't yet seen 'The Queen's Gambit' on Netflix, then do so when you can. Awesome. My Canon EOS 5D Mk IV, with the Canon f 2.8 L 100mm macro lens.

Peace
'Peace' hybrid tea-rose. Roxborough Park Rose Gardens, at Baulkham Hills, in north-western Sydney. Photographed in the late afternoon, at 6.30pm, as the sun was setting, on Friday, 29th October, 2020. My Canon EOS 5D Mk IV, with the Canon 16-35mm lens. 'Peace' is one of the most famous of all hybrid tea roses. It was bred by Francis Meilland in 1935, in Lyon, France, under the original cultivar name of 'Madame A. Meilland'. This name was a dedication to his mother, Claudia Antoine Meilland. Shortly before Germany invaded France in 1939, Francis Meilland sent budwood of his rose to rose growers in the USA, Italy and Turkey to ensure that his rose would not be destroyed during the war. The 'Peace' budwood escaped from France on the last plane that was available before the German invasion. In the USA, budwood was sent to the Conard-Pyle Company in Pennsylvania. Robert Pyle then proceeded to propagate the rose. It was this US rose company that then introduced Francis Meilland's rose to the world under the cultivar name of 'PEACE', on April 29th, 1945 (VE Day), which was the same day that Berlin fell to the Allied forces. When the Nazis left France in early 1945 Francis Meilland had written to the US Commanding Officer, Field Marshall Alan Brooke, and thanked him for helping to liberate France. He also asked the Field Marshall to name the rose. Alan Brooke wrote back to Meilland and asked that the rose be called 'PEACE'. Two doves were then released into the American sky to symbolise the release of the 'Peace' rose. At the very first meeting of the United Nations, in San Francisco, in April 1945, each of the UN delegates were given a 'Peace' rose with the note: "We hope the 'Peace' rose will influence men's thoughts for everlasting peace' It is the most awarded rose of all time, most significantly winning the All-American Rose Selection Award in 1949. It is still, today, the biggest selling rose of any kind in the world. In Italy 'Peace' is called Gioia (Italian for "joy"), whlist in Germany it is called Gloria Dei (Latin for "glory of God"). It is known as 'Peace' elsewhere such as here, in the Hills District of Sydney!!

Orange sherbert
This is 'Woburn Abbey', an orange floribunda rose which is very fragrant and regarded as one of the 'true' orange coloured roses in the world. Photographed earlier this evening (Sunday, 20th December, 2020) in the Roxborough Park Rose Gardens, at Baulkham Hills (in the Hills District), in northern Sydney. The display of 'Woburn Abbey' roses in this rose garden is simply immense. It is like a wall of orange!! The Mapbox geotag always insists on putting Roxborough Park in the suburb of Castle Hill. It is certainly on the border of Castle Hill and Baulkham Hills, but I have lived in the Hills District since 1986 and everyone calls this Baulkham Hills, except for Flickr's Mapbox geotag. My Canon EOS 5D Mk IV, with the Canon f 2.8 L 100mm macro lens.