Comments on: Hank n' Me

By: Bob

Bob — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:39:11 +0000

Hi Lizzy,
I suggest you go ahead and plant that Henry Kelsey rose, if it looks like it is getting out of hand, you can always prune it back. Our roses may be a bit more vigorous because of all the care we took in preparing the bed ahead of time. Also, they get quite a bit of water and periodic fertilizer too. If I remember correctly, my wholesale catalog from Canada did describe these as pretty tall and vigorous. I talked to the grower as well and he agreed with the catalog description.
Color-wise, Judy reminded me that people perceive reds differently. To me, these roses are more red than anything else with just a touch of pink.
Best of luck to you,
Bob

By: Lizzie

Lizzie — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:03:22 +0000

Hi,

Wow- what an impressive display this is!

I am considering planting a Henry Kelsey, but I wanted to ask you about the color. I had been thinking this rose is a deep pinkish red, but your picture makes me wonder if the blooms are actually more of a purpley fucshia pink? i realize it’s hard to explain color, but I’d welcome any guidance you could provide.

Also, I am a little disappointed to learn how big yours got, as my trellis is more like 4′ wide x 8′ tall. Any thoughts on why yours are so much taller than what the catalogs say?

many thanks,
Lizzie

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 00:30:23 +0000

…and now… we know the rest of the story…
Thanks Charlie! You are “go to” guy for sure! No wonder they named such a prodigious rose after him. (Henry, not Charlie, although you never know…)
I like that last line about writing parts of his reports in rhyme.

By: Charlie Stratton

Charlie Stratton — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 02:44:00 +0000

Henry Kelsey
Encyclopædia Britannica Article

born c. 1667, East Greenwich, near London—buried Nov. 2, 1724, East Greenwich

British mariner and explorer of the Canadian plains who played a significant role in the establishment of the Hudson’s Bay Company.

Kelsey was apprenticed to the Hudson’s Bay Company (chartered 1670) by 1684, and in a trip to the region begun that year he conducted some exploration along the west shore of Hudson Bay. In 1689 he journeyed with a small party to the Churchill River area. Kelsey became proficient in Indian languages, and in 1690 he headed a company venturing ever farther westward to promote trade with the Indians and got to the Saskatchewan River and beyond. That two-year venture is believed to have made him the first white man to explore Canada’s central plains. Twice, incursions by the French led to the capture of the western British outpost York Fort (now York Factory, Man.) while he was in the fort, and both times it was he who negotiated the surrender. For several years he was master of a frigate plying Hudson Bay in trade with the Indians. Kelsey was overseas governor of the Hudson’s Bay Company from 1718 to 1722. He wrote portions of many of his reports in rhyme.

By: Bob

Bob — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 23:28:21 +0000

Yay!! I knew you could do it! Limes are so much fun to grow.

I know what you mean by keeping around those old plants, you just get so attached to them and can’t bear to part with them. Judy tells me that knowing when to discard them is all a part of good gardening. I still get sentimental sometimes though.

By: Ria

Ria — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 23:14:57 +0000

I grow all kinds of roses and some climbers are huge. I’m nursing a very old, old climber back to health that I had for years. It has salmon colored blossoms and is ever-blooming. It always deserved a huge fence, but only got part of deck railing. If it does come back, it will only make it to shrub status again. I thought it reverted to the stock English shrub rose but a few of the new shoots are looking very hybrid still. Sometimes they’ve just seen their heyday and must die like everything else, but this one is like an old friend, and I’ll keep trying to preserve it.

I just wanted to let you know also, my lime tree is blooming!!! Yea. When you said try shocking it, I put it outside way too early this spring season and it went through that cold snap. It worked. Now if only I can get the tangerine tree to bloom. It was out there too early also but I still think it’s a little immature. I’m holding out hope for it after smelling those beautiful lime tree blossoms. It usually blooms again during the winter. Boy does my living room smell good between the jasmine vine, the lime tree, and my gardenia tree.

Thanks again, my lime tree is blooming, my lime tree is blooming.