The shrub rose 'Pillow Fight' is another of my roses given a losing ticket in the location lottery, in an area with too much shade and compacted, alkaline clay soil, so it has had to stay in a five gallon pot. It is therefore difficult to judge its value in the garden, but when a rose lives despite such disregard, it suggests that it might be a good plant when treated more kindly.

When roots finally move down into the dirt beneath the pot and establish themselves, the growth spurt and recovery can be dramatic. The Pillow Fight rose is now showing signs that it is now reaching that stage. Perhaps the cloud of white its name hints at will be coming next.

Pillow Fight is a seedling of Gourmet Popcorn

Comment and photography by Christine, June 2009