![hybrid tea rose](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/334/19885628508_9d3f90f98e.jpg)
I'd been meaning to get over to Madison's Olbrich Botanical Gardens for weeks. I enjoy viewing and photographing roses, even if I don't have many myself.
I finally made time for a visit last week, and while I often think of June as the best month for viewing roses, there were plenty of midsummer and ever-blooming beauties to enjoy.
![rugosa with buds & hips](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3807/20078994641_fee323752c_z.jpg)
I couldn't find the marker for this Rugosa, but it offered the full spectrum of interest--giant hips, blooms, buds, and gorgeous chartreuse foliage. It might be 'Charles Albenel,' shown later in this post.
!['william baffin' kordesii rose](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3804/20065695232_1bb26b2826.jpg)
This 'William Baffin' Kordesii rose seemed the epitome of the old-fashioned romantic rose--rich, gentle pink color, with petals gently draped around the stamens and the stigma.
!['radrazz' knockout floribunda](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/443/19885520358_cdd48ffccd.jpg)
This Knockout Floribunda, 'RADrazz,' also had a pretty color, and seemed a prolific bloomer.
!['polar joy' shrub rose 1](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/496/20065704382_74a64110f1_z.jpg)
One of my favorites was this 'Polar Joy' tree rose. It was very tall--perhaps seven feet? I had to photograph up toward some of the blooms.
!['polar joy' shrub rose 2](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/467/19885612790_3f5222f010_z.jpg)
A lower branch with shadier conditions revealed the unique soft, rose-pink color of 'Polar Joy's' buds and flowers. This one is marketed as the "only truly hardy tree rose" by several vendors--hardy to zone 4.
!['sea foam' shrub rose](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3805/19885608710_c74860111c.jpg)
'Sea Foam' shrub rose is certainly true to its name. It looked soft enough to dissolve in the hand.
![pink knockout 'radcon' shrub rose](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/430/19450975574_866d28be92.jpg)
'RADcon,' was a lovely pink Knock Out shrub rose, which apparently tolerates part shade (note to self).
!['lady elsie may' shrub rose](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/418/20079001361_dd4f415b8f_z.jpg)
The color of 'Lady Elsie May,' also a shrub rose, caught my eye. With varied light and depending on the age of the bloom, it looked coral/pink to warm red.
!['jens munk' rugosa](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/450/20065708702_4fb757d164.jpg)
More romance and color eye candy here, with 'Jens Munk,' a Rugosa rose. Swoon.
!['grootendorst supreme' rugosa](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/507/20065710542_e2fbab7412_z.jpg)
'Grootendorst Supreme,' another Rugosa, had prolific clusters of small blooms and buds.
!['blanc double de coubert' rugosa](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/548/20073638125_dcc08d381f.jpg)
The pollinators enjoyed 'Blanc Double de Coubert' Rugosa.
!['yankee lady' rugosa](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/290/19885628020_6fc6ea030e.jpg)
'Yankee Lady' Rugosa was much more stunning than the bright, sunlit image here, but you get the idea.
![fire meidiland 'meipsidue' shrub rose](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/460/20073633475_c7bec50691.jpg)
It was the form of 'MEIpsidue,' a Fire Meidiland Shrub Rose, that was alluring to me--resembling dramatic, draping flamenco skirts.
!['charles albanel' rugosa](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/278/20079008541_20f778735a.jpg)
Obviously, the Rugosas were in their glory, including 'Charles Albenel.'
!['carefree spirit' shrub rose](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/401/19886938959_efa777e5b6_z.jpg)
One of the most unique roses blooming in mid-July was 'Carefree Spirit,' an All-American Rose Selection.
!['captain samuel holland' shrub or climbing](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/282/19450986624_eedca5d5cc.jpg)
'Captain Samuel Holland' was truly dreamy, with full layers of petals and gorgeous buds draping over fencing. This rose is marketed as both a shrub and and a climbing rose.
!['fru dagmar hastrup' rugosa](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/510/19450982434_8f9f594d38.jpg)
And of course I was enchanted over this 'Fru Dagmar Hastrup' Rugosa.
There were many more, and quite a few had lovely scents. The bees were particularly enamored of the Rugosas. I captured several of them in a short, minute-long wrap-up video. Enjoy!
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