These two rose flowers came from the same bush, growing close to our front door. Most roses are high maintenance but this one has been particularly needy for all of its life – eight years so far. It has routinely suffered from a multitude of diseases and pests and, whenever a northerly wind blows hard into the front of our house, the long thorns on its stems shred its leaves. In heated despair, I have resolved to dig it out more than once!

However, I could never quite bring myself to do the deadly deed.

Then, a couple of years ago, I finally managed to get a bit of height into its trunks, the disease level abated, its flowers became progressively profuse and complex and I pruned smarter to limit the wind damage.

The flowering season has started late, owing to Melbourne’s longest, coldest and wettest winter for many years. But, as you might agree, the wait has been worth it in the case of this rose. A name? Not sure, but Presidential pardon would be sweetly apt.