In the darkest time of the year, these,

…are a gift of flowering light from the garden. All of my roses withheld  their blooming (rather selfishly I thought) during October and early November, which is typically a showy time for roses here in Central Texas, USDA  gardening zone 8b. Along came Thanksgiving with some damp and chilly weather and the roses burst forth in glory, of both the bloom and foliage type.

This Knockout Rose, (Rosa ‘Radrazz’) opened its petals and let not only the sunshine in, but busy bees as well.

There’s more to come from this tough-as-nails rose,

…which also displays luscious burgundy-infused foliage.    The decorative coloration at the toothy leaf margins and along the stems, petioles, and veins of the compound rose leaves,

…augment the blooms and set the stage for cheer in the December Texas garden.  A nod to fall foliage color change (it’s not winter yet!), many rose shrubs present dual-colored foliage, especially when newly flushed-out.

Competing with the Knockout, but strutting their own style of rosy gorgeousness, are my Martha Gonzales roses.

Their diminutive leaves,

…sport a similar color scheme as the Knockout foliage, with perhaps a smidge more bronzy blush.  With their maroon-tinged leaves, the Martha Gonzales suggest a purple-haze in the garden, even  as other plants fade with winter approaching.

And those flowers!

Bright red and ready for a kiss from whatever pollinators happen by,

…these blooms are joy in flower form.

A similar plant, the Old Gay Hill Red China rose,  produces slightly larger, fuchsia-red flowers and more robust leaves.  The mature green leaves are outlined in carmine,

…but new leaves blush with burgundy wine.

Old Gay Hill China rose pairs elegantly with the Martha Gonzales roses all year round.

Not to be outdone one bit by their flaming cousins, these pretty pink Jackson and Perkins, ‘Simplicity’ roses, are not slowing down, even if the gardening season is.

A classic rose bud,

…’Simplicity’ opens to this,

…and finally, this.

Lush evergreen foliage with few blemishes, there is a touch-of-the-red to spice things up a bit.

Nine ‘Simplicity’ rose shrubs were in my garden when I took up residence in 1985.  Two original shrubs remain and I must say, they’re the most steadfast and hardy bloomers of any rose type I’ve ever grown.  While  roses tend to wimpiness during our dry, toasty summers and our come-n-go droughts, these ‘Simplicity’ bloom.

Continuously.

Take that, Texas climate!

Thanks to Carol at May Dreams Gardens for hosting her celebration of blooms for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day  and also to Pam at Digging for profiling the beauty of foliage with Foliage Follow-up.  Please visit each lovely blog to see blooms-n-foliage in gardens from many places.