Changes Coming for Spring

I think there will be big changes in the garden this year. It seems after a long evaluation that a good many of my roses didn't make it over the winter. That in itself has been happening over the past couple of years, but this year I lost or am losing four OGRs! These roses never die! The dead one was Charles de Mills a huge gallica that's been around since before we built this house. It lived in a pot for 2 years before moving here and being planted in the garden. I am sad. I'm thinking I might be able to save Red Rose of Lancaster. It is starting to push but is late and weak. But it must be moved anyway so I might sacrifice the blooms for this year to move it and hopefully get it thinned out and strengthen for next year. Last but not least, I'm extremely worried about Wild Spice. This rugosa has been growing like gangbusters in the garden for the past 4 years and all of a sudden, this one becomes so weak it's frightening. It's in a prime spot in the garden too. But it does seem to me that we've been having trouble, until this rose growing things in that spot. I might have to save up my money and see about a nice BIG fountain for there. But first I'll wait to see how Wild Spice does. Frau Karl Duschki is looking more than a little sad this year. It never did good for me and this one was the last hold out of the roses I got from Antique Rose Emporium. Their roses just didn't do all that good for me.

There were two other roses that were lost that make me sad. Artistry, a large HT that has done very well for me in the past has been failing for two years and finally died. And then Chicago Peace, my favorite pink. That one might have to be replaced but not this year.

Other roses lost this year were Gemini, Irish Creme (this one was amazing that it lasted 5 years in the garden, being a tender rose), Vasuzious, Arizona (I finally gave up on this one), and two Scent from Above (They started growing out of the root stock).

Roses that I'm not so sure what I want to do with or on the near death list: Sunsprite, Love and Peace (I really don't like this one anyway), Touch of Class, Chihuly (I really don't care for this one either, it's not a nice plant), MME Paul Massad (probably will go) and Pink Gruss an Aachen (I might move this one first).

There are two roses slated for moving. Red Rose of Lancaster if it continues to improve and Happy. Poor Happy is crowded under the huge canopy of a very large Marie Pavie and needs out from under her shade. I will have this little one moved to a nice sunny spot with well drained soil where the roses are doing exceptionally good.

So far this year I have two Tahitian Sunset roses one of which is planted, the other will be planted today. Two Sunny Knockouts and three miniatures for a pot. I also have a Peace rose and a Pink Peace in pots and a Mister Lincoln planted. I have three miniatures to go into pots this year, Jennifer (which isn't a good overwinter rose), Sweet Hanna, another delicate rose and Lovely Lorri which doesn't seem to do well in the ground but is wonderful in a pot and is winter hardy.

I also have coming yet, 2 Dublin Bay climbers for the one arbor and a Julia's rose for a pot.

I've replaced Charles de Mills with a small crabapple tree that is such a lovely color! If Frau Karl Druschki dies, I will replace that one with another Hybrid Perpetual. That one just was never all that good for me. Yet my other Hybrid Perpetuals are wonderful. I'll check Landis Valley this year and see what I can find.

I have been getting away from the grafted HTs more and more over the past couple of years and going with the own-root shrubs and OGRs more. I find the shrubs and OGRs actually do better and live longer for me (until this year!).

And wait until you see what we do with the back perennial bed! Most of that stuff is coming out and we're going to weed block it and replant any of my precious perennials that we can find. Most, however will be buried along with the wheat grass from the farmer's field. Some of those plants are getting scrappy; others want to take over; and the weeds, oh the weeds. That bed has been killing us for too long now. The grasses will stay; the roses will stay; and I'll just replant the perennials that I like. The bulbs will be dug out this season, dried and replanted in other spots in the garden. It's time for this to be done anyway.

It's a lot to do in a week and it probably won't all get done. But I do have the summer and it will get done. Right now, I'm mostly planning on planting the garden with my flowers I have waiting.

Sandcherry

Crabapple tree - Flame

Camellia, April Remembered

Pictures of Spring

Lemon Yellow Columbine

Lemon Glow Daffodils

Flowering Quince 'Toyo-Nishiki'

Epimedium 'Pink Elf'

Periwinkle, Creeping Myrtle, or Creeping Vinca. Three names, one plant.

The garden is starting to come into color now. Every day brings something different.

A Stress Breaker

With the situation at work, I need a stress breaker when I get home. Remember now that my Husband is going though the same thing at work and his stress release is to talk about it ALL THE TIME!


Tonight when I got home, in mid sentence AGAIN! I grabbed the camera and went outside.

The grass has turned a rich green and color is beginning to pop up all over the garden. I have yellow and dual tone daffodils; very lovely deep blue native violets with very deep purple leaves.

The wee tiny bright yellow flowers of the spice bush, show here with a fly resting on one. This is a native bush to this area. When a bird planted a mulberry tree right next to it, I asked a environmentalist which I should move. He said the mulberry tree as it is not a native. But whatever I do, DO NOT disturb the native spice bush. He mentioned that they were rare.

Then there is the very lovely Snow Fountain Weeping Cherry. This little tree is very happy with it's home and grows and blooms wonderfully.

Last but not least are my little primroses. I simply love this little flower and use it as a ground cover. If they make it through the first summer and winter, they will return to a very thick colony and be better than ever. I have several that are a number of years old now.

It was so pleasant walking around the garden today looking at all my plants. I still have some work to do out there and yes, it will get done, eventually. But right now, just watching them bloom and watching the birds in the garden are all I need.