A Love of Growing Roses

New Dawn ~ Large Flowering Climber/Rambler. Introduced in 1930. A sport of Dr. W. Van Fleet. Light Pink. Rated 8.6 out of a possible 10 for garden roses. It is also one of the cleanest roses in this area, getting virtually no disease and not pestered by insects save the Japanese beetle.

This particular photo won a 2nd place award in a national photo contest.

I've always loved roses. I loved getting them from suiters as well as seeing them in the garden. As a child, my mother never grew many. It always seemed that they were nice for a year and then, the next year would come back a different color and shape. She was always told they went wild. What happen, however, is that most roses sold in nurseries and even the box stores are grafted roses. It's cheaper to produce them this way and much, much faster. Because of this, most all roses have a graft at the bottom between the roots and the plant. If this dies, the plant dies, but the roots can live on sending up sprouts of it's own. Hence the "wild" rose. New Dawn, as are most old roses, is easily started with it's own roots; roots to China and is ironclad.

(a borrowed picture from helpmefind.com) Candy Stripe

About 12 years ago, Husband thought it would be a good idea to get involved with a Plant of the Month club and the first thing he bought was a rose bush for me. It was a little rose called Candy Stripe, a sport of the Peace rose and introduced in 1963. The company that was sponsoring this club was a company I no longer deal with because of their reputation. This will explain the next statement of this rose which I new nothing about at the time. This rose is rated 6.1 out of a possible 10 as a garden rose, which is considered way below average for overall strength and disease resistance. This rose has since died for me. On receiving it, I decided I needed more roses to make a rose garden. We went to the local Lowe's garden center and found roses! I got a HT by the name of Rio Samba; an antique rose called Anne Marie de Montravel (which turned out to be an imposter), the Peace rose and another Hybrid Tea called Mister Lincoln. At the same time I also got on line and found a group of rosarians on AOL who gladly helped me with the rose care and I was sunk. Having always liked roses, I now had a passion for them I'd never known before. I found the different classes of roses, the history and being able to grow them to be fasinating. I also had the opportunity to meet some of the most interesting and wonderful characters ever. For me, it's a journey well worth traveling and the journey is far from over. Who knows where I'll go from here. I have yet to exibit, though I do the photography. We'll see.

Creativity

Starting at the ripe age of eight, I was entered into the 4-H programs that the area sponsored. In this area I was taught how to sew. If any of you know about the 4-H programs, they usually encourage compitition which comes during the annual Pennsylvania Farm Show in January. I've always steered clear of this, not wanting to put my sewing on display.

When in high school, I also took some of the Home Ecomonics classes to refresh what I learned in 4-H with the sewing as well as learn nutrition and how to prepare it. I'm sure the cooking part is all basically the same everywhere, but different in the area you live. In this area when I took the course, cooking was in mostly preparing garden fresh vegetables, canning and cooking for a meal, processing fruits and gourds such as pumpkins directly from the garden for storing and prepration for food and great desserts such as pumpkin pie. The sewing was a bit more of a challenge for my teachers than for me. Having had started it in 4-H and prepared for compitition, though I never entered anything, my HS teachers were at a loss to find something that I could learn. So, instead of letting me use any of the new nifty White sewing machines they had, I had to make a complete garment, dress and jacket, just as they were made a century before - before the age of the sewing machine complete with zippers, hooks and eyes and ric-rac. This took me an entire semester to complete, but I have to admit, the garments never fell apart, ripped (at the seams anyway) and I eventually gave them to Goodwill because I out grew them. These were not only put on display in the lobby of the school, but I also was asked to model them at the annual fashion show the school put on in it's auditorium. This was my first compitition in anything. The grade I got didn't hurt either.

Today, I still enjoy making my own clothes and do so. I like being creative and making something that not only fits better than the stuff you get in the department stores, but is also unique in that you may not find another garment like this one anywhere. And I wear everything I make.

When I was 14 and doing the hand sewing in school, my mother couldn't figure out why I didn't sew more. She thought that everyone liked doing things they did well. Not me. I was 14. I had a whole world in front of me that was hugh and new and needed exploring. I wanted to explore it, not be tied to a sewing machine for the rest of my life. So I set out to see what was out there and try my hand at everything that interested me. Sewing was only one part of that world.

When we built this home, we chose this neighborhood because there were custom built homes here. I wasn't interested in the cookie cutter homes other developments offered. I wasn't everyone else and didn't want to look like everyone else. We were given limits to how small a home and how inexpensive we could build, but I still got to create out my own house plan according to the rythem of my family. Since we've built here, the developer has gotten another builder for this area who has said he would not build custom homes, but will construct a couple of cookie cutter homes a year to sell. There goes the charm of the neighborhood. I think it's sad that a builder, who probably knows nothing of creativity, has the nerve to tell people what rythem they should have. It takes away from the interest of the area. Right now, no two properties look alike. As a matter of fact, each and every one is completely different in style and rythem but none look out of place of junky. I have a one-story with an European flair. My next door neighbor is much more formal with a large Cape and classical landscaping. The other neighbor has a one-story, multilevel roof line contemporary with a comtemporary flair in her landscaping. The neighbor across the street is totally traditional. I think it's sad that this will now stop.

Well, back to my sewing. Right now I'm making a pair of shorts.

A Rose in Review

Sweet Sixteen - shrub. Introduced in 2002.

Each year the American Rose Society has a little judging called Roses in Review. They are actually asking their members to evaulate certain roses that haven't been evaulated, or they don't have enough info on the roses to rate them for garden and show.

Last year I was surprised to see that they had rated Sweet Sixteen rather high for the garden. I've had this rose since 2002 and frankly haven't had a really high opinion of it. But I was also aware that I had it squashed between six other roses. For three years it continued to flounder for me.

This year, I had this new very large bed around some spruce trees that I was planting in roses. I pulled several roses out of the over crowded bed and put them back in the new bed with the left over munchkins that had made their way into my garden. Sweet Sixteen was one of two of these roses that went back there to flouish. I can see now why the ARS gave it a high rating. Since it settled it's been nonstop blooming and the bush is compact and well leafed. It also appears to be quite disease resistant. All my roses back in this new bed are doing very well.


Little Darling - shrub. Introduced 1956. Rated as 8.2 out of 10 as a garden specimen.

This little rose is also in the same bed with Sweet Sixteen and is doing exceptionally well. However, Little Darling won't stay little. I understand it gets to be a massive bush. This one was taken from the garden of my deceased friend, Bob Sanders. When he passed, his wife called me and asked that we come and get the roses and a couple of trees. Of course I said yes and that's now Little Darling came to live with us. This rose is growing like gang busters and I'm hoping it'll show me it's true worth nex year. Right now, I'm not complaining.

Mid July

Anne Marie de Montravel. Polyantha. Introduced in 1862.

This morning, bright and early around 7:00 am, I was outside as usual to water the potted plants and to repot a new rose. This time of year, I'm usually out very early, if I'm out at all because of the intense humidity. The time now is 8:30 am. The temperature is 80 degrees with 80% humidity. There is a possible thunderstorm predicted for these parts today, but that won't happen until late afternoon when the temperatures start to drop. It's going to be a hot one.

My water barrels are full which is a good thing. My potted plants will die in a day without water and I have enough to sustain them for about two weeks if I don't try to water any of the garden plants. The garden plants shouldn't need it though. The subsoil here is clay and holds the moisture nicely. Since we've been living here I haven't had to water established plants.

In the past four years, folks have asked me to root them speciality roses. Oh, some of them are easy enough to get, but the ones I've been asked for have special meaning....New Dawn, a lovely rambler requested by a family member in memory of our Grandmother who kept it growing over her front porch. Gruss an Aachen, a floribunda requested by a friend who wants one started own root rather the the grafted ones that die in a few years. Anne Marie de Montravel, a polyantha asked for by a club member who loves the exotic and hard to find roses. I've been trying all these years to get some cuttings of these roses with no luck. Actually, New Dawn did root once for me. It is growing nicely in a starter pot waiting for me to turn it over to it's new owner and new home. I will do this the beginning of August with instructions on how to get it started before winter.

All three roses are considered antique roses by their age and history. Usually these roses are good starters but I simply haven't had any luck with them. The cuttings would go almost 8 weeks and finally die instead so setting new roots. On a whim, and seeing something a little different in an unusual catalog, I ordered some rooting cups to try rooting these roses this way...

It's been six weeks for New Dawn. I'm watching this rose closely. It has shown a change in the strength of it's leaves, not loosing any and the little bud unions seem to be fattening like it wants to send new growth. This is a good sign that the plant is making new roots.

It's been four weeks for Gruss an Aachen. Again I'm watching this one even closer. It too has shown me a change of strength in it's leaves, not loosing any and the little bud unions have new green canes starting. This tells me that there must be roots in the cup somewhere but as of yet, I've not seen them. So, I leave the new plant where it is for the time being. I'm hoping to see new roots against the cup's sides very soon and will repot it into a starter pot and prepare it for it's new home.

It's been five weeks for Anne Marie de Montravel. This morning it was repotted into a starter pot and placed in a shady spot out of the heat and direct sun. The roots it was growing were large, white and healthy. I saw six of these roots climbing into the water wells of the cups and knew if I didn't get it out of there, I could end up damaging the roots severely. When I took it out of the cup, I was pleasantly surprised to see the cup fairly full of these white healthy roots. The canes have new growth starting at the bud unions but so far haven't developed into new canes. Needless to say, this one will be watched the closest especially since it's progressed to the next phase of it's development.

Seeing this makes me wonder if Gruss an Aachen may be in the same state of growth. But, without seeing the young roots, I'm not sure I want to take that chance. I will give it a little more time. If it starts pushing new life, then I will be fairly certain that there are new roots growing. And this one does seem to want to do this.

I am disappointed in New Dawn. This one has always been extremely easy for me to start. I did get one plant from the parent, but not with the rooting cups. I'm hoping it's just slower to start but it can't wait to much longer or it will not survive the winter.

In the meantime, I will be staying indoors mostly, out of the sun, heat and humidity. I have new clothes I want to make for my new position at work and will keep myself busy with that. I have cloth for three skirts, two tops and have discovered that I have enough cloth left to make matching scarves and sashes for the skirts. I still don't know when I'll be moving into my new position but am getting anxious about it. The time is coming closer and I can feel it. I'm ready.

Early July

As July 4th rolled on by, the garden made a change in scenery. The strawberry have given way to the raspberries of which I couldn't resist a pie. The roses have finished their first flush and are now inbetween flushes of bloom; a good thing since the Japanese beetles are raging right now. Now, we have the lilies of all varieties coming for a show as well as the coneflower, sunflowers and black-eyed susans. The hosta are showing their flowers as well as the hollyhocks, mallow and daliahs. This time of year is just as pretty as when the roses are in bloom.

The lilies are the show stoppers right now. The lovely salmon colored lily is called Lori Goldstron. This year, the plant isn't looking all that great, but the beautiful flower belies the idea that the plant is weak. I'm thinking that it is weak due to the hail storm last year which nearly killed it but hopefully next year it will finally show it's strength.

One of my favorite day lilies is Indian Giver; a lovely deep purple with a yellow center. It's not the largest day lily flower nor the frilliest but there is simply something about this flower that draws my eye even from a distance. It must be the color.

Only just a few here from a fairly large variety of lilies. I like them all such as Grand Cru; a medium yellow with orange centers and lightly spotted with brown.

Each season has it's own beauty. Just wait until the oriental lilies are blooking!

A Rainy Day

Patio Pearl. Floribunda. This rose was introduced in 1990 under another name and class. It started out as a miniflora called Pearl Palace. However, it definitely was misclassed. This bush gets far to big in every way to be classed as a miniflora and does seem to fit better in the floribunda class. When this rose is at the top of it's game, it is outstanding but the conditions must be perfect for this to happen. Beautiful as it is, it's petals often water spotted, burned and the leaves are almost always disease spotted. It's actually a very strong rose and has good winter health. It doesn't appear to like the humidity we get around here. It blooms like mad.

Today is another rainy day. It isn't like we've not had many of these lately. I shouldn't complain. When we first built and moved into this house we had the worst drought in history for this area. This past week we managed to survive about 19" of rain and it's raining again! It's beginning to look like a rain forest out there. All 36 of my trees aren't complaining I'm sure. Oh, that's 39 trees if you count the ones the neighbor planted on my property. Don't worry, she knew she was close to the line and asked us before she planted them. Then when they arrived, the nursery man realized that to plant them where she wanted them would be to close to her drainfield, so he planted them on my property.

Since it was raining today, the kitchen was the optimun place to be. I made dessert for dinner tonight and a batch of raspberry jam. The jam was made a little differently this year. It was more work but I think it will be well worth the effort. For dinner is Salmon with a dill/lemon butter. I never used to make this, but once while visiting in California, my friends, Jane & Mack made it for me. It was so good that I started making it at home. Husband doesn't eat salmon, so I will always make him something else. But it's now my favorite fish. I usually make it with tater tots and salad.

My 4th of July was a quiet day. I hope yours was too.

Musings

Lavaglut. Floribunda rose. Dark Red. 24 petals. Introduced in 1978. Rated at 8.7 out of 10 as a good garden rose. I have to admit, it's impressing me! It's a smallish rose with just as small blooms but it's a true workhorse in my garden. I have two bushes that I had gotten from the garden of a friend who has passed away and this year, each bush has been covered in bloom, rolling from one flush to the next without a break. The disease resistance is also impressive. Of course, I still spray it for blackspot and mildew but it is still cleaner than some others. I recall my friend telling me that these bushes are own-root, having gotten them from a nursery we commonly know for having own-root roses. My friend had them for one year, but never took care of them because his health wouldn't allow him. I've had them for one year, they've doubled their size and are looking very healthy.

I spent the weekend relaxing. No cleaning for this girl. Instead, yesterday we took a ride to the stepson's to pick up some barn siding he had for his dad. They live in a rather small bi-level house with three bedrooms which stepson had one for his office. Well, with a third baby coming, they need the office as a bedroom so he started cleaning it out and tearing it out. They will redesign it for the second daughter, Hanna, who will be 4 on her next birthday the end of this month. Any more babies and they will need to get a bigger house. It's hard to believe how rapidly these children are growing. Abigail Marie is 8. It won't be long until she's a teenager and driving. She's already had her first driving lesson at the age of 2. Abby has turned into a lovely sweet child. Hanna is a bit more tempermental. She has a temper that could melt lead and hasn't figured out how to handle it yet. When she finally starts preschool which should be soon, she will mellow out some.

While out, we also made the rounds to the local Home Depot and Lowe's. The last time we were at Home Depot, I was rather disappointed but this time I actually found two shasta daisy's that looked quite healthy so I got them for the back perennial bed. At Lowe's, I found a Julia Child rose, the very last one, on sale for half price and being a rose fanatic, I couldn't leave it behind. On returning home, we planted our new arrivals and got them safely secure before the storms came. They are doing fine today.

I've gotten a good bit of the deadheading done, but still have a good bit to go. Hopefully I'll be able to finish it this week and start over again. Weeds, deadhead, weeds, deadhead, weeds, deadhead and so on.

A Friend Visits

A Zebra Lythetail butterfly came to visit the very vibrant orange butterfly weed the other day. This is an older butterfly. You can tell by the tear in his wing. As the butterflies age, they carry the battle scars of life. They will also loose some of their brilliance as well. This one, however, still had some beautiful markings.

A Pretty Day

Arizona rose bud.

The rain has finally stopped, at least for now. It is still forcasted in the form of thunderstorms and showers through the weekend. We had a total of 15" in my back yard. In the local newspaper yesterday was the story of a family in Safe Harbor who clung to the trunk of a tree as the raging Conestoga River washed their vehicle away. This story unfolded less than a one minute drive from my home.

I'm still concerned about friends who live in Wilkes-Berrie. The entire town of 10,000 residence were evacuated because the huge Susquehanna was about and actually did flood the entire town.

A well loved uncle passed away the other day. His funeral will be tomorrow and I will go. It's consoling that he passed away without any pain and rather suddenly. He told his daughter that he wanted to lay down and rest. That was that. I always liked this uncle. He was a kind and gentle man.

Something Published

Nature's Pallet

Husband sumitted this photo to the "Photo of the Day" area in the local paper. We were delighted to see that it had been chosen for publication in full color.

I think a better picture was the one that wasn't taken. When Husband shot this photo I didn't have a camera but the experience of seeing him among the butterfly bushes to get this shot was incredible. He was being surrounded by thousands of Zibra Lyetail, Tiger Lyetail, Black Lyetail and Monarch butterflies, not to mention the large variety of small butterflies fluttering all around him in their desire to find a good feeding spot on these bushes.

I keep three fully mature butterfly bushes of different colors together along with butterfly weed of various colors in the same area with a small bath for the butterflies. A butterfly garden, you might say. There are other butterfly attractions in other parts of the garden, including a native spice bush which these beauties use readily for breeding and egg laying. By the end of the summer the spice bush is looking rather ratty, but all the activity and leaf munching doesn't seem to hurt it much. The next spring it usually comes awake almost twice the size as the year before. I also keep fennel and parsley scattered throughout the garden for the butterfly larvae which eat these spices readily. Although the butterflies visit all the different garden rooms in my yard, they are mostly attracted to this spot where the butterfly bushes are and will eventually migrate there. In most every other part of the garden the butterflies will give way to the bees but in the butterfly garden, the bees give way to the butterflies.

I love drawing these colorful beauties into my garden and in doing so, my garden itself has become as colorful. There is nothing more awesome than going out into the garden and being surrounded by thousands of butterflies of all shapes and sizes. And I'm glad I found so many plants that will draw them in so readily.

Something Fun

Ok, so it's another dreary day. I'm bored to death here but a friend sent this to me so I thought I'd play.

How well do you know me?? For instance, did you know...

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Graphic Artist
2. Horse Trainer
3. Waitress
4. Bar Maid
Two movies I would watch over and over:
1. The Seventh Sign
2. Phantom of the Opera
Three places I have lived:
1. Pennsylvania
2. South Carolina
3. Michigan
Four TV shows I love/loved to watch:
1. CSI series
2. 24
3. Medium
4. Stargate series
Four places I have been on vacation:
1. Disney World
2. San Francisco
3. Portland
4. Bermuda
Four websites I look at daily: (more than others)
1. Library Dust
2. EWA (The Kan)
3. People Behind My Eyes
4. Life at Star's Rest

Another Dreary Day

I cannot show the latest card I've just made as the person it's for reads this blog. So I've decided to share an earlier card I made late last year. This makes such a beautiful card for just thinking of you or thankyou. Placed on a satin background, the rose is Chihuly and compliments the victorian lady. I have several varieties of this lady with and without the rose.

It's been another rainy day; quite dreary as a matter of fact. Since it is impossible to be outside for more than a few minutes at a time, providing you don't care about wet feet, it's been a good day for catching up on computer work. I've been really lax on that of late.

I did manage to get some deadheading done this week but not as much as I had hoped. Still, there's always tomorrow but I do hear that the weather not to be much better. It'll get done.

Tomorrow it's back to work and back to the old schedule. I'm looking forward to the shift change and it will be here before I know it. I've gotten some really good rest this past week and can see how this shift change is going to work nicely.

As My Week Winds Down

As my week from the job wears down, I've had time to reflect. I didn't go anywhere except to a club meeting. I did some shopping but mostly weeded and began the deadheading in the garden. My evenings were made up of working on the computer to design and create a bunch of new cards for special occasions. I have to admit, I didn't get nearly all the cards done but sometimes my ideas are a little involved to come up with what my mind's eye sees. All in all it was a very good week. It was nice to get away from the job for a bit even though I didn't make any trip plans this time. I got a good feel of what life could be like when I move to the other shift. I like it. I will probably miss being outside in the garden during the day, but when I think about it, I'm in the house most of the day anyway to try to avoid the humidity. I'll still have the evenings.

A Productive Week

This has been a pretty productive week for me. I found out that I don't need as much to finish my wardrobe as I thought for the new position I will be getting soon. The ad for my old position is now in the paper so the boss is actively looking for a replacement. I've spent the week at home working on the house. No reason, just a week off and the weather, though hot and humid, has been rather cooperative. I got the weeding done I wanted to and the deadheading started.

I also got a good start on some anniversary and birthday cards I needed to get done. There's still a lot to go for these but I have two done so far and a third well on the way to being there. Sometimes like the motif on this card will take several days to a week depending on how much time I have to work on it at once. It's the combination of filters and layers on it that make it interesting. Also the color. However, I can change the color to reflect my mood or what I like best for the look of the card. Actually more of the latter than anything. I still might change the color. I'm thinking a rich, deep, royal purple would look great and not take away from the petunias.

Once the card is the way I want to see it, it's just a matter of going to it, changing the text to suit the appropriate occasion and I have a card in minutes. That's what my website is all about. My cards are a bit more expensive than the usual dollar store card, but they are my designs and I'm not about to sell myself short.

This card is almost complete. I need to figure out which catagory I want to put it in...probably my Victorian Collection...and put in the words for the occasion. Of course, print it. Then I will have three done with at least three more to make.

The Victorian collection usually consists of my designs and artwork but not generally photographs. However, my one Victorian lady has my photo of Chihuly rose behind her. I'm thinking that this card with the beautiful motif in the background, it would fit nicely in the Victorian Collection.

A Reason to Celebrate

I've been looking at changing job shifts for some time now. I had heard there might be an opening in the dayside shift some time ago and informed all the powers to be about my wishes. Friday, I was called into the office and told that I would definitely be moving to the days. My job there would be similar to the one I do now with a few differences. This is a very big change for me since I've been working nights for the past 21 years. My new boss told me that I really impressed him which didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. When I first started here 21 years ago, he was my boss then for about 10 years. I think he's just forgotten my work ethics. I'm sure it'll come back to him enforce when I start working with him again. I'm looking forward to starting my job at a different time. I don't know yet when I'll be going over to the other shift. There are things to be done first but my new boss is hoping around the end of August or the middle of September. We'll see how it goes.

Husband's Adventure

For the past three days I've been home alone. It was much needed quiet time and totally appreciated. Husband, on the other hand, was invited on an adventure by the boy. They had a great time going on a once-in-a-lifetime trip called PowerTour 2006. This is a tour that happens every year, but not in the same area of the US every year. This was the biggest year this tour has had to date. There were about 3,200 roadsters that were registered to tour. This year they came to Harrisburg where Husband and son met with them and drove through NJ before turning around and coming back. It doesn't seem like much, but they enjoyed it totally. This post is for their trip and some of the vehicles that were on the tour.

Hershey Botanical Gardens

Julia Childs.

While at the botanical gardens, one of the things I like to do is evaulate the roses for ones that might do well in my garden. There were several I found this year that I have put on the list for this year or next. One of the most impressive was Julia Childs. I've seen this one in pictures but never in person. I have to admit to being very impressed and the clusters are wonderfully large and full for cutting.

Others I found were:





Golden Showers













French Perfume















Duet - Another floribunda that has large beautiful clusters for cutting and vases.

I need more rose gardens!!!!!

The Company Party

Yesterday was the company picnic. Each year they hold this at the Amusement park at Hershey. It's always a fun time for the employees of the newspaper and their families as well as a rare occasion that it is also affordable. I love to go each year. However, you can keep the roller coaster, which the park has quite a few and I'll stick to the more tame rides. I've always had problems with getting sick on those wild rides.



So each year, we go, get on a few rides and stop in for the catered lunch and door prizes. We never stay long enough to hear who wins the door prizes. This year we stopped at the chocolate attraction. I was curious because it is common knowledge around here that Hershey (the home of the Hershey's Chocolate) had revamped the attraction and I wanted to see it. Besides, it is free admission there, though the factory fresh chocolates are a bit expensive. Still, to get fresh chocolate from Hershey is well worth it.


From there we went to the nearby Hershey Botanical Gardens. It's been a year since we've been there and they too, have made a few changes. They revamped the gardens and added some whimsey, garden bugs made out of bamboo and placed in different places around the garden. the botanical gardens at Hershey are well known for their work with the rose, hence we get in for free being members of the American Rose Society.




It was a really fun day all around. We just got done looking around at the gardens when it started to rain. It held off just for us! I even got some chocolate for friends. It was a nice day as it usually is when the newspaper holds it's company party.

Finally!!

Finally!! The patio is now considered finished. All the furniture is on for it and we can now use it. In the center is the firepit. The bowl of this is turned upside down right now because it's been raining lately and we want to keep it nice. These are the before pictures that were taken earlier this year and the after pictures which were taken Saturday. The only thing left is to decide which plants we want climbing the new arbor. Right now I'm thinking the rose Golden Showers but that could change until next year.





























This has been a very difficult project and I'm glad it's the last of the major hardscape for this yard. Yet, it seems the house really called for this. Even the dog loves it. Thankyou for listening to all this.

We still have the path to put around the house to the work patio and driveway, but that will be another year. And no, it won't be as much work as this was.

A Mystery

It's close to 10 years ago when Husband bought me a Valentine's Day gift of a little "throw-away" rose that we found at a local nursery. It was so pretty that I put it under growth lights until I was able to plant it outside. It did quite well there so when we built the house, I took it with me knowing that I may never know the variety name should there be one. Once here, it again settled in and is now about 2½' tall and about as wide. My guess is that after 4 years here and 5 years at the other house, this is a mature plant. The leaves are a dark leathery green, very disease resistant and reminds me a lot of the leaves on Playboy but maybe not quite as big. Each spring it covers itself with these lovely orange and mauve 2" blooms. The buds are very ovate and a deep orange. My guess is, it is a miniature especially since that is what is so often cultivated for these special occasions; thus considered what I've heard termed as "throw-away" roses. It is possible that this rose has no variety name at all; just simply one of those cultivators that just didn't seem to have what it takes to be named and go into production. Since then a number of people tried to tell me it was Gold Medal but I drag my feet on this. I even had the nursery check for a variety name. They called the supplier who had no name for it. Yet, for me, this little rose has done better than some and each year it improves on itself. It's ashame that I don't know what the variety name is or even if it has one. This bush is so photogentic.

More Garden Shots

As you can tell, I've been busy outside. This is the look from the driveway to the back for the property.
















Romantic Evening tall bearded iris












The new patio and some furniture









Gypsy Dancer tall bearded iris



















Gnus Flash tall bearded iris

Fimbriata hybrid rugosa rose




















Blanc Double de Coupert hybrid rugosa rose

In Comparison

This is the house when we moved in July of 2002.

This is the house today! Only a slight difference.

One of the first plants to find a home was a tiny rose that I had ordered while the house was being built. I bought the miniflora for it's name. Sweet Dream. It is actually in the first picture on this post but it had taken a lot of abuse being moved from one location to another until it found it's way home.

This year it is looking quite glorious and now has a companion Sweet Dream as well. Oh, did I tell you that this little rose is blessed with a very sweet fragrance?

A Rose

Sally Holmes Shrub Rose. This bush has given me a number of award winning photographs. More to come later.

Above is the picture in it's entirty. This is a picture of just the stamens. I love this picture with just the stamens blown up like this. It also tells you the kind of sharpness I get out of my camera.