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