April 24, 2012 - Michelangelo romantica

Although yellow roses aren't my favorite (only 3 of my 30+ roses are yellow), I do enjoy their bright and cheerful color.  When I look at them, they give me a different feeling than my pink roses.  And I think they would have a better effect grouped together. 

 

In the winter, I think I'm going to move my yellow roses (Julia Child, Golden Celebration and Michelangelo) to the flower bed on the south side of the garage and make it a "yellow and blue/purple" garden by adding blue and purple perennials.  This means, I will need to find new homes for my Sophy's Rose, Kimberlina and Winsome.  But that's fine with me.  You don't find what truly works unless you try things out.   I feel that if a rose doesn't work in a particular location, move it until you find a spot you love it in. 

 

I think Sophy's Rose will look fabulous in Golden Celebration's current location (back west garden between both Mary Roses).  Mary Rose is a light/medium pink so a deep pinkish red should fit in nicely.  Kimberlina could go in Michelangelo's location on the west side of pool. 

 

 

 Michelangelo romantica

I got my inspiration from this gorgeous garden.  I even have that same trellis in my front garden.

April 23, 2013 - Eden Climber

Eden Climber (aka Pierre de Ronsard) is a Romantica climbing rose.  Romantica roses are, in a nutshell, the French grower Meilland's hybrid version of an old fashioned rose similar to David Austin English roses.  This is my first experience with Romanticas and I think they are a beautiful addition to my garden.

 

My new Eden Climber rose.  I'll be adding a trellis to the fence to give her something to hang on to.

 

 

 

 

 

What's blooming - April 15, 2013

Moving from left to right in my back garden, these are the roses that are blooming today. . .

 

 



 Glamis Castle



 

 

Young Lycidas

 

Classic Woman

 

 Huntington Rose

 

 

Mary Rose

 

 

Golden Celebration

 

 

 

My second Mary Rose

 

 

Pink Traviata

 

 

 

Scepter'd Isle

 

 

 

 

Belinda's Dream

 



 

 

The Alnwick Rose

 

 

 

 Janet

 

The garden's all mulched

 

 

 Lantana and Iris borders the east side of the pool

April 14, 2013 - Out with the old, in with the new!

Lots of valuable real estate was being taken up by these three Wheeler's Dwarf shrubs.  I dug them out and planted four new roses in their place.  Much better!

 

My first bouquets of the season

April 13, 2013

Day before yesterday, Cameron and I took a trip to two nurseries after school.  At the first one, Evergreen, I picked up one of the romantica hybrid tea roses that was on my list, Pink Traviata.  At the second nursery, Gazebo Gardens, I got Classic Woman romantica, Michelangelo romantica, Yves Piaget romantica, Eden romantica climber, and Bishop's Castle DA.

Yesterday, I picked up some bags of soil/compost mix as well as some mulch.  Today, I planted two of the roses and moved one already in the garden to a new location (after removing three Wheeler's Dwarfs, I had available garden space).

Several roses have been blooming over the past few days, but I haven't had a chance to take photos or write about them.  This evening, I cut a few flowers (3 Belinda's Dream, 2 Sophie's Rose, 1 The Alnwick Rose) and put them in vases.  I'll take pictures tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow, I plan on planting Eden and Yves Piaget.

As of today, I am the proud owner of 32 roses!

April 3, 2013

Yesterday, while at the nursery picking up annuals and perennials, I checked out the roses that Evergreen offered as well.  As I suspected, they no longer carry David Austin roses, but they do have a large selection of other roses.  I have been contemplating what to do with the south facing garden (the one where the chimney is).  Veggie garden, cutting garden?  I had almost settled on a veggie garden but decided, local in season veggies are so inexpensive, I'd rather have a beautiful cutting garden.  While DA roses are lovely to look at on the bush, they don't make the best cut flowers for arranging in a vase.  I personally think that although Hybrid Tea Roses are suitable for cut flower arrangement, they are unattractive as far as the plant goes and the flowers themselves are too modern looking for my taste.  The woman at Evergreen suggest I try Romantica roses (a Hybrid Tea with a more shrubby plant and old fashioned looking flowers).  The varieties she suggested I try are:  Yves Piaget, Classic Woman, Pink Traviata, Rouge Royale, and Michelangelo.  Sadly, I don't think I have room for all of the roses listed here.  Decisions, decisions. . .


Here are examples of each:

YVES PIAGET

CLASSIC WOMAN


 
Photo courtesy Regan Nursery

PINK TRAVIATA



Photo courtesy conard-pyle.com

 

 

ROUGE ROYALE

 

 

MICHELANGELO

 

 

Although the nursery didn't suggest this one below, I came across it online yesterday.  I'm going to call to see if they have it.  I really want it.  It's one of the most beautiful flowers I've ever seen.

 

EDEN CLIMBER (aka Pierre de Ronsard)

 

 Photo courtesy Abby

 

 

 



April 2, 2013

Today, my mom and I went to one of my favorite local nurseries, Evergreen, to buy some plants.  We are both craving some more color in our respective gardens.  Right now, I've got three Azaleas (two different shades of bright pink and a white) that are in full bloom, as well as some lavender Lantana around the pool, and a couple of Irises.  None of the roses have bloomed but I see a couple that could open up any day now.

I got three 6-packs, one each of Super Elfin Blue Pearl (pinkish lavender), Super Elfin Pink (cool pink) and Impreza White (pure white) Impatiens.

Super Elfin Blue Pearl Impatiens*

Super Elfin Pink Impatiens*

Impreza White Impatiens*

I also picked up two 6-packs of Chaubaud's Mix Carnations (perennials) and two 6-packs of Sonata Mix Cosmos (annuals) two 6-packs of Double Cascade Mix Petunias, and one 4" Fantasia Raspberry Twizzle Zonal Geranium. 

• I interspersed the Carnations throughout the sunny areas of the front and back gardens.  I'll take photos once they're in bloom.

• So far, I've only planted three of the Cosmos in the back garden near the pool.

• The Geranium went in front of the Crape Myrtle tree in the back garden.

• I planted the Petunias in a row spaced about 6 inches apart in the front flower bed to the right of the garage (in front of Wise Portia, Julia Child, and Mary Rose).

• I haven't planted the Impatiens yet. 

Chaubaud's Mix Carnations*

Sonata Mix Cosmos*

Double Cascade Petunias*

Raspberry Twizzle Geranium

*Stock photos (not my actual plants)