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)

March 26, 2013

I took a little tour around the garden today and lots of buds are covering many of the roses.  Others are just beginning to leaf out.  I'm getting anxious too see my old friends (my roses, of course) in full bloom.  I've missed them.  I think I'll make a trip to the nursery this weekend for some annuals.  I need color!

On a sadder note, the Pink Bower Vine I moved to the back garden isn't doing well.  The move sent it into severe shock and the leaves have dried up and wilted.  I watered it in well after transplanting it and have kept it moist but not soggy ever since to no avail.  I'm going to let it stay for awhile to see if it recovers.  I also moved a Pink Jasmine vine the other day about 3 feet to the left of its previous location (it was being hidden by a daylily and a rose) only to have the exact same thing happen.  If they don't improve in a week or so, I'm tossing them and planting new vines in their place.  I'll consider it a lesson learned. . .vines don't like to be moved.

I received an Annie's garden catalog the other day and saw this cute t-shirt for sale (haven't bought it yet).  Being a listener of hip hop and rap music (among other genres), I found it particularly witty.

March 17 and 18, 2013

• Got a few things done on my 2013 to do list (see previous post for updates typed in red). 
• Things done that were not on to do list:  moved fern from in front of picture window to right of hydrangea in front garden.  It fills in a blank spot nicely.  Will have to see how it likes this new location.
• Moved lily (which was previously hidden behind camellia on the right - picture window) to the now free space (where fern was) between the two camellias.
• Purchased  Princess Alexandra of Kent David Austin rose and Belinda's Dream floribunda rose today at Gazebo Gardens.  Will plant them tomorrow.

January 14, 2013

"To Do" list updated March 2013

We're not even one month into winter and I've already got spring fever.  I recently received my David Austin Handbook of Roses 2013.  Yesterday, I sat in my big comfy chair and perused it along with several gardening magazines from last year.  I spent the better part of the day plotting and planning what I want to do in the garden this year and writing notes in my gardening notebook.  My "to do" list has about 15 things on it right now but I'm sure I'll add some as spring gets closer.  Some items are musts and others are wishes.   The list is in no particular order of importance, but simply the order of how the ideas popped out of my head.  Since this is an online diary of my gardening journey, I write my notes so that they make sense to me.  However, since others may wander into my garden from time to time, if you have questions about something I've written, please feel free to ask me.  I'm a very friendly gardener.

• move star jasmine to front (moved it to in front of downspout in east facing bed 3/17/13)
• extend sprinklers to around pool
• plant potato vine near back patio
• add lattice/trellises to back fence w/ potato vines to screen neighbors (see previous post)
• mulch flower beds
• add soil to chimney flower bed
• move roses from around pool - transplant into new locations
• consider moving 'Janet' to front garden to the right of 'Mary Rose'
• consider moving 'The Alnwick" to the area in front of the trellis in front yard (put Gertrude Jekyll in front of the trellis.  Need to find another space for Alnwick.  South Garage bed?)
• consider removing Pink Bower Vine from the front trellis and putting 'Gertrude Jekyll' climber in its place.  Pink Bower Vine completely hides the decorative structure of the trellis.  (moved Pink  Bower vine to back garden near patio arbor, moved Gertrude Jekyll to front trellis-east facing garden)
• where to place vine? (see above)
• add bamboo shades to the back patio
• prune front tree (Sierra's window)
• move rose in chimney bed ('Scepter'd Isle' was temporary moved to this bed until eradication of nut sedge is apparent) to corner of south garage bed (moved SI Rose back to its original spot - north/west corner back garden since Nut Sedge appears to be gone - 3/17/13)
• purchase and add Sea Lavender (aka limonium) next to 'Golden Celebration' for contrast

Wish list (plants I saw on blogs - investigate to see if they will work in my garden):

• Belinda's Dream - gorgeous pink floribunda (purchased from Gazebo Gardens 3/18/13)
  
• Mme. Berkeley, tea rose (looks like an old rose)
  
• Rosette Delizy - tea rose (gorgeous bi-color)
  

Rose Companions:

• chives
• poppies
• hardy geranium (shades of blue)
• cape plumbago
• penstemons
• campanula
• daisies

David Austin English Roses Wish list:

• England's Rose (4 x 3) - deep glowing pink, medium sized blooms are produced almost continuously from early summer right through to the first frosts.
  
• Harlow Carr (4 x 3) - pure rose pink, one of the most free-flowering, rounded shrub, performs well in hot areas.
  
• Jubilee Celebration (4 x 4) - rich pink w/ tints of gold on underside of petals, healty and reliable shrub, does well in hot areas.
  
• Princess Alexandra of Kent (3 1/2 x 2 1/2) - unusually large flowers of warm glowing pink, very healthy, excellent in hot areas.  (purchased from Gazebo Gardens 3/18/13)
  
• Munstead Wood (3 x 2 1/2) - deep velvety crimson color might be nice in front of trellis next to silvery/pink 'Our Lady of Guadalupe.'  Large flowers, bushy growth.
  

A special thank you to Piece of Eden, A Rose is a Rose, Organic Garden Dreams and VW Garden for providing inspiration.

3 Month Before & Afters

Back Garden (west fence) - April 2, 2012

Same Garden - May 6, 2012

* If you click to zoom in on the second photo, you will notice that's my son's BB gun target on the fence.  :) 

July 6, 2012 - Grass is looking a little sad due to the extreme temps (and the dog spots) but the plants have filled in nicely.

 

Another view of the same flower bed. . .



 

April 2012 - I hate seeing my neighbor's ugly yard over the 6' fence.  Sadly, we have a city ordinance that doesn't allow us to build the fence any higher.  I'm thinking about installing bamboo roller shades on the outside of our patio cover and letting them hang down just to the top of the fence line.  I've also contemplated attaching a few trellises with vines to the fence that reach maybe a foot above the top of the fence.  It's probably still against the ordinance but I'd be willing to bet that the neighbors wouldn't say anything about it since I'm sure all the junk in their yard is a fire hazard.

July 2012

View of the back garden around the pool.  I have to hand water this area (hence the hose across the pool in the second photo) because they broke/buried the automatic sprinklers in this area when we had the pool put in in 2004.

April 2012

July 2012

July 2012

May 23, 2012

I need to do LOTS of dead-heading of my roses in both the back and front gardens.  However, there is still lots of color just beginning to show from other plants. . .


Back garden:

My Endless Summer hydrangea is enjoying its new location.

'Mary Rose' - DA (1)

 'Mary Rose' - DA (2)

Butterfly Bush (pink verbena in front)

Daylily (by the pool) - I love the ruffly edges

Daylily (south fence)  Similar but different variety than the one by the pool.

Front garden (eastern exposure):

Pink Bower Vine

'Twist n Shout' Lacecap Hydrangea.  This should get pinker with time but it's only the second year so we'll see what the soil pH does with it.

May 4, 2012

Pansies

'Our Lady of Guadalupe' (floribunda) rose overlooking the pansies

 'Golden Celebration' - DA

'Huntington' - DA

 'Heritage' - DA

'Cottage Rose' - DA

 'Mary Rose' - DA

'Scepter'd Isle' - DA