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| This rose growing season has or will come to a close for so many of us in zone 9 and lower. While I will very likely continue to have blooms until I prune my roses in a month, the best of the little that remained after my garden re-do has likely come and gone for me. I wondered if you wouldn't mind sharing images, or paying homage to the roses that have provided the most joy this past year. Maybe it was a blooming machine, fragrant beyond belief, or just remarkably beautiful. Maybe a rose was central in a special event. While I do not have any images of my new roses, they are still young, I have a story. I have been residing at my current residence for 2 1/2 years now, and minus the usual greetings, I have not had much contact with my neighbors. Some of my front yard re-do was completed by contracted workers, but a lot of it became a DYI change. Some days, my stepson and I would be in the front yard digging and amending the soil in preparation for new flower beds. Other days, I would be outside alone, and then, somedays, it would be my husband, stepson and I building a low retaining wall together for example. My daughter even became involved, albeit very briefly. I live on a cul de sac with a total of 8 homes and 6 of the 8 homeowners at some point came over to converse regarding the changes. One neighbor carried the mulch out of my car into the backyard, another neighbor offered a tour of their backyard after I discussed possibly adding a walkway from the sidewalk to the porch made of pavers. One neighbor, a young, manly, handsome Airforce pilot, inquired about SDLM. Re- designing my front yard, and multiple discussions of roses with neighbors, has definitely broken the ice. I now know most of my neighbors by name and our relationships have definitely gone beyond passing salutations. I have met a lot of nice people, am happy about this change, and do not know if it would have happened had I not become addicted to OGR's, then deciding a front yard re-design was in order.
Lynn |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by melissa_thefarm NItaly (My Page) on Sat, Nov 23, 13 at 1:04
| I wonder whether it's just the fact of your being outdoors and available for conversation, or whether gardening conveys a notion of a benign individual? Possibly your working with other members of your family--harmony; cooperation--may have made an inviting impression. Even though I have several hundred roses on my property I have no particular memories of them from this year. Spring was so late and so wet; summer hot and dry as always; and now we've gotten plenty of rain this fall but no sun. Hmph. It was good to discover last month that 'Single Pink', abandoned to itself on a blazing rubble-and-Bermuda-grass slope, had actually grown quite well (and the soil has improved); and 'Archduke Joseph', set to grow through the persimmon that overhangs it, has gotten through the tree and reached the sun. There's a lot of new growth and buds on the Teas now, in spite of the gray weather, but the forecast is for freezing weather next week, and that will, probably, be the end of that. At least we don't have to worry about drought. Melissa |
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| It's been an atypical year, with a very short spring flush brought to a halt by scorching winds, roses that seemed weakened and compromised by the lack of adequate winter rains, a more than usually unattractive hot-summer garden, and persistent worries about what the future would hold, with increasingly hotter weather and less available water looming on the horizon. As temperatures cooled in October and there was a smattering of rain the roses began to revive, although I now see blackspot, mildew and some rust on my roses. Nevertheless, there is a sense of renewed appreciation for the garden and admiration for its will to grow and renew itself. My wish for a paradise of a garden has been thwarted by the harsh realities of many different, intractable factors over which I have very little control. Surprisingly, however, I find that I can be content with what I have, and can be less critical about deficiencies and more appreciative of the positive aspects of my garden. In a difficult and traumatic year the garden has embraced me long after I'd given up hope of deriving much pleasure from it, and I've again felt the need and desire to make it better and more beautiful, although in a less dramatic and more realistic manner than before. It's a challenge that I welcome toward the end of this strange year, and I'm facing it with much more hopefulness and less negativity than I thought possible not so very long ago. Ingrid |
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| yes, Ingrid, that's why we are gardeners - the eternal hope for better tomorrows. And, at least I get the (deluded) idea that I am in control.....unlike every other single aspect of my life, blighted by rapacious officials, tedious financial worries, spite-filled council workers, ungrateful offspring (and their endless woes).........an escape to the greenhouse acts as a sort of vallium for the spirit, gently smoothing and relieving all those niggles, threats and doomy feelings (although, come the spring stress of a million seedlings, even that simple pleasure gets complicated again). |
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- Posted by desertgarden561 9/SZ11 -Las Vegas, N (My Page) on Sat, Nov 23, 13 at 10:30
| Melissa, Could be. Or the perception of harmony combined with the right opportunity presenting itself, as I was out there almost daily for about 3 weeks. Ingrid, there's a woman who resides in an Asian country and she posted pictures of her rooftop garden; it is beautiful. I believe that gardeners have an innate desire to nurture and/or create beauty in their surroundings. It often takes a lot to quell one's nature. Campanula, in an odd way, dealing with my garden challenges has been therapeutic to my mind and soul. Sometimes, working in my garden is one of the few places where I can truly relax, which is great, because lately, more time has been spent laboring in it than actually enjoying it. Lynn |
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| Well, it was a fabulous year here. So very happy I got rid of the wretched Cercis trees. Hopefully not too many are sick of this shot: |
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| Sick of it? No way. Happy for you, a bit envious, in awe that someone actually has created a paradise, yes. I know there is the looming dragon of the evil water company, but if you end up with only half of your roses or even fewer, I know you can contrive to make it equally beautiful. Ingrid |
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- Posted by Kippy-the-Hippy 10 Sunset 24 (My Page) on Sat, Nov 23, 13 at 12:45
| Hoovb What did you dislike about your cercis? I am thinking of planting a couple as shade trees Thnx |
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- Posted by Kippy-the-Hippy 10 Sunset 24 (My Page) on Sat, Nov 23, 13 at 12:46
| Oops double post |
This post was edited by Kippy-the-Hippy on Sat, Nov 23, 13 at 12:48
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| I suppose any tree planted in the wrong spot could be a real irritant, but I must admit a real fondness for redbuds (cercis). They grow wild here in Kansas--I have the loveliest back alley of blooming redbuds in the entire town! One of my redbuds in the back yard (where most of my roses are) forms a wonderful "umbrella" over my park bench--love sitting there and surveying the gardens. Admittedly, when they get old, they get rather broad-spreading and can get rather ugly gnarled branches/trunks--sometimes rather attractive. I called one my Kansas-sized "bonsai" tree. But it got attacked by borers. We treated the tree and sawed it off nearly to the ground where it was putting out a brand-new vertical branch. It should grow up into a "new" (rejuvenated) tree. I've done that to my other redbud also--neat way to get a new tree. Yes, young redbuds are the prettiest--but when they bloom, whether young or old, that misty pinkish/lavender canopy is just plain beautiful! hoov--as usual, I get a serious attack of rose envy every time you post that gorgeous pic of your roses! Kate |
This post was edited by dublinbay on Sat, Nov 23, 13 at 13:03
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| sigh, mine are going too, Hoovb, but only because I am finally conceding utter defeat after a 5year battle with verticilium. As for your garden........speechless with admiration (and, of course, bitter envy). |
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- Posted by desertgarden561 9/SZ11 -Las Vegas, N (My Page) on Sat, Nov 23, 13 at 15:02
| Hoovb, I have seen this image of your garden, and every time I see it, I just stare. There's a lot of beauty to take in. In addition, I notice things that I had not previously noted. Today, it was the plants that are serving as under plantings and little pops of color. What beauty you have created! Lynn |
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| Hoovb, no wonder you have 500 people coming to see your garden. It looks too good to be real! Looking back on 2013.....I took the dogs for a long walk yesterday, and walked past a house on a double, LEVEL block, and thought,'Why didn't I buy that?' Lynn, one of the few times I lose myself is in the task of deadheading, which is about as near to relaxing as I get! Campanula, when people come to see my garden, they rarely say anything positive, and then I look at it with their eyes and see why! In my head however......... Melissa, I have a persimmon, planted last year, and it hadn't occurred to me to grow a rose up it. Perhaps I should grow something really thorny, which just might mean the cockatoos won't spoil every last piece of fruit. |
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| Not the best of years for me. Spring was very late and even then was very cool, gray and damp. The roses bloomed late and I had problems with blackspot and mildew all season. July and August weren't a whole lot better although we did get a little more sun. But they were beleaguered by disease already and it wouldn't go away. Fall got really cold really quick so I didn't get anything you could call a "flush". There were a few that stood out because they did so well compared to the rest of the roses. Home Run, Julia Child and Love Song were the best of the best all season! Although leafless much of the time Garden Party bloomed it's heart out this year too. My three new OGRs did very well too considering they were so small when I got them in the spring. Mutabilis is pretty much bullet proof and blooms continuously. Both Duchesse de Brabant and Archduke Charles grew like weeds and gave me several bloom flushes. Worst possible rose I've ever seen was my new New Day, mildew, Mildew, MILDEW! I may give it another season just because it was a new plant, and in the hope that it might grow out of it, but if it starts to mildew again like this year I think it's outta here. |
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| Most of my rose plans got put on the back burner for various reasons, in fact most of my gardening went kaput right around the start of summer. The events that transpired over the next few months really discouraged me and I was really bummed about 2013, but when I went back and looked at spring pictures I realized it was actually a pretty good year I just wasn't able to enjoy it. Spring presented to me a taste of my first spring flush. My garden is very new and none of my roses were even three years old, but they put on a wonderful show in the spring, and i aquired a rose friend where i live to plan and plot with. After Looking back at the pictures I am so anxious for 2014 to hurry up and get here!! I have plans drawn up, ideas to think over and all the plans that got put on hold this year can carry over to the new one. Anticipation The first open buds The first rose of the year "crown princess margereta"
The stand out in my garden was "sharifa asma". Gorgeous rose, always in bloom, fragrant and even moderately resistant to blackspot which horrible here! I am in love with her. My hubby liked her so much to that we have decided to put two hedges on the sides of our house of her. Hopefully 2014 will be the year for that. And while it isn't quite as lovely as hoovb's, here is a picture of one of my flower beds, just before the roses got going in the spring. I can't wait for spring now!!! Ps: hoovb I am curious what did your property look like before you got started with your gardening???? |
This post was edited by dregae on Sat, Nov 23, 13 at 23:43
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- Posted by melissa_thefarm NItaly (My Page) on Sun, Nov 24, 13 at 0:02
| Grace, where do you live, or what is your zone? I was wondering while looking at your garden shots. Your roses are wonderfully lush: congratulations! Melissa |
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| Melissa, I live in Indiana(zone 6a) across the ohio river from Louisville,ky. It is a lush, green place to live and it should be!! We get an average of 45 inches of rain annually and the humidity averages 78%(I haven't ever seen it get below 40% since I moved here). Thanks to all thoses lovely statistics I live in blackspot heaven, but I rarely ever have to water things much so I count my blessings ;-) Grace e |
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| Grace, I'm filled with envy. Such a display for a new garden. I would have loved to see the rose in that first picture in full bloom. Next year? |
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- Posted by jeannie2009 PNW 7/8 (My Page) on Sun, Nov 24, 13 at 3:46
| 2013 was a year of transformation here in the PNW. The earliest garden beds just passed their fourth summer and the newest their second. I did not order any new roses. This was the year to rearrange some of the roses and perennials. Some were not thriving due to crowding out problems...overly vigorous brethren. Too much sun for the blue-red roses. Oh did I mention that I forgot that a band of Maman Cochet would need more than a 3 x 3 space... Well we just finished transplanting 7 rose bushes and a smattering of perennials. Also top dressed all the beds with horse doo and would chips for a cozy winter. Its kind of fun watching a garden progress from planning, to early whispy, and now to some maturity. This spring I am anticipating receiving a few roses from Greenmantle. It's good. Gardening is good for the soul. |
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| As usual, I am all over the place (but not, this weekend, at the woods). 3 gardens, all of them demanding more time and attention than I have to give. Home garden - this one chugs along with scant care and effort apart from the daily pot watering (although that takes a good hour and a half) - bought and grew no new plants hardly (a few foxgloves and 3 more salvias. I have over a dozen shrubby salvias - still blooming away at the moment) - incredibly easy to propagate with a bloom season of 6 months! Allotment - again, I did the bare minimum, planting no new roses or fruit bushes this year although my newest redcurrants have been trained as three stem cordons and produced a good harvest of currants this year. Missed out a lot of the usual veggies (sweet corn, squash, saladings, peas, bell peppers) and just did 50 tomato plants and 25kg seed potatoes, 4dozen garlic and the usual beans, asparagus, broccoli, leeks and so forth. A rather good year for the fruit despite a delayed spring - managed to preserve 80lbs fruit jellies and a lot of sauces and ketchup. The delphiniums suffered from weeds, practically vanishing between the rose hedge on one side and the sweet peas on the other - it was one of my sweet pea years - I put a couple of hundred plants out which looked fabulous for a lot of the summer until the deadheading became too onerous and was abandonned. The gravel garden still looks good, with many late schizostylis/hesperantha appearing above the sedum and salvias. Some lovely baptisias including Purple Smoke, which flowered for the first time this year. A host of pinks I planted last year did their fragrant stuff in a modest but charming fashion. Top allotment roses - Double White, Splendens, pomifera Duplex, Aimee Vibert, californica plena, moyesii and Scarlachglut....of yeah, even an Austin, the demure Crocus Rose. The Woods. Well, this has most certainly been a reality checkpoint year with some hard realisations regarding electricity (and lack of). Even a bank of 12volt batteries will only power lights and a TV for a few hours while funds are just not available for solar panels and all that set-up requires.....so it has been back to the dark ages - not at all pleasant on those endless winter nights of darkness (which seem longer and darker in a wood). Although we have an endless supply of wood. Despite sunny hopes of full-time living there, I am still managing to scrape the rent together in Cambridge, having huge dilemmas about this off-grid living lark. Plus, it costs us heaps to travel there and back every week so at some point, we will have to bite the bullet and look for a rented flat or something nearer to Norfolk. Since Mr.Camps is not able to work (he has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome), I have been plying my trade as a jobbing gardener again but we are not managing to save, just getting by hand to mouth (like what's new there?) On the plus side, seeds are practically free and I have been sowing literally thousands - I got free pots from the local garden centre which offers recycling schemes -biggest cost has been a tonne of sterile loam for the seed trays. We also planted a LOT of narcissi and started a little bluebell colony (300) but in 5 acres, a couple of thousand bulbs simply vanishes - although I did plant 25 Crown Imperials for a bit of a splurge. Altogether, a mixed (and frantic year) with all the usual joys and miseries. Dreaming of a compact tractor (one day). |
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| Grace, what lovely roses you have! I'm very much looking forward to seeing pictures of your spring flush next year. Can you tell me the names of the pink roses in the last picture? The one in the back against the fence looks particularly graceful and lovely. Ingrid |
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- Posted by desertgarden561 9/SZ11 -Las Vegas, N (My Page) on Sun, Nov 24, 13 at 12:34
| Grace e, Your garden is lovely. You have mixed textures, shapes and colors so nicely. In the past, I have constantly moved plants and roses around in an attempt to create that balance and flow; actually, it is a skill that just seems to be innate for some that I am still working on. I look forward to seeing more of your garden as it matures and evolves. Lynn |
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| Grace...what a lovely garden you have created. Your Crown Princess is so healthy and full. Mine is not quite there yet, but it is always the first to bloom. I am In louisville, so we have similar weather. I look forward to more photos this winter...so I hope you will post more. Lesley |
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| Wonderful new roses for me this year: Pope John Paul II on fort, really wonderful bloom machines, magnificent fragrance. They get rust in the fall (now) but otherwise are healthy for me here. I planted them in spring 2012 Le Vesuve - planted this spring, has grown and bloomed several cycles already. I can already see that the temporary companions I put in to keep that bed from looking too bare will have to be transplanted out this winter. Edith Perry - Jill Perry's seedling of Bon Silene. Not as large as Le Vesuve (thank heavens; I did not allot it that much space), but a healthy, frequent bloomer. Rosette Delizy - no idea why I waited so long The other teas I planted have not taken off yet. If they do, I'm going to be very happy. I'm a little concerned about a plum tree I have that died. I suspect oak root fungus but have not had the nerve to check yet. It might mean that my new tea bed nearby is at risk. I'll find out in time. I'll be starting the winter garden work in earnest next week, pruning, weeding, and transplanting. I have begun in a small way but I like to get past the holiday weekend and family guests before plunging in all the way. Rosefolly |
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- Posted by mendocino_rose z8 N CA. (My Page) on Sun, Nov 24, 13 at 19:43
| Beautiful photos. Hoov, who would get tired of that shot? Every year when I look back at photos of the spring I say, "Good grief! Who's garden is that? It couldn't possibly be mine". Here is Climbing Gruss An Achen not looking at all like it's planted on a pillar, one of many delights. Yes it was a good year. |
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| WOW! |
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- Posted by melissa_thefarm NItaly (My Page) on Sun, Nov 24, 13 at 23:46
| Titian, About the persimmon with climbing rose scheme, it was necessity. The persimmon got large, leaned out toward the sun, and began to shade out 'Archduke Joseph' which is a very large Tea. I don't even want to think about what it would take to move either the rose or the tree, so the only thing I could do was try to get the rose through the persimmon. I don't think they're good trees for this purpose, with their big lush leaves. However, the rose is evergreen while the persimmon has quite a long season in which it's leafless, and between that and some selected pruning to contain the persimmon, I hope to be able to get them to live together tolerably comfortably. Congratulations on your persimmon! They're wonderful trees; I love mine. Melissa |
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| Melissa, yes they are amazingly beautiful, let alone the fruit. I had a cottage in the country some years ago, and inherited two there. I had never seen the tree before, except that I think it may have been in a picture of a painting I've seen decades ago. I think it was an English painting, about the turn of the last century. It was of women and children sitting around the tree. I thought the tree was made up, as it had these golden globes all over it. I think it was called 'Utopia'. It obviously made an impression! I went to Italy with my daughter this year - my first visit. Amongst the usual tourist haunts, we stayed for a few days in Umbria, which I loved, and also at Lago di Braise in the Dolomites. |
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| And I was wondering what all the fuss was about Gruss An Achen on this forum from time to time. Then I saw Mendocino Rose's picture. Now I know. Wow!!!!! Kate |
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- Posted by mendocino_rose z8 N CA. (My Page) on Mon, Nov 25, 13 at 9:42
| It's climbing Gruss an Achen. It grew so much bigger than I imagined it would. |
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- Posted by Kippy-the-Hippy 10 Sunset 24 (My Page) on Mon, Nov 25, 13 at 11:59
| Mendocino, I love love love your Climbing Gruss an Achen! I looked on HMF and looks like Vintage was the only place to find it. What a beauty, I hope some one starts offering her in the future. Your garden with the spring flush must be amazing! |
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| 'vallium for the spirit' -- yes, that's what it feels like to me too. The creativity of the planning, the satisfaction of good decisions, and the resulting beauty are all addictive things and good antidotes to the disappointments of life. This year I lost Pretty Jessica and Heritage. Not sure why Pretty Jessica went downhill, but I think Heritage just wasn't getting enough water. Lesson learned. Underperforming: Overperforming: All the others are somewhere in between. New babies this year: Pluses: Minuses: Most interesting thing: Most baffling thing: Most disturbing thing: Best thing (other than my family's health and happiness and still being able to work): |
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| Lou, if your weather is anything like mine (hot and dry), I have to tell you that my Mme. Joseph Schwartz, along with her relative Duchesse de Brabant, did not do well for me in the long run, much to my regret. They were the only teas I could smell, besides being so beautiful. I'm so sorry about your health problems. I know how limiting that is, and how yet at the same time the happiness that a garden brings is more important than ever. I'm glad you had help with the heavy work; I could never have a garden without my husband's willingness and muscle to plant everything and do other heavy work. I'm afraid the only solution to your lawn problem is to turn the whole thing into a gorgeous garden. Ingrid |
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- Posted by kittymoonbeam 10 (My Page) on Tue, Nov 26, 13 at 3:19
| Hoovb, your garden is pretty any time. I had a fair year. I had my high water bills, but at least I don't have to pay an additional association water fee to keep horse trails and bike paths green like my friend in Lake Forest. I decided to take it easy this year and I enjoyed that. Some projects didn't get done but that's ok. Fall was the best time for the roses. Now I have the long slow cleanup before pruning time. I'm glad your neighbors were nice to you. Mine will always say hello when I am out there working. I only know the ones who walk dogs or kids. We used to have more couples taking a walk. Everyone pets the rosemary hedge as they go by. |
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| Ingrid, I think you've found one of the keys to happiness: You said - "I find that I can be content with what I have, and can be less critical about deficiencies and more appreciative of the positive aspects of my garden . . . It's a challenge that I welcome toward the end of this strange year, and I'm facing it with much more hopefulness and less negativity than I thought possible not so very long ago." You have a nice balance between being content with what you have and yet always planning for and expecting more beauty next year. Thanks for your kind words. Now as to the lawn, well, I'll have to think about that. I do love the color green, and I love lawns with borders of beautiful flowers. Makes me feel serene. We'll see what happens and how the climate changes. Lou |
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| Lou, thank you for your lovely reply. Life seems to be some sort of balancing act that we're faced with each day, certainly even more so when we've passed those carefree youthful years, and the slings and arrows aimed at us leave deeper marks. Savoring the good moments becomes ever more important, and I've found that roses and the garden as a whole, and sharing them here on the forum, have become increasingly vital to me. As for the lawn, it occurs to me that dry spots can be left by animals peeing on the grass, but I'm sure that's just one of many possibilities. Thankfully we have no grass, and I've found that the hardscape gives a similar effect of setting off the borders of roses, although it does stress the roses more from the radiating heat. As usual, no perfect solutions, but I think we've learned to accept that. Ingrid |
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- Posted by jaspermplants 9 az (My Page) on Tue, Nov 26, 13 at 12:57
| November & December and Feb through April are the best time of year for my roses. January is usually pretty cold. It starts to get hot in May so the roses slow down about that time. Right now my roses are in their fullest bloom, except for spring. My Mrs BR Cant is blooming nonstop, of course. Others blooming now are: Etoile de Lyon, Mme Joseph Schwartz (a great rose in my garden), Mons Tillier which is the healthiest, most florifouous rose I have, Maman Cochet, Catherine Mermet, Mme Bravy, Mme Dore (love this rose), Tipsy Imperial Concubine (great rose when it's dry but the blooms got wet in our rain and were ruined), Valentine (never stops blooming), Souvenir de Pierre Notting (great, healthy rose). My roses do great when it's not hot; so heat is the "enemy" in my garden. Oh, I forgot Mme Lombard which took several years to mature but now puts on a great show. Which teaches me again and again the teas take time to mature but when they do, they are so wonderful. |
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| Ingrid sorry I didn't answer you sooner. My internet hasn't been working very good the past few days. The pink rose against the fence is "Evelyn" and the other one is a mystery rose. I haven't the foggiest idea what it could be it was supposed white and old rose scent and it is pink with a myrhh scent, but I kept her because she is a champ always blooming despite any BS. Lesmc, I love CPM too! Always the first one blooming for me. I would love to know what's working for you rose wise in your garden! Grace e |
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