22,795 Garden Web Discussions | Roses
But the best news is that they decided to completely enclose the roses with deer fencing so this year should be great. Some of the beds are completely replanted with new roses. The Mother's Day brunch in the rose garden will be beautiful this year. Here's the new deer fence with the azaleas.
Azaleas and flowering trees are at their peak. I went to Nuccio's afterwards and they were so busy. Everybody was in azalea heaven there. Of course I had to have some. I love those guys, they are so fun. True dedication to growing and creating flowers and helping people be better gardeners. If I ever need to get back to feeling why I started making a garden, I go there.
I don't know what others do, but I'm in zone 6 also, and the few times a rose heaved, I just went over and straightened out the bush, applied a slow but even pressure downward as far as it would easily go, and then placed my foot near the base of the rose to apply specific firm but gentle pressure there and kinda walked my way around the bush applying that foot pressure.
I then gave it a good drink, threw some leaves on it, and waited for spring. The rose grew wonderfully that year.
One person's experience. Let's see what others have to say also.
Kate
If it has only heaved a little I think Kate's suggestion is very good. The key is to be gentle because you don't want to compact the soil too much either. For something that's pushed up 6 inches I think you need to re sink it as soon as you can dig the soil. You may not have to dig it out completely but at least enough to get it to settle back down in.
Mulch is probably the best bet to prevent heaving but you can also use soil mounds around the base in the fall. Which is really just a different type of mulch. It will help maintain a more even soil temp. over the winter. Soil mounds are a lot more work but they do have the advantage of replenishing the bed in the spring when you can gently wash the soil off into the bed.
I can't tell yet if I've had any heave or not because there's still at least a foot or two of snow everywhere. I'm hoping that really good snow cover will have prevented a lot of heave.
Jackie- Countess Bertha! Oh man. I love to imagine the old pioneers- either here in the US or in Australia, lovingly tending their roses. I especially love the idea of the roses being brought over by the Chinese immigrants to California. I keep hoping we'll find out more about those roses.
I like all Souvenirs, but Docteur Jamain is my favorite.
I love the literary ones, i.e. Falstaff, Young Lycidas, Wildeve.
How can one improve on "Mutabilis"?
"Chrysler Imperial" -- goes back to childhood -- elegance personified.
Variegata di Bologna -- as different as it sounds.
It's easier to remember the bad names, alas.
Sylvia
Probably means it's a darker colored rose. There is more pigment in both the stems and the blooms and the two traits are linked (as you would expect them to be).
It's completely normal to have variation between varieties. If, however,you have two of the same variety and one has stems that are red-green and the other yellow-green, then the lighter green one is not getting enough sun.
We have what I believe is a climbing rose that stands about 15' high. Most of the blooms occur at the very top. I'm wondering if I should prune it back by about half way so the roses are more eye level? I'm a complete rose novice, so I'm not sure if that would be bad for the plant or not.
In the photo (linked below), the rose is mixed in with a jasmine plant in the front and a huge blackberry bush in the back, behind the fence.
Here is a link that might be useful: 
Hi Ken, here are some pictures from our Rose Day:
Here are the roses for raffle:
Here we are learning how to open roses for show that's Ken in the hat:
I actually won 4 of the same rose, Madame Plantier. I gave 2 away and have two to plant. I also won a swamp rose. And I gave away two roses I wanted to shovel prune. Perfectly fine roses, but now they will be in someone else's garden.
And I had my pruners and loppers sharpened and we hopefully have some new members. All in all a good day.
Mutabilis: To me it has no scent, but the colors of the petals are really lovely, and it's a very attractive bush. My young-ish plant withstood two separate weeks of night-time temperatures in the teens with hardly ANY evidence of damage, it didnt even drop its leaves! And...it now has buds!
Mrs. Oakley Fisher is so pretty- that color! it's the kind of thing that the "NO HT" snobs really miss out on. Trivia- it was one of Vita Sackville-West's favorite roses.
Another lovely antique single is Irish Fireflame- the coloring is similar to Mutabilis- apricot/pink- but with a a great scent! I attached a link to a fantastic picture on HMF.
Something else that I think is really pretty is Jacqueline du Pre, which is single/semi-double and has a strong musk scent. The flowers are white, with prominent pink stamens, which makes for a very attractive contrast. this is a picture from last summer, when the petals were past their prime, but you can get the idea.
Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.helpmefind.com/gardening/l.php?l=21.106289
Green,
The romance of your first rose is a memorable one! Job well done on caring for it :-) As for mum, just tell her to water it once a week and it should be fine! Roses are much more resilient that us mother hens are willing to admit. It's tempting to be a helicopter gardener but I'm sure it will be glad to have a spot in the ground and reward you with health and blooms.
Josh
Judith - the plant you asked after is one of the trailing begonias. I'm thinking maybe "Bonfire", but more likely "Million Kisses".
Thanks for the kind words and nice compliments, guys. I always feel blessed when something I've made moves others to feel something positive. What inspires me to garden is knowing I'm not the only one that will get to enjoy it, so thanks for the inspiration!
Sorry for the cross talk, AK.
Al
Al, thanks for the name of that plant! I have never seen a begonia like that but plan to ask all my favorite nurseries about it. Gotta have it......Ya'll's beautiful photos are certainly inspiring after winter - such a joy to see such lovely yards! All my must do errands are done and I have the next several days to not have to go anywhere - just work in my yard nonstop and play with my horses. Heaven! Oh and the weather is finally cooperating - after not getting above 28 degrees Monday and not much better Tues. and Wed. - today is glorious and tho cool, perfect for yardwork! Cant wait to get started!!
Hopefully.......you all will have some time to upload more gorgeous photos! Happy Spring to all and the time changes Sat. nite!
Judith
Thanks for the hope and advice. I'm in Central Denver, 5b, our official last frost date is May 15 but anything after mid-April isn't very hard.
Since the plants are showing signs of life already, would I be okay waiting to transplant until mid-April, when I'll be planting some store-bought perennials or should I go ahead now?
I'll try to pull the shaded one, think I'll let the ones in the crack go for a year, think about where I might best use them all together.
If your soil is workable, thawed and not too soggy, go ahead and move it now. Otherwise you'll need to wait until the soil has improved. I have the same last frost date as you and I plant and move things in April all the time. Although maybe not this year, lol. I still have a good two feet of snow cover everywhere. But if you'd prefer to wait until you plant those perennials you can still move it then instead. Even if it's leafed out some by then it will still be movable as long as you keep it well watered to get it started. Any time in the early spring is usually fine. Just don't wait until it's too hot. That's when it's hardest on them to move them.