Bloom Thyme Friday: At Last

Link | | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

What do you think of when you hear “AT LAST”?

I know what my first thought is … Etta James belting out one of the most amazing songs in music history!

Before we go any further, want to enjoy it?

Oh Etta Etta Etta.

These days there is another AT LAST making some noise. A beautiful rose from Proven Winners!

I had heard about this rose last year but didn’t find one. This year I was given two to test from my good friends at a local IGC, Country Harmony! Thanks Ryan and Brad!

I love this rose so much. I even went back to buy what they had left. They only had one more. But, I snagged it.

This charming rose with the old fashioned full petaled blooms is rarely without blooms. And, the color! Such a pretty apricot. And, there’s more … fragrance and disease resistance! With all the rain, some of my roses are succumbing to fungal disease. At Last has only given up a few leaves.

A small to medium sized shrub that is hardy in Zones 5 – 9.

Take a look at ‘At Last’ growing in my garden…

If you are looking to buy one for fall planting, check online at White Flower Farm… here.

By the way … the Japanese Beetles don’t seem to like the Stargazers, but I sure do. And they are blooming beautifully!

“At Last” we have come to the end of another week … and I wish you a Happy Bloom Thyme Friday.

Bloom Thyme Friday: Celebrating Overachievers

Link | | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

Today we celebrate overachievers!

This summer we have had steamy, hot conditions and tons of rain. I mean R A I N. When it rains, it RAINS. Rain coming down like never before. Inches and Inches of rain. Most of us are well aware that roses like water BUT they do not like being drowned. I have roses out there who are asking for a life jacket. GULP!

But, there are also those overachievers … rain or shine they just keep doing their thing.

Here are 5 of my current favorite overachievers:

PINK CARPET ROSE
This blooming machine does not care if it is rainy, does not care if the Japanese Beetles come to town, or does not care if the rain doesn’t come. It is also forgiving of the huge tree that is encroaching upon it’s very being!

It just blooms and grows in the enchanting way that I love — not quite upright — not quite a climber — not quite a rounded shrub — just rambles around, hugging up to the fence and covering the ground in that perfect cottage garden way. It sure gets an A+ in my garden! The pictures here are of a group of 3 pink carpet roses.

YARROW
I have a love/hate relationship with Yarrow. Regardless, I will always have it in my garden.

It IS lovely.
It comes in so many colors.
It works well in a vase.
It is a welcoming host to so many good bugs
It is loved by pollinators.
It dries well.
And, it has medicinal properties.

Grow it but, keep an eye on it, it will take over and you will hear the low cough of it neighbors as they gasp for space!

DAYLILIES
So much bang for your buck. I really thought all the rain we’ve had this summer would be difficult for the daylilies. It has not been. They have done wonderfully and filled my garden with lovely blooms! Warning: here comes a ton of pictures!

HYSSOP

Hyssop is a herb that is truly a beautiful garden plant and beautiful compliment to roses. However it is a part of the mint family assuring it’s place as a major overachiever. The pollinators cannot get enough of this beauty and neither can I. Hyssop is also considered one of the Biblical herbs as it is mentioned in the Bible many times. One of the most heart wrenching passages mentioning hyssop is John 19: 28-30. Read about that here.

DAISIES
While daisies are not my favorite usually, this year they have stood up to the rainy conditions in a wonderful way. On the days when we are seeing the garden more from the inside than outside, the daisies stand tall and proud and are providing a bright light in all the gray. So, let’s hear it for the daisies! True to self, they are definitely exceeding their space this year, so I plan to divide them in the fall. I’ll have plenty of extras to share!

Just checked the weather and they are predicting a perfect day tomorrow. Low humidity and 80 degrees. Perfect. After a busy week, I need a day in my garden. And, after the pounding the garden has had this week — it sure needs me.

Hope tomorrow is just perfect for you too.

Happy Bloom Thyme Friday

 

Bloom Thyme Friday: Oops!

Link | | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

Oops! Where did those tomatoes go! They were just here a minute ago.

If you have been reading my blog for a while, you know that several years ago Mr. G built gorgeous little raised beds for “his” tomatoes and other veggies. I say “his” even though, I have to plant them and water them but they ARE his. We have several things in our relationship like that.

Me and my roses have trellises. He built them. But I “control” them.

You get the picture. It works!

Back to the tomato and veggie beds…

He is very territorial about his raised beds. He even made a sign in the early days reminding me of something #noroses! WHAT! His point is well made and “usually” I am very respectful of his space.

Like I said I am ‘usually” very respectful. Well, this year I had extra nasturtiums and I hated to toss them so I asked Mr. G if it would be okay if I added a couple to his raised bed. He said fine! There appeared to be plenty of space as the tomatoes were tiny at the time. #whatwashethinking

Then I had a weak moment at Lowe’s where I bought a tiny little cucumber plant and thought it would do very well in Mr. G’s raised bed. I love cucumbers so much. He hates them. HATES them. But, when I asked, much to my surprise, he said yes. #whatwashethinking

It had been a while since I’ve planted cucumbers. OH MY WORD, they are everywhere. In a heartbeat they took over the raised bed. Well, at least what was left of it after the nasturtiums had their way #OVERACHIEVERS. There were a few days there where I was actively looking for the tomatoes. 😳

The cucumbers climbed over the tomatoes, jumped out of the raised bed, covered the daisies and ran through Celsiana who had finished blooming and is making a great trellis. I don’t see them slowing down anytime soon!

The tomatoes have emerged from the depths and are beginning to see daylight and make up for loss time. Now we have tiny cucumbers and tiny tomatoes growing happily together. #harmony

 

Mr. G has been giving me looks when he passes the raised beds but, I just keep watering and smiling!

Hope you are smiling too and …

Happy Bloom Thyme Friday!