With spring coming so early, this week in the garden has seen some ups and downs … especially where weather is concerned. Highs in the 60s and lows in the 20s. BUT, my time in the garden is just like always — PURE PLEASURE. If it’s cold, I just put on more clothes. LOL
My Chanticleer Pear is blooming beautifully. The daffodils are putting on quite a show and most of the roses have been given their spring hair cut.
The garden centers continue to get in more and more beautiful plants. I am on the lookout for some new companions for the roses so I’m going quite often. 😉 You already knew that, right!?
HERE THEY COME!
My bare root roses arrived from David Austin. It just so happened that my roses were delivered on the same day as a great rose friend’s roses were delivered and we chatted back and forth all day about our excitement. So nice to share the fun!
The roses were promptly opened, unwrapped and given their Moo Poo Tea 24-hour soak. On a beautiful afternoon they were planted just in time for rain (and the hail) to fall on them. Not a bad start. Hail I could live with out but… not so out of the ordinary with an early spring.
Even the David Austin boxes are beautiful.
New roses I’ve planted so far…

Olivia Rose Austin (David Austin)
Michael Marriott said that this rose might actually be the most outstanding of all the David Austin roses. Now, that is saying a lot. I now have two of these lovelies and will be reporting back! I am almost giddy about this rose. These roses were a lovely Christmas gift from the kids in Cali and that makes them all the more special to me.

Gertrude Jekyll (David Austin)
I have rarely been without a Gertrude Jekyll in my garden but my last one became a weak bloomer after about 12 years and I decided to take it out and start again. The bare root plant that David Austin sent is one of the most healthy plants I have ever seen! This rose is going to be one for the record book I am just sure. If you are concerned about planting a bareroot rose, my good friend the Redneck Rosarian just did a video about that … watch here.

Absolutely waiting on the edge of my chair to see your blooms BLOOMING away!
I have two roses in bloom now. One is called Montezuma and it is a corral color to light pink when it is about done blooming. I just love my roses!
Stay warm… and ENJOY your planting.
You and me both!!! Last night’s low was 26!!!! But this will pass quickly and we will onto the Blooming Fireworks!! Nice to hear from you!
Hello Teresa
I love the Olivia Rose you have featured! I am interested in getting one for a friend of mine who’s daughters name sake. My question is in regards it is there availability of one that can aclimate to Fortuniana root stock that is resistant to nematodes, which is a problem here in Florida?
I would call David Austin Roses directly and ask those questions. They are super helpful on the phone… I just talked to them last week! Best of luck. Please report back and let me know what you found out!
Toll free phone line: 800 328 8893
Fax: (903) 526 1900
e-mail: US@davidaustinroses.com
Thank you Teresa for this info, will do! Have a great weekend