This has been a year for the record books. Aren’t they all! 😳
Leading up to “Open Garden” day, we had torrential downpours almost every day. Some days it rained all day. So with standing water in areas of the garden two days before “open garden” I was close to canceling. I can tell you my master gardener friends were not big fans of canceling. And yes it was raining the day of the big event but not torrential downpours. My thoughts were… if we were England we would not cancel, we would just dress for the weather. So, I sent out a note saying just that and added – bring your umbrella and wear your Wellies it’s garden tour time.
30 minutes before people were to arrive the rain stopped and the sun came out!!! We had the best time! Did the garden look it’s best…. HEAVEN’S NO! Every bloom had been water damaged. But, that didn’t stop the fun. We had the best time. How can you not have a good time with friends in your garden — it’s just the best.
ZINNIAS FOR EVERYONE
I just love Zinnias. I tried several “new to me” varities from seed this year plus a few extras to share. A few weeks before open garden day, I had so much fun potting up Zinnia seedlings for visitors to take home.
ROSEFEST UPDATE
Rosefest was a big success. Loads of people and loads of roses. In the Rose Show I saw some of the most beautiful roses I have ever seen thanks to all those who entered … especially John and Donna Hefner. They are such experts and are so willing to help others. They took home the top honors.
ROSE CHAT
More episodes are being released all the time. Check them out here. When you click the most recent episodes will become linkable. First up you’ll see my chat with Tom Carruth – one of the most successful rose hybridizers in the world. He has brought us classic beauties like Julia Child, Hot Cocoa and the amazing Forth of July climber to name a few. He is currently the currator for one of the most beautiful rose gardens in the world … The Huntington Rose Garden in San Marino, CA.
PLANT BREEDING – Rose Chat Podcast
THey’re back
Oh, how I hate to tell you that it’s now Japanese Beetle season again. 😫
You know how much I love my Vanessa Bell roses. Well, the Japanese Beetles chose her to be the first to munch on. So, it begins. 😡 If you’d like to read my article on Japanese Beetles from last year, read on here.
PRESSING FLOWERS
I haven’t pressed flowers for many years but I have been craving to do so this year. Mr. G gifted me with an absolutely gorgeous (and large) press from Gardeners Supply. He loves to buy gifts from there as they have such quality! If you are interested in pressing some beauty too, here’s a link.
What am I going to do with the flowers I press??? I’m not sure but I do envision a jar filled with beautiful pressed flowers. We’ll see!
ROSE OF THE WEEK… BLISS PARFUMA
What a rose! It has stood up to all the rain like a champ! This rose came to me from Heirloom Roses last year and it is outstanding. A strong, vigorous plant with gorgeous blooms. Like all the Kordes roses in my garden, it is disease resistant. It also has a light fragrance. To read more, here is a link to Heirloom.
COMPANION OF THE WEEK … SELF-SEEDED FOXGLOVE
Look at this beauty. It self-seeded from a Foxglove I bought at Lowes last year. Such a beautiful color. I will be saving seeds and making sure some make their way into the ground again!
BLOOM THYME THIS WEEK
The rain gave way to torrid heat. I think most of you are in the same hot boat! Many plants are “melting” but some are taking the heat in stride. And, I’m trying to do the same.
(NEW Proven Winners)
(NEW Proven Winners)
We will close out the gallery with the boldest of all… one of the newest kids on the block – South Africa.
Whew, she is making a name for herself. She is positioned right beside the prissy pink Pomponella who may be giving her a side-eye. I might have to find a better place for her “boldness.”
Friends, glad you stopped by. Stay cool!!
Maybe make some lemonade. This is the recipe for lemonade I loved to serve to guests coming to the garden — back when the world was more comfortable with that sort of thing. I sure hope we get back to that soon.
My kids call it, “LEMONADE THE MOM WAY.”
For each can of Minute Maid (or other brands) Frozen Lemonade add…
- 2 cans water
- 2 cans Canada Dry Ginger Ale
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3 large sprigs of fresh mint
- 1 – 2 lemons, thinly sliced
- Add ice and ENJOY!
What a fun post to read! Your Open Garden Day looks like it was SO much fun! I have the same flower press, not sure I’m clamping it down right, I always have to add some more layers of something thick between the strap and wood to get a tight fit! Good luck with the beetles, ugh!!
Stunning and everyone had a wonderful time! Wish we lived closer so I could come oogle. 😉
No beetles here, yet! I’ll be on the lookout.
you had open garden day? just like they do in england? your flowers are beautiful, I truly hate japenese beetles thank goodness my chickens have kept them in check to wher I only see a odd one now and again. love the beautiful blossoms. never get tried of roses, not sure why but I dont.
Hope you and Mr. G. had a Happy Father’s Day today. Congratulations on your winning the Royalty Award QUEEN of ARRANGEMENTS! You did a beautiful arrangement! “He who would have beautiful roses in his garden must have beautiful roses in his heart.” – S. Reynolds Hole, “A Book About Roses” (1869). Your garden is so well-manicured, and all of your roses look so healthy. The Japanese beetles are really creating havoc on some of my roses and their leaves. I even found one on a dahlia that is getting ready to bloom. I have been keeping a check on that dahlia’s bloom several times daily. I hand pick as many beetles as I can, but it seems the hotter it gets, the more beetles there are. Thank goodness just about all of my roses had bloomed already before they appeared. I plan to make some lemonade soon. Thanks!