The last few weeks the weather app has been my constant companion. Helping me out by alerting me to frost warnings. While I’m grateful to know, I’m really ready for that relationship to dwindle and those warnings to stop! Whew! With each warning fewer things are getting covered!! I know many of you are dealing with the same thing. Many of you have told me you are dealing with up to 3 weeks late on the growing season.

So far, it looks like there’s little frost damage to the roses but the jury is still out on the peonies! 😏 The Sargent Crabapple didn’t even make it through the first one!  Next week is finally going to warm up. To say I’m excited just isn’t enough!

WINTER SOWING

Because of the frosty nights I have kept some of the jugs closed longer than was best for them. Some of the babies where screaming to get out!

POTTING UP DAHLIAS

I have a new area that I am dedicating to dahlias so I needed a few more! The bulk of my dahlia tubers came from Longfield Gardens but I did find a few other places too. To give them a head start for earlier blooming, I am potting them up to live in the potting shed while the weather warms.

I potted them up on April 22 and most of them are showing signs of life. Is there anything that looks less promising that a dahlia tuber???? Well, maybe … a bare root rose! Our gardens are rife with miracles!!

• Cornel Bronze
• Milena Fleur (FAV!)
• Cafe au Lait
• Labyrinth
• Bitsy
• Pacific Ocean
• Karma

APRIL 22…

APRIL 30…

NEW ROSES

Here is my list of roses I am adding to the garden this year. Some of these are duplicates of roses I already have but love so much!

• Crown Princess Margareta  (Heirloom Roses)
• Earth Angel (Heirloom Roses)
• Ghislaine de Feligonde (High Country Roses)
• Darlow’s Enigma (High Country Roses)
• Generous Gardener (David Austin)
• Moonlight Romantica (Jackson & Perkins)
• Sweet Mademoiselle (Jackson & Perkins)
• Plum Perfect (IRS Rose Sale)
• State of Grace (IRS Rose Sale)
• Moonlight in Paris (Menards)
• Cornelia (Rose Petals Nursery)
• Champneys Pink Cluster (Rose Petals Nursery)

This is the first time I am seeing this full list all together. #whatwasithinking Finding places for these beauties may get a bit tricky. Well, there’s always a big container in a sunny spot. Maybe Mr. G wouldn’t mind a few roses on the driveway to keep his tomatoes company. 🌹🍅

ROSE CHAT

The latest release of Rose Chat is ROSES THAT RAMBLE with great rose friend Leon Ginenthal from Der Rosenmeister Nursery. His stories are so fascinating! His roses are so amazing. I just wish he shipped from his nursery in Ithaca, NY. Maybe a road trip is in order!

P. Allen Smith on Moss Mountain Farm – A Sense of Place – Rose Chat Podcast

P. Allen Smith on Moss Mountain Farm: A Sense of Place | Rose Chat Podcast What can a garden teach us about the way we live? On this episode of the Rose Chat Podcast, Teresa Byington sits down with celebrated gardener, author, television host, conservationist and landscape designer P. Allen Smith to talk about his new book, Moss Mountain Farm: A Sense of Place. For decades, P. Allen Smith has encouraged gardeners to look beyond plants and think about the larger story a landscape can tell. At Moss Mountain Farm in Arkansas, that philosophy comes to life through gardens, architecture, agriculture, conservation and thoughtful landscape design. In this conversation, Allen shares the inspiration behind Moss Mountain Farm: A Sense of Place and the ideas that shaped this remarkable garden and farm. We talk about garden design, sustainable gardening, stewardship, garden history, creating meaningful outdoor spaces, and the relationship between people and the landscapes they call home. Whether you're a longtime gardener, a rose enthusiast, a landscape designer, or simply someone who loves beautiful gardens, this conversation offers plenty of inspiration for creating a garden with a stronger sense of place and purpose. Listen to the Rose Chat Podcast with P. Allen Smith and discover the stories, ideas and gardening philosophy behind Moss Mountain Farm. In this episode: P. Allen Smith's new book, Moss Mountain Farm: A Sense of Place The story and philosophy behind Moss Mountain Farm Garden and landscape design principles Sustainable gardening and environmental stewardship The importance of garden history and sense of place Creating outdoor spaces that reflect your personal style Finding inspiration in the landscape around you Guest: P. Allen Smith Host: Teresa Byington Podcast: Rose Chat Podcast ORDER THE BOOK HERE. TOUR INFORMATION HERE. MORE ABOUT P ALLEN SMITH HERE.     The Rose Chat Podcast Our 15th Season MEET THE ROSE CHAT TEAM 🎙 Executive Producer & On-Air Personality Chris VanCleave – RedneckRosarian.com Chris—aka The Redneck Rosarian—is the mastermind behind the Rose Chat Podcast. He’s a nationally known rosarian, speaker, and TV personality who believes roses are for everyone, not just folks with fancy garden gloves. Whether he's talking bloom care or thorny troublemakers, Chris brings heart, humor, and a whole lot of rose wisdom to the mic. 🎙 Content Creator & On-Air Personality Teresa Byington – TheGardenDiary.com Teresa is a Master Gardener, Consulting Rosarian, and one of the kindest garden cheerleaders you’ll ever meet. She’s been growing roses for decades and still gets excited when one bursts into bloom. With stories, tips, and a dash of garden gossip, she helps make Rose Chat feel like a visit with a good friend, who just happens to be a rose expert. Wanna Keep in Touch? We’d love to pop into your inbox now and then (we promise, no spam—just roses). Click here to subscribe to Rose Chat updates!  

1. P. Allen Smith on Moss Mountain Farm – A Sense of Place 44:51
2. VICTORIAN BEAUTY: THE BOURBON ROSE 37:30
3. MY ROSE TRACKER 37:12
4. NEW GARDEN / NEW RULES 32:25
5. ROSE STUDY GARDEN RENOVATION 40:17

You might also enjoy seeing a tour of his garden…

Coming up next on Rose Chat is MINIATURE AND MINI FLORA ROSES with Dr. Gary Rankin and Dr. Monica Valentovic. Few people know more than these two on this class of roses!
Release date: Sunday, May 14.

BLOOM THYME

Making the biggest statement is the creeping phlox. Standing up to the cold nights like a champ! The Leatherleaf Viburnums have been glorious and we have several of them!

While not blooming, the self-seeded larkspur game is very strong. Only a few weeks and we will see the spectacular blooms!

Hopefully we are saying goodbye to those cool nights and hello to more of what we love — blooms! Serious Bloom Thyme is coming … SOON! 🌸🌹🌱🌼💐

Happy gardening friends!

Lately I have been thinking about those wonderful days at the Biltmore Rose Trials. What a special time it was!

’til next time… 💐