Bloom Thyme Friday: Friends and Roses Part 2

Link | June 19, 2020June 19, 2020 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

In most of my garden “rooms” you will find roses hybridized by this rose friend – Dr. David Zlesak.

DAY JOB: David is a Professor of Horticulture at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. For the past 11 years, David has been teaching undergraduate horticulture students.

HOBBY: As a kid growing up in Milwaukee, David loved being outside and gardening – especially with his grandparents who had a small farm nearby.

FUN STORY: When David was 13 he read in the Sunday paper gardening section about Will Radler’s rose breeding hobby. So he wrote to Will for more information. Will (breeder of the Knock Out family of roses) got him connected to the Rose Hybridizers Association and with his love of art, science and roses, he was off onto a hobby that would bring him and all of us much joy in the roses that he has created.

FRIENDSHIP: I met David through American Rose Society events and we have become great friends. Actually, it is hard NOT to become friends with David as he is truly one of the nicest guys around! He is always willing to share his vast knowledge with those interested!

DAVID’S ROSES IN MY GARDEN

Petit Pink (10 of those!) (Lovely sweetheart blooms!)

Above and Beyond (Gorgeous spring-blooming climber)

The newly released Pretty Polly Lavender (Sweetest blooms and fragrant too)

The newly released Pretty Polly (So prolific and great in arrangements)

PODCAST:

Recently I spoke to David on the Rose Chat Podcast about a project that he is also very passionate about — The Clean Plant Network and the very important work they are doing. Listen in HERE.

BLOOM THYME THIS WEEK

THYME OUT…

‘Thyme Out’ is the name for my new outdoor working space and this space is coming together very nicely. Gone are the horrible vines, roots, and trunks of the invasive Japanese Honeysuckle (if you missed that post, read on HERE.

This space has always included a potting bench but Mr. G gave the potting bench a facelift and then surprised me with a beautiful work table. After a few days of seeing me work in the space, he said, “I’m making you another table.” Seriously, I said I don’t need another one it would be tooooo excessive.” He said, “I’m making you another table.” And, he did. And, guess what? I am so glad he did! I have room to spread out! I am spending so much time in this space.

Mr. G is the best.

To say that he ”gets” me would be an understatement.

To say that he is a craftsman, would be an understatement.

To say that he is a leader and mentor, would be an understatement.
To say that I love him would be an understatement.

And, to say that he is the very best at being a dad and papa … would be an understatement.

HAPPY FATHER’S (& PAPA) DAY, MR. G.

BLOOMING THIS WEEK…

The roses are on steroids this week and so are many other things. Here are a few pics. For more pictures and videos go to my Instagram page HERE.

Friends, thanks for dropping by.

I hope your world is filled to the brim with friends and with beautiful blooms too! 😘

MODERN WINNERS STEEPED IN OLD WORLD CHARM

Link | September 29, 2019September 30, 2019 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

I am just back from my annual trek to the Biltmore Estate to participate in the Biltmore International Rose Trials. Once again I found myself steeped in the old world charm of a walled sunken garden to take an in-depth look at the most modern of roses. Hybridizers from around the world continue to work hard to bring us the best of the best for our home gardens..

WINE & ROSES

Our time in the garden begins on Friday evening with a wine and roses party. It is so wonderful to renew long time friendships and make new friends as we bond around our mutual love for the rose.

TIME FOR BUSINESS!

In the spirit of the Vanderbilt legacy we don our fancy clothes and hats and make our way to the task at hand.

It is my pleasure to share with you the 2019 Rose Trial Winners. These roses have been judged each season (even winter) for two years.

Moonlight Romantica (MEILkaquinz)

Meilland / Star Roses

Pauline Merrell Award – Best Hybrid Tea Rose

Sweet Hips (KAPswehp)

Weeks Roses

Lord Burleigh Award – Best Disease Resistant Rose

William Cecil Award – Best General Impression

Bliss Parfuma (KORmarzau)

Kordes

Edith Wharton Award – Best Floribunda Rose

Cupid’s Kisses (WEKtriscala)

Weeks – Bedard

Gilded Age Award – Best Climbing Rose

Coral Knock Out Rose (RADral)

Star Roses – Radler

Chauncey Beadle Award – Best Shrub Rose

George and Edith Vanderbilt Award – Most Outstanding Rose

SPECIAL THANKS TO…

…Our coordinator of the Biltmore Rose Trials, Paul Zimmerman, for his leadership and vision to work with amateur and professional hybridizers to provide the very best for our gardens.

…Parker Andes, Biltmore Director of Horticulture, and his teams for the care of the gardens and their commitment to the Biltmore vision.

…David Pike, CEO of Witherspoon Rose Culture and John Beaty of Beaty Fertilizers for sponsoring our cocktail party and awards luncheon.

AROUND THE GARDEN…

I wish for you days when you are steeped in what you love…

… with those you love.

Bloom Thyme Friday: A View to a Miracle

Link | September 20, 2019February 15, 2022 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

As a gardener I am no stranger to miracles – I see them daily. But, there is one miracle that I look forward to in September. These guys…

For the past 5 years I have filled a container with herbs to put on Mr. G’s prep table by his grill. Each year the flat leaf parsley we have there becomes host to these little green creepy caterpillars that become the, oh so beautiful black swallowtails. Last year there were only 3 of them and I put two in a large jar so we could watch them. What a miracle this is. I shake my head over and over on the life cycle of a butterfly.

This year we have more than we have ever had before. So I am going to put some of them in a collapsible butterfly habitat so we can more enjoy the process and get the pleasure of releasing them.

One thing I know for sure. They love flat leaf parsley.

MORE MIRACLES…

That one small leaf can become a gorgeous blooming plant.

In August 2017 H planted a single leaf and today it looks like this…

I love looking back at H planting that first leaf!

In September 2018 C planted his single leaf and while his African Violet is not blooming, it is growing strong.

BLOOM THYME THIS WEEK…

I think Sweet Drfit saved the best for last….

Pink and purple… perfect combination I think.

Lady of Shallot DA. The blooms are few this time of year, but no less beautiful and fragrant.

Yellow and purple are a great combination too. Rose: Popcorn Drift

As you know, Fall is not my favorite but it is a time of many miracles … butterflies, changing leaves, and cooler temps to name a few. God’s artistry is on display in bold ways! I plan to enjoy every one!

Wishing you a week of miracles in the garden and out!

Happy Bloom Thyme Friday!

Bloom Thyme Friday: Arranging Things

Link | June 23, 2017June 23, 2017 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

I took Wednesday off to get ready for a class I was teaching on roses at the local library. I wanted to have time to make bokays to have for door prizes! The dreaded Japanese beetles who had descended a few days earlier and an all night rain meant there was a chance that no “suitable” roses would be found for my bokays.

So I woke up early eager to get started and I was greeted with a cool, peaceful, misty morning. A morning perfect for gathering flowers! Sometimes you just feel you have God’s stamp of approval on the task at hand and this was such a time! #grateful

I loaded up my wagon with buckets of water and a nice big container to hold the weeds and dead heads I found along the way.

The fruit of my labor…

There are few things I enjoy more than a morning in the garden to gather! Unless it’s arranging the “gathering”! I forgot to take pictures of all the arrangements but here is one…

Version 3

TIPS FOR YOU

Last week at Rosefest I did a mini workshop on flower arranging. It was such fun! Here are some tips I gave those who attended for extending the life of their bokays.

Morning is the best time to cut flowers.

Use sharp snips or pruners.

Choose blooms not yet fully open.

Place in water immediately. (Take bucket to garden!)

Re-cut stems under water before adding to arrangement.

Remove leaves that will be under water.

Use flower preservative in water.

Change out water and recut stems every day or two!

On this Bloom Thyme Friday, I wish for you a beautiful, peaceful, misty morning to be in your garden and flowers to pick for your bokay!

Bloom Thyme: Bokay Days

Link | June 8, 2016June 8, 2016 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

Last week there was a flower explosion in my garden … a perfect time to make bokays and have BOKAY DAY!

During the growing season I designate Fridays as a day to make bokays to deliver, but last weekend I had extra time and plenty of flowers and decided to text out random invitations for people to come and get them–first come, first serve.

BOKAY DAY starts with “the gathering.” Gathering containers and getting out my little black wagon for running around the garden gathering the pretties. This BOKAY DAY ended with friends coming by to pick up flowers! Some brought their children! I loved watching everyone look over all the flowers and decided which one(s) to take home. I heard about their favorite colors and shapes–and I heard some family gardening stories I had never heard before.

Bonus: Having people come to the garden opened up so many questions about roses and gardening in general and I loved that too!

Since it was so hot out outside, I chose the table under the patio umbrella for my work space. It was a different climate under there!

More bokays…

The last bucket of flowers for the week…

Flowers + Friends = FUN!

I meant to work in the garden but…

Link | May 23, 2016 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

Seriously, after work I went out to the garden to work. I meant to work, I really did. I had several things on my list. But then there were the blooms … they beckoned me. And before I knew it I was making bokays.

Here’s my “work” for the evening…