Bloom Thyme Friday: Nips and Tucks

Link | August 11, 2017August 11, 2017 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

Yes, is it summer thyme and time to trim up the perennials and annuals that have been beautiful companions to my roses and clean up the beds of debris and fallen blooms and leaves. There are areas that are definitely moving into the jungly stage. I also like to add a bit of mulch this time of year. Fresh mulch just looks so good and it is so helpful in moisture retention.

Some of the roses need a good hair cut too so they can move into making a beautiful fall display of blooms—which we will get to enjoy now that the Japanese Beetles are in their final decent! (Here’s a bit more on pruning.)

To add to the excitement of the summer trim, we have a fall rose show coming up in our ARS Illinois Indiana District to be held in St. Louis (more information on that here). If all goes as planned, I will have some fresh blooms to take to the show. Now I am not the most competitive or competent horticulture exhibitor, but it is quite thrilling to see a blue ribbon on one of my babies. It does happen from time to time.😉 I’ll have a better chance in the arrangement category. I love that best! But, there are so many talented people in this district! #stiffcompetition

Here’s a bokay I picked last weekend to take to a friend’s dinner party...

TIMING

Most roses will repeat bloom in 40 – 50 days after a trim. So wish me luck. It really is a win win situation … I’ll take the beautiful blooms anytime. But, if I have an award winner at the show, you will hear about it. 😱

JUST BE

Wednesday I had a day off and a chance to “just be” in the garden. No real agenda. A little work, but mostly plotting and planning. There is nothing quite like taking some time to “just be.” So grateful for that day.

BLOOMERS THIS WEEK

Here are some of the pictures from this week…

Happy Bloom Thyme Friday from my jungly summer garden!

Bloom Thyme Friday: At Last

Link | July 21, 2017July 21, 2017 | 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 | July 14, 2017July 15, 2017 | 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 | July 7, 2017 | 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!

Bloom Thyme Friday: WaterWorks

Link | June 30, 2017July 1, 2017 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

For as long as I can remember, I have had a “sprig of something” rooting in water on a windowsill. My mom did that. My grandmother did that. My Aunt Myrtle did that.

This process never fails to wow me. Never fails to bring me great joy. I love being able to see the tiny roots form. Showing life. Showing rebirth. Showing re-creation. A good reminder of how simple the needs of a plant and a person can be. Strong roots that start growing slowly and get stronger as they continue to feed on things that are good for them. Basic things … like water.

Life can get complicated, but in reality our needs are so basic. God. Water. Family. Friends. Red Lipstick. Tacos. 😉💄🌮😉

On my potting shed windowsill today I have Coleus, Mint, Wandering Jew, Unidentified Trailing Plant, 3 African Violets (that are just about ready to be potted up) and Lavender (lavender roots best if you get down to the woody part of the stem)!

Not every plant will root in water. Many things I have tried just rotted.

Today I returned home from California to see roots on something I have never been able to root in water before!

DRUM ROLL!

For the very first time, I have roots on a Rugosa Rose cutting! I am just over the moon about this one.

Last week when I walked into my daughter’s California kitchen, guess what I saw.

Her windowsill with plants getting their baby roots. Joy! #happymomma

I even have a “sprig of something” on my kitchen windowsill where it gets little to no light! (Wandering Jew)

Do you like to put “sprigs of something” in water?

PROCESS (It’s Basic.)

Take cutting
Remove last 3 or 4 sets of leaves
Put stem in a tiny bit of root tone
Put in water
For most plants, sun will definitely help!
Watch for roots!

For African Violets, I just take a leaf and suspend it in water. Small jam jars covered in plastic wrap secured with a strong rubber band will do the trick! Cut a slit in the plastic wrap.

Keep putting down deep, strong roots and Happy Bloom Thyme Friday!

Bloom Thyme Friday: The Garden at Its Happiest

Link | June 16, 2017June 16, 2017 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

This week was Garden Party Week!

My garden is never happier than when it is filled with special guests.

The week started with a garden party that included the board members of the Indianapolis Rose Society and our special guest speaker for Rosefest, Pat Shanley, American Rose Soceity President. It was a wonderful evening of friends, fellowship, roses and CAKE. Oh, that cake!

Later in the week came a large group (56 or so) of very special people from our church. Most of them are at the time in their life when they are not able to work in a garden as they once did, but are right at home in a garden and were very excited to be here. It was so special to have them. We laughed, we ate, we talked gardening, roses and friendship.

Mr. G and I are feeling so blessed to be able to share our little piece of heaven with each one of them. I do hope they will all come again. The garden is the happiest when it is filled with those we love.

SPECIAL BLOOMERS THIS WEEK…

ONE MORE THING

If you are local, I will be speaking about growing roses at the library on Wed, June 21 at 6:30. Would love to see you there. Bring your questions!

What a wonderful week I have had. Hope you have too!

Bloom Thyme Friday: Tending the Garden

Link | June 9, 2017December 29, 2019 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

Funny that the most quotable quote about names, mentions a rose!

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. William Shakespeare

For those of you who have encouraged me to “name” the garden, this is for you. Actually, some of you have more than encouraged me …. in some cases insisted the garden have a proper name—you know who you are! 😁 Grin. Well, Mr. G calls the garden, T’s Garden and I’m sure he will continue to do so. But, for the rest, it is now officially BLOOM THYME COTTAGE GARDEN. I know, a stretch, I have always referred to what’s going on in the garden as Bloom Thyme. So bring on the plaque — the garden has a name and it even has a welcome mat…

Such great work by my friend, Lauren Holt of Bear Home Goods. Check her out!

TENDING THE GARDEN…

Whether planting, weeding, cutting blooms or just walking with coffee in hand, my garden brings me immense joy — it is where I hear God’s voice the loudest, it’s where I dream, it’s where I “figure things out”, it’s where the need in me to “tend things” is realized. As my flowers bloom so do I! I don’t think that it is an accident that Genesis 2 is filled with a garden…

Gardeners, we are in great company … “God almighty first planted a garden.” -Francis Bacon. And, that garden had a name, The Garden of Eden.

Now the LORD God planted a garden in the east. …God took the Man and set him in the Garden of Eden to work the ground and keep it in order. Genesis 2

I hope you have a special place where you are able to bloom. If you do… maybe you need to name it!

BLOOM THYME THIS WEEK…

Many of the roses are just now getting started. It is nice to see them return.

Proven Winner’s Smoothie is a blooming machine!

A new rose … AT LAST from Proven Winners. So far for me it is a WINNER!

Keep blooming wherever you are planted!

Bloom Thyme Friday: Going Up and Over

Link | May 26, 2017May 26, 2017 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

While much of the garden is suffering a bit from all the rain and the lack of sunshine, many of the climbers and ramblers are “going up and over” beautifully. The two main arbors that are across from each other are making magic happen. The stuff that makes this gardener’s heart sing!

They don’t always bloom at the same time but this year … Oh yea! that is just what they are doing! Most ramblers and many of the climbers I have only bloom one time per year. It is wonderful to see them create rose fireworks together! Timing is everything … well almost everything. A few dry days and some days with sunshine would certainly be welcome.

Front Arbor: New Dawn Back Arbor: Peggy Martin Rose and Francis E. Lester

Celsiana … a large rambling fragrant Damask.

A typical day in my neighborhood…

For those of you considering adding more climbers to your garden and maybe even a rambler–if you have the space, here are some varieties to consider.

Zepherine Drouhin: Mostly a one time bloomer. Sometimes you will get a few blooms later in the season. It is a thornless Bourbon rose that is quite fragrant.

Francis E. Lester: Read all about him here. You can buy one from my good friend, Guinivere, at Roses of Yesterday.

Honeymoon Arborose: A lovely Kordes white climber that did very well at the Biltmore Rose Trial winning the coveted Lord Burleigh Award for Most Disease Resistant Rose. This is one I hope to add next year! Sold out for this year at Jackson and Perkins. Guess I better place my order for next year soon!

David Austins’s The Generous Gardener: A gorgeous rose that is very disease resistant in my garden. One of the prettiest Austins I have. See it growing in my garden here.

David Austins’s Albrighton Rambler: This rambler is considered a “well behaved” rambler and it grows 15′ or so and not 20-30′! I absolutely love it in my garden. Check it out.

Jasmina: This is a rose our society sold this year and they sold out quickly before I had a chance to get one. I plan to add it in the future. See it here.

New Dawn: Grows like crazy once it gets established. Soft pink and a soft fragrance! I have had this rose in my garden for more than 15 years. Love it.

For more on climbers and ramblers, my good friend Stan Griep did an article for Garden Know How you might enjoy. Read on.

Whether the sun is shining or the rain is falling, I will be having a very happy BLOOM THYME FRIDAY and hope you will too!

Bloom Thyme Friday: “Mulch” Happiness

Link | May 19, 2017May 19, 2017 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

So many things are making me happy this week.

First, up is mulch!

The mulch came this week. A mountain of mulch! It’s almost like Christmas! #happydance 💃💃

We use fine hardwood mulch … it retains moisture, helps to keep down weeds and gives the garden that fresh, finished look! Icing on the cake!

I have to tell you my favorite “mulch” story. When my daughter was in college, one day she and her girlfriends walked past an area that had been freshly mulched and they began to cry … WHAT IS THAT SMELL!!!! My daughter smiled and said, Oh I love that smell, it reminds me of my momma. From the shrieks and the looks on their faces, we don’t think they came from gardening families! 😳😱😂

Other Things Making Me Happy

Bloomers…

Rosa Mundi is making her 2017 debut.
Powdery mildew is coming with her but we won’t talk about that right now. Seems to be a mild case. #rainyspring

Francis E. Lester is huge. More pics of him to come and his neighbor Peggy Martin who is showing a tiny bit of color today! Did you read the article in Southern Living about the Peggy Martin Rose? You can read it online here. Great article!