Flowers

Bloom Thyme: Trust Issues with Spring

Link | | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

From my previous notes… this year the garden started coming back about 3 weeks early! Bringing to light an extreme case of Trust Issues with Spring” – “how much to trust it.”

Just as we suspected, that new growth slowed down a bit due to some frosty nights. Warmth returned! Growth returned.

Surely that was it. Spring’s here now! Right?? In our hearts we’re ready to meet spring full on and start planting all the plants we’ve been gathering – but those trust issues held held us back – barely.

We were right to be concerned. Cold came back. This week. Back down into the 30s. Sigh. May is around the corner and that May 10 “Last Frost Date” is looking to be right on schedule. Once again having trust issues with spring pays off. 

Despite the forecast, live like it’s spring.”

― Lilly Pulitzer

HAPPENING IN THE GARDEN THIS WEEK

The gardener may be waiting but the garden is not. They are responding to that early ground warm up. We now have spring blooms of course but we also have peonies, a few old garden roses and a few blooms on clematis. SOOOO Early. Case in point… the peony below is Beautiful Senorita and she bloomed last year on May 17. 😳😳

🌱 🌱 🌱 🌱 🌱 🌱 🌱 🌱

Last week I finished up rose pruning and started fertilizing. The last work was on the big arbors. Between the weather and the deer we suffered much damage that had to be removed. 🥺 Poor Peggy Martin – she suffered greatly. The shrubs are still strong but they most likely won’t get to completely cover the arbors with blooms this year. It will be up to the clematis to make a statement! I’m sure they are up to the task. It’s not their first rodeo. And I suspect they are celebrating being disliked by deer.

All the deer damage and the ticks the deer bring with them has Mr. G plotting his next move to protect the main part of our garden. Looks like he’s leaning toward putting up electric fencing for the winter. Our property is too large to protect it all but it would be so nice to have spaces they can’t get to! 

Regarding deer and ticks… listen to my podcast with Dee Nash… who developed Alpha Gal from Lone Star deer tick bites. White tail deer are their primary hosts! LISTEN HERE.

POTTING SHED PUTTERINGS

My “crops” in the potting shed this year were Lisianthus and Foxglove and they loved getting all my attention!

Seedlings are making their way in the world as I’ve started the hardening off process. In and out for a week to toughen them up and out they go! We have been together all winter, we are a tight clan at this point. Can’t wait to see them do their thing! 🎓💐

NOTE: For the Lisianthus I did two things differently than previous years. I planted them 3 weeks earlier (January 1) and was more consistent with fertilizer. I usually have 3-4” plants to plant out but this year they are 7” tall! The fertilizer I have always used on them is Epsoma Grow (1/2 Strength)

ANOTHER NOTE: The Lisianthus I grew using the broadcast method did much better that those I sowed individually in cell trays. I first heard of this method of seed sowing from the greats on Gardener’s World (British Gardening Show). Carol Kline said don’t worry about planting them too close… sharing space makes roots stronger. When I “prick” them out I am amazed at the roots! (see image below)

Sown in seed cells
Broadcast in little containers.

NEW PODCAST!

I am so excited to tell you about my good friend Paul Zimmerman’s new podcast A WORLD OF GARDENING . Available on Podbean and most podcast apps.

Few bring as much to the rose world or gardening world in general as Paul. Three decades of growing roses, international garden traveler and garden tour host, garden designer, and vast plant knowledge. Paul not only wrote the “book” on growing shrub roses… EVERYDAY ROSES, he coined the phrase that roses are “just blooming shrubs” making me and many others think differently about all roses.  For more about Paul check out his website here. There’s even info about upcoming trips he’s hosting.

BACK TO PAUL’S PODCAST…

Paul begins each episode with PAUL’S JOURNAL where he takes a few minutes to share what’s going on in his garden, gardening in general and of course roses too. This is not to be missed. 

Here is a link for the first episode. And, yes… I was one  of the first guests. Such fun! 

LISTEN HERE

MY ROSE TRACKER

Our delightful Rose Geek, Kimberley Dean, has released a new website…

MyRoseTracker.com takes the guesswork out of finding the roses you love. Instead of hopping from nursery to nursery, you can see what’s in stock—across multiple vendors—all in one place, with fresh updates every day.

It’s more than just a search tool, too. With a subscription, you can keep track of your own rose collection, map out your garden, monitor plant health, and follow a personalized care plan to keep everything blooming beautifully.

Whether you’re hunting for a dream rose or tending the ones you already cherish, MyRoseTracker is here to help your garden grow and thrive.

I’m looking forward to using this new tool! TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEBSITE HERE.

ROSE CHAT PODCAST

I am having so much fun with this season of Rose Chat … learning a bunch too. You can find all the episodes HERE. 

LATEST EPISODE…

BUILDING A BETTER ROSE SOCIETY
Beverly Rose Hopper

Beverly and her team are doing great things with their rose society. A society that was on the brink of closing down forever. Listen in for some great tips and inspiration! To see more about what’s going on at the Mother Lode Rose Society hop over to their website HERE.

LISTEN HERE

NOTE: If you haven’t watched Beverly’s garden tour on the Dig, Plant, Water, Repeat You Tube show… you can do so HERE. It is an amazing garden. The mass plantings of roses is spectacular!

🌱 🌱 🌱 🌱 🌱 🌱 🌱 🌱

Friends, I hope you are having a wonderful growing season. As I write, I’m looking out my kitchen window to a garden that is vibrant green from the rain and full of promise with all the bud-filled beauties. The season for Fireworks and Fragrance in the garden is about to begin. Nothing quite like that first spring bloom thyme after winter! So grateful…

“Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.” – Genesis 2:8

No wonder we feel so “at home” there! 😍

BLOOM THYME: That January Feeling

Link | | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

This January feels a bit different. Yes, we have had cold, we have had snow, but for some reason, the garden has not felt so far away as it usually does. Perhaps it is the temperature fluctuations. We have warmer-than-usual temperatures mixed in with extreme cold, making routine walks in the garden more common. Or, perhaps it the fact that we don’t have snow and ice everywhere! 🤷🏼‍♀️

This week has moved to extreme cold. No measurable snow but yes that biting cold sure feels like January!

POTTING SHED PUTTERINGS:

In January I am more than grateful for my Potting Shed. Oh how this tiny space adds to my quality of life. 😅 And I’m not going to lie… I am particularly crazy about this String of Pearls.

SEEDS AND SEEDLINGS

Right now it’s all about seeds and seedlings. My seed supply has been organized and new seeds have been purchased.

NEW SEED VARIETIES I’M TRYING

  • Celosia: Celway Terracotta
  • Gomphrena: Audray Pink / Strawberry Fields
  • Verbena: Vanity
  • Coneflower: Green Twister
  • Paper Flower/Immortella
  • Balloon Flower (Seeds from a friend)

So far here is what I am winter sowing…

  • All the above +
  • Foxglove: Dalmatian Purple & Peach
  • Marigold: Queen Sophia
  • Strawflower: Vintage White & Apricot Mix
  • Onion: Yellow of Parma

APRIL “WINTER” SOWING

  • Tomatoes
  • Zinnias: Benary’s Giant Salmon Rose & Wine, Linen, Zydeco White & Queeny Lime Orange
  • Holy Basil
  • Boxwood Basil

Yes, January is the time to start! I have sent the first brave starts outside this week to get all the cold they need to be their best selves! They will have neighbors soon.

WINTER SOWING NOTES 

If you are new to Winter Sowing, here is a previous article I wrote that has detailed instructions. (LINK)

BOXWOOD BASIL

Have you tried Boxwood Basil? It has become one of my favorite things to grow. Instead of culinary purposes, I use it for borders and garden accents! See below… Doesn’t it look like lush boxwood?

Winter Sowing Start
Herb Garden Border
Accents around roses

Love how it looks in the herb garden particularly. 

If you need a bit of green… here’s a Short YouTube Video of the Herb Garden from last August when the Boxwood was showing off.  (LINK)

If you want to see other videos from my garden. Here’s a link to the YouTube channel. (LINK) Most of my videos are short and sweet. Many I do under the umbrella of Bloom Thyme Minute! 

PLANTED!

These are planted and under grow lights in the Potting Shed… 🥳

  • Lisianthus: Lavender F1
  • Lisianthus: Light Apricot F1
  • MultiBloom Red Geraniums

LISIANTHUS

Lisianthus is a slow grower, so even though I won’t plant her out until late April or early May, she has to be started now to be more than a tiny babe by that time. Here is a gallery of lisianthus taking her sweet time reaching her glory. But oh, she does! I do “support” my Lisianthus, and have found a grid trellis that works well. I have tried many grid “systems”; this really is the best, and it’s black, so it practically disappears in pictures. (See in gallery below.) (GRID TRELLIS LINK)

Lisianthus Time Machine for those I grew in 2024…

January
February
March
April
May: Black Grid Trellis
June

INDIANAPOLIS ROSE SOCIETY

If you are local, it’s time to take a look at the wonderful roses that are a part of our annual rose sale. It is a fabulous list. Remember, place orders now for April delivery. It is first come / first serve and there are limited supplies!

All the details are HERE. 

ROSE CHAT PODCAST

While we are on holiday, you can find the past shows HERE.

The most recent podcast was an important one. If you haven’t had a chance to listen you can do so here.

TODAY…

As I look out today snow is gently falling in that snow globe way. Not stacking up but giving everything in the garden a special sparkle – reminding me of the scripture…

The whole earth is full of his glory. Isaiah 6:3

NEXT UP

Now that seeds are underway, my planning is now moving to the roses and making final decisions on what I will add this year. There are so many great ones out there! We’ll talk about that next time.

Yes, January is a wonderful time for planning and for looking back…

Ahhh June

BLOOM THYME: It’s coming fast

Link | | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

A few weeks ago I started this post but it began very differently. There were sighs, laments and serious whining about the heat! This week all that changed! Highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s … with one night dipping down to 49. Oooooo That is a little low for me this time of year. 😳 Around here we are advocates for long, long autumns where the roses get to have a beautiful fall flush. And we pick flowers for months. More weather trauma… oh how we need rain!! Things are getting scary dry. I am even fearful for some of our large trees. 😕 Soooo very glad we added some irrigation this spring for some of the areas and are adding more this fall!

As you turn the page on the calendar and it says SEPTEMBER, are you shaking your head and saying, “where did the summer go?!? If you are you are not alone. It was a fast one. And, if you don’t talk about weather, around here it was a fabulous one! A summer of family, friends, travel, flowers and loads of fun. 

I have moved to that gardening stage of ‘reflecting and taking note’ that comes with the end of summer. Deciding what worked and should be repeated AND what didn’t work and what areas need a tweak! I’m taking loads of pictures so I don’t forget the details. I will print those pictures and use them when I get down to serious planning. Those physical pictures are a great help! If you aren’t aware, WalMart does photo printing that is so easy, cheap and fast. I print a ton of pictures!

In an upcoming post I’ll talk about the Hits and Misses for this growing season, but for now…

LET’S TALK ABOUT ROSES

While walking through the garden this week it occurred to me that many of the roses I can’t stop talking about because they are bringing me such joy this year are Meilland Roses and Kordes Roses.

MEILLAND ROSES I GROW…

(To see the rose, click the link. The number beside the name indicates how many I have – if I have multiples.)

As many of your know Meilland Roses is a French company with a rich history. Starting in 1850. They have given us iconic roses like the Peace Rose (Link to Article about Peace), the popular Eden Rose, the gorgeous Francis Meilland Rose, the Romantica Series, the Drift series and so many of the modern roses that I am falling in love with.

Mother of Pearl  (9) (Link)

Romantica Moonlight (2) (Link)

Bolero (2) (Link)

Sweet Mademoiselle  (Link)

These are brand new to my garden and showing great promise…

Loves Me Loves Me Not  (Link)

Princess Charlene de Monaco (Link)

ON MY LIST FROM MEILLAND FOR 2026…

Martha Stewart (NEW)  (Link)

To see the complete list of Meilland Roses sold through Star Roses and Plants, read on here.  

KORDES ROSES 

The Kordes Company is an award winning German rose company known for hardy, disease-resistant roses. They are one of the first companies to stop spraying their rose fields to find the most disease resistant roses. They did so more than 30 years ago. I do find them to be more disease resistant and winter hardy for our growing zone (6a). I have grown so many beautiful ones through the years!

KORDES ROSES I GROW…

(To see the rose, click the link. The number beside the name indicates how many I have – if I have multiples.)

Veranda Cream  (2) (Link)

Parfuma Earth Angel (3)  (Link)

Parfuma Bliss (2) (Link)

Savannah  (3) (Link)

Honeymoon (2) (Link)

Sunbelt Plum Perfect (2) (Link)

Jasmina (Link)

Pomponella (Link)

New to my garden but showing great promise…

Parfuma Summer Romance (Link)

Raspberry Cupcake (Link)

There are other roses from other growers that are big winners too and I’ll talk about them next time.

WHERE TO FIND ROSES

If you cannot find these roses locally, here is a list of where you can also look… (Link)


RECENT ROSE CHATS

This summer I have had some super fun and interesting guests! If you’ve missed an episode, here are recent ones. For others go to RoseChatPodcast.com.

PLAYING FAVORITES
GUEST: Kimberley Dean, The Rose Geek
LISTEN HERE

MINIATURE ROSES
GUEST: Matt Douglas of High Country Roses
LISTEN HERE

TIME TO DOWNSIZE MY GARDEN
GUEST: Dee Nash
LISTEN HERE

BLOOM THYME THIS WEEK

Mother of Pearl
Petite Peach
Raspberry Cupcake
Love Me Loves Me Not
Koko Loko
Pomponella
Clematis & one The Generous Gardener on top
Rugosa Hip
Bee sleeping on Zinnia
Butterfly Loves Zinnias
Herb Garden Entrance
Raspberry Cupcake Up Close
Bokay in Grandmothers Pitcher

SEASONS

As the seasons change let’s remember the true Master Gardener and His gifts to us…

Genesis 1: 14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the sky to separate day from night. These lights will be used for signs, seasons, days, and years.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, Happy Gardening Friends.💐

BLOOM THYME FRIDAY: Coming Out of the Fog

Link | | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

Releasing Bloom Thyme Friday on Saturday is just par for the course around here right now. Almost three weeks ago Mr. G and I headed out for vacation to quickly return when Influenza A took hold. We spent our vacation time alternating the patient/nurse roles. 2 1/2 weeks later we came out of a fog to 70° temps and a garden filled with spring! During those days were a series of cancellations, postponements and running behind in a blur. We are glad to be back on the path to full health. Ms Influenza A is quite a character. She pulled many punches! I hope you manage to avoid her but around here she has been all too common. Be careful!

SIGNS OF SPRING

ASSESSING DAMAGE

Plenty of deer visited the garden this winter …. and I’m seeing some serious damage on many of the roses. Time will tell how the garden will fare as a whole. But, with many days at 70° spring is moving in fast. It’s amazing some of the roses are untouched either by deer or the extreme temps we’ve had. 

Don’t the deer seem right at home just munching away on MY plants?! 😩😩😩

NATIONAL GARDEN BUREAU … THE 2025 YEAR OF…

Each year the National Garden Bureau selects one annual, one perennial, one bulb crop, one edible, one houseplant, and one shrub as our “Year of the” crops. Plants are chosen because they are popular, easy-to-grow, widely adaptable, genetically diverse, and versatile. YEAR OF 2025 DETAILS

The one I am most excited about is Calendula. I purchased a couple of new to me varieties that I am really excited about. And I know that a few of the Zeolights from last year will self sow too. For me they are very well behaved self sowers. Just enough. 🌱

From National Garden Bureau website…

Nature’s Sunshine: The Year of the Calendula

Overview and History…

Initially cherished by the Egyptians for its healing properties and beauty, Calendula found its way to Europe through Roman influence, swiftly gaining popularity as both a therapeutic herb and an ornamental gem. 

Native to the sun-kissed Mediterranean region, Calendula has transcended borders to become a global favorite among gardeners, thanks to its resilient nature that thrives in diverse environments. Its name, derived from the Latin “calendae,” symbolizes its perpetual blooming cycle, with fresh blossoms unfurling each month in a vibrant display of nature’s artistry. 

Calendula petals, beyond their visual splendor, serve as a source of yellow dye, earning the flower the endearing moniker “poor man’s saffron” for its ability to mimic the prized hue of saffron. This versatile plant not only graces gardens with its beauty but also offers practical applications in dyeing and culinary pursuits. 

Here are a few fun facts…

GROWING TIPS

  • Calendula grows easily in full sun in any regular garden soil and thrives in a pH range of 5.5-7.0.
  • Pinch back young plants to encourage bushy growth.
  • Occasional feeding is rewarded, but unnecessary.
  • Keep plants watered but avoid overhead watering as plants are susceptible to mildew.
  • Deadhead regularly to prevent self-sowing and continual blooms.
  • It does best in cool weather and may stop blooming in mid-summer heat. It will likely start to bloom again in the cooler weather.

CALENDULA I’M GROWING THIS YEAR

BRONZED BEAUTY and a PACIFIC BEAUTY MIX

The calendulas I’m growing are Bronzed Beauty and Pacific Beauty Mix. One of the reasons I’m excited about growing more calendula is that for some time I’ve been wanting to make some simple recipes that I’ve read about in a wonderful book — A WOMAN’S GARDEN … Grow Beautiful Plants and Make Useful Things by Tanya Anderson, Isle of Man, UK

This book is filled to the brim with inspiration, growing tips, recipes, DIY projects and the dreamy looking products she produces.

I first knew of Tanya when she appeared on Gardener’s World 5 years ago. In the episode we had a tour of her lovely allotment garden and heard about all the wonderful things things she makes with the plants she grows – everything from flavored vinegars to skin care products.

She is easy to find as she is active on Instagram and has a thriving You Tube presence. TAKE A LOOK HERE.

RECENT ROSE CHAT

WHY SPRAY WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE TO?
Paul Zimmerman and Michael Marriott

On this episode of Rose Chat, host Teresa Byington is joined by the dynamic duo of roses, Paul Zimmerman and Michael Marriott. Paul and Michael will tackle the very important subject of growing roses sustainably. They will walk us through steps to take to have beautiful roses without adding chemicals to your garden.  LISTEN HERE

HC MASTER GARDENERS

What a wonderful group to be a part of. And, thank you for the opportunity to present a program last month. If you are local and want to join Master Gardeners … here is some information on upcoming basic training. DETAILS HERE

INDIANAPOLIS ROSE SOCIETY ROSE SALE

The Indianapolis Rose Sociey Rose Sale is still on! I’ve seen the list and there are still some wonderful roses left. Several are sold out but there’s still plenty of beauties available – at least today. First Come/First Serve. DETAILS HERE.

DREAMING OF ROSES

As I recuperated I’ve actually been doing more than dreaming … I’ve ordered a few! It was good therapy! But, oh my where will I put them! 😳 I’m working on that too. Let’s talk about that in my next post.

Scripture tells us that “to everything there is a season” and my favorite one is here!

Until next time friends, enjoy the miracles of spring! 

March 30, 2024

BLOOM THYME FRIDAY: Before We Dive In…

Link | | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

Don’t judge me, it’s January and I don’t have a word of the year. None seem “just the thing.” I do, however, have a phrase. During the Christmas season we watched “I HEARD THE BELLS “movie and while there were many phrases that caught my attention, there was one I wrote down … “Let’s be up and doing…” 

Note: The full phrase, “Let us, then, be up and doing,” comes from the poem “A Psalm of Life” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

I loved the movie! If you are not familiar with the movie it is about the origins of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow writing the Christmas carol, I HEARD THE BELLS. 

SIDE NOTE: I learned of this movie when Danielle of Northlawn Flower Farm on YouTube said her husband had a role in this movie!  If you don’t follow Danielle (link), I think you would enjoy her garden adventures… and I think you would enjoy the movie. 

2024 HIGHLIGHTS

Before we move fully into 2025, let’s talk about some standouts from the 2024 season.

TRAVEL

Our travels often take us to New England and England and we love that. But we added a destination this year… Italy. And we are so glad we did. A year of travel highlights indeed!

Windsor Castle
Rural England
London
Venice
Florence
Assisi
Vatican
Sorrento
Positano
Venice

FIRST YEAR ROSES…

BOLERO

Such a gorgeous and healthy rose. For a first year rose it just bloomed and bloomed and the booms were beautiful and the fragrance so yummy.  I read one review that called the fragrance “romantic”. I would agree. Bolero was also very healthy. This rose would work in most any size garden as it only grows to about 3.5 H x 3 W. I suspect it would be fantastic in a container too. I can’t wait to see all the blooms that will come with the second season.  One more thing …. outstanding cut flower!

ELIZABETH (David Austin)

This David Austin rose just wowed me with every bloom and her growth habit. She is a large rose and I am so glad I gave her plenty of room — she needed it and will need it even more as she gets established. David Austin voted her Best for Health, Best for Fragrance and Best for Flowering. I would agree. She performed so well. When I saw the picture of her online I thought she would have very delicate, easy to shatter blooms. She does not. Size is about 4.5′ W X 4.5′ H. She had several blooms throughout the season but I know it was just a tease to her production for the second year! Great cut flower. 

ESTABLISHED ROSE STANDOUTS

PLUM PERFECT (Kordes)

Oh my word. She would not stop blooming – even in the drought. She held on to those incredible blooms forever! A truly wonderful rose. I am so glad I have two! This year she grew about 3’ H and 2.5’ W. Healthy, beautiful but only a light fragrance for me. I enjoyed her so much in the garden that I didn’t cut very many for vases. Just enjoyed her immensely in the garden.

REMINISCENT PINK (Proven Winners)

This rose has grown into a large easy care shrub and deserves some space in the garden. Size is 3.5′ x 3.5′. She sometimes sends out long arching canes in that old fashioned romantic way. If you love old fashioned blooms in form and fragrance, you’re gonna love this one! When I see her from the window I can’t believe she is not an “old garden rose”. She was covered with blooms off and on throughout the season. Great in a vase too. Simply outstanding.

PETITE PEACH

Petite Peach had another fantastic year proving to be an almost bullet proof power bloomer! So proud of this rose. I hear great reports from people all over the country. Those blooms last forever in a vase and dry well too.  You can purchase at High Country Roses here. 

OUTSTANDING COMPANION PLANTS

GOMPHRENA (Globe Amaranth)

I started two colors of Gomphrena from seed via the Winter Sowing method (link). Couldn’t have been easier. Once these little plants were in the ground, they exploded and bloom literally all summer long. I used them in so many arrangements! And they dry perfectly too! This year I am growing 3 colors.

Planted in jug late January and planted in the ground in early May. Starting blooming in mid June and bloomed until frost!

Early summer
Late Summer
In an arrangement

BOXWOOD BASIL

Linda Vater on her You Tube Channel (link) was all about boxwood basil so I had to try it. This too was planted by seed using the winter sowing method and it was a huge success. I think every seed germinated and I had little boxwood balls all over the garden. Visitors couldn’t believe it wasn’t boxwood! Look at the pictures. Hard to tell! And the fragrance was fantastic. What a great return on investment! Planted in jug on April 9, planted in garden mid May and these plants were going strong all summer. From a small seedling came these amazing “boxwood” basils.

LISIANTHUS

What an outstanding addition to a cut flower garden! Started from seed in January, planted out in late May, blooming from June to October! So beautiful and wonderful in arrangements. Literally lasts forever as a cut flower. Downside… in my growing zone (6a) she has to be “babysat” in seed trays for so so long! 

OUTSTANDING SHRUB

Fire Light Tidbit Hydrangea

I have so many hydrangeas – my notes say I have 40  / 10 different varieties. But the Fire Light Tidbit is such a standout. She is a good size to pair with roses too. Growing about 3.5 W X 3’H. 

Here she is hugging up to Pomponella rose! (An outstanding rose I might add.) What a combination! I now have 6 Fire Light Tidbits and plan to add 2 more in 2025. 

FAVORITE BOKAY

This is a bokay I made for myself when I couldn’t be out gardening. I had hand surgery in early August and it certainly slowed me down for a few weeks. But these beauties sure cheered me up!

INDIANAPOLIS ROSE SOCIETY

The Indianapolis Rose Society is Zooming into the new year with special guest Robin Jennings of Heirloom Roses… Additional Details here.

ROSE CHAT

Rose Chat 2025 kicks off in February and there are so many guests already on the calendar to join me! Some are repeat favorites and many are brand new to the conversation. We are going to cover subjects like… the importance of soil, moving from a spray garden to a no spray garden, growing roses from seed, new rose releases, miniature roses, Earth Kind rose releases, the herbal properties of roses, climbing roses,  and on and on!!! Whew! I can’t wait!

If you have extra time and want to catch up on last year’s chats… there are so many good ones here….

HAPPY 2025

Happy New Year friends. If you are like me you are looking back AND planning for what’s to come while cleaning out closets, making list and going through garden catalogs!

So, “let’s be up and doing,” adding loveliness to the world around us. Our world sure needs it.

Until next time, happy garden planning.

BLOOM THYME FRIDAY: Blooms, Bare Roots & Weather

Link | | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

THE FIRST ROSE HAS ARRIVED…

I received my first rose from David Austin – Eustacia Vye. A rose that has been catching my eye for some time. As per my usual, I watched videos and chatted with friends about this rose before purchase and all the reviews were glowing!!

Eustacia Vye came as a robust bare root…


The Lovely Eustacia Vye

FROM DAVID AUSTIN WEBSITE (LINK)

An exceedingly pretty rose of soft, glowing apricot-pink, each bloom packed with numerous delicately ruffled petals. Held on red-tinged stems, the blooms begin as shallow cups, opening to full rosettes, revealing petals of a richer hue, which gradually pale over time. They have a delicious strong fruity fragrance. A very healthy variety; it makes a strong, vigorous shrub with bushy, upright growth. Named after the flawed heroine of Thomas Hardy’s, The Return of the Native.

I  actually ordered another one of these from our rose society sale. Do you grow it?

BARE ROOT ROSES

If you are new to “bare root” roses…

I know they look scary.
I know they look ugly.
I know they come early.

However, I also know that they will be glorious. From these humble beginnings they will work hard to become your magazine picture. 

HOW TO PLANT

  1. Open box as soon as it arrives
  2. Soak in large bucket of water – I usually do it overnight but you can hydrate a rose in a few hours.
  3. Give the canes a tiny trim just to wake her up and kick start the growing process. (I sometimes give the large roots a bit of a trim too.)
  4. Dig a hole deeper and wider that your roots.
  5. Amend the soil if needed.
  6. If she is a grafted rose (has that knobby bud union) I plant 2″ below soil surface.
  7. If it’s still cold outside, mulch high to give them a little protection from extreme weather. Remember to remove the extra mulch when temps rise!
  8. Water her in.
  9. Wait. She’ll wake up slowly along with her siblings in your garden.
  10. Be amazed at how much progress she makes this summer!

ROSE CHAT

ICYMI: Here are the recent guests I’ve been chatting with. To see the entire list go to RoseChatPodcast.com. What a joy to chat with each and every one of my guests and getting to hear their stories. Aren’t gardeners and gardening stories just the best!

GROWING ROSES IN OKLAHOMA
The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly
Dee Nash, Gardener, Writer and Podcaster

LISTEN HERE  

Dee is from Oklahoma where gardening can have its challenges. With expertise and wit, Dee shared from her years of experience the good, the bad, and even the ugly of growing roses in Oklahoma. We chat about beautiful roses, RRD and something new in Dee’s world – Alpha Gal Syndrome! Regardless of where you live, you will greatly benefit from the information and encouragement shared by this natural-born garden coach.

ROOTED IN TIME: Saving Roses for Future Generations
John Bagnasco
Chairman of the Save the Roses! Foundation, Writer, Garden America Show Host

LISTEN HERE

NOTE: Save the Roses Auction coming April 13 – 14. Online bidding for the Silent and Live Auctions opens Saturday, March 1 and closes Friday, April 12 at noon. LINK https://www.ccrsauction.com

Guest John Bagnasco highlights the critical efforts underway to preserve the diversity and heritage of rose varieties. John takes us on a journey through the history, challenges, and triumphs of rose preservation, emphasizing why these flowers are more than just a symbol of beauty—they’re a testament to botanical history and diversity.

John shares about the much-anticipated annual event that has become a cornerstone of the rose conservation effort in the US: the California Coastal Rose Society’s Save the Roses auction.

ROSE CHAT COMING APRIL 14

WHAT’S NEW AT DAVID AUSTIN with Rebecca Koraytem

🎉🌹🎉During this chat Rebecca will announce a major promo for the Rose Chat community and a blanket discount we all can use!

🎉🌹🎉MAJOR GIVEAWAY: One lucky member of the Rose Chat Community will win $100 Voucher for David Austin Roses! So tune in Sunday April 14 to hear how to sign up to win! GOOD LUCK 🍀🎉

WEATHER

Spring weather is always tricky around here and keeps us on our toes. We are definitely about 3 weeks early even though the temps are still going up and down like a yoyo! The big news this week has been storms, wind, rain and snow. My word! One day we had 3″ of rain. Snow/sleet never accumulated but was cold and dreadful none the less. The weather app knows the way to my hot buttons — “HAIL WARNINGS” have also been bantered about. 😱 And, tonight there is a FREEZE warning – 28!

BLOOM THYME

Regardless of the weather the garden is making great progress and I can’t wait to get up each morning to see what’s new.

Potting Shed Window Box
Thalia / Minnow
Belarina Pink Ice
Yes, we’ve had rain!
Spice Baby Virburnum
Minnow
Spring pruning!
Fav 2024 Pansy – Flirty Skirts

Friends, I hope things are coming right on time in your garden and that you are seeing more beauty every day. Isn’t spring just the best! 💐🌷🌸 The minnow daffodil is fast becoming my favorite little spring bloomer! (Wish I had gotten a better picture of her.) What’s your favorite spring flower?

Until next time, Happy Gardening!

BLOOM THYME FRIDAY: Sauntering into Spring

Link | | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

New growing zones, warmer weather, deep freezes, groundhogs and alligators (Texas) predicting an early spring, plants greening up… what are we in the old Zone 5b to do. 😳 I guess I’ll just cautiously saunter into spring – keeping a watchful eye on the weather app and the forsythia bushes. Around here there are always surprises!

Baby Larkspur
Baby Larkspur

POTTING SHED PUTTERINGS

I am not sauntering in the potting shed. It is full steam ahead! Seed starting and winter sowing have been keeping me busy.

WINTER SOWING

I am doing more winter sowing than seed starting as we are traveling a bit and I think the seeds have a better chance outside! I want tons of different flowers and herbs but don’t need large quantities, so many of the jugs are divided up with multiple types of seeds inside. 

So far I have planted…

  • Hollyhocks
  • Statice
  • Rudbeckia
  • Stock
  • Celosia
  • Gomphrena
  • Coneflowers
  • Bachelor Buttons
  • Scabiosa
  • Yarrow
  • Foxgloves
  • Larkspur
  • Snapdragons
  • Orlaya
  • Sweet Alyssum
  • Ageratum
  • Strawflower
  • Lady’s Mantel
  • Mignonette
  • Sea Holly
  • Ammobian

As I type this list I am reminded of how many of these I planted last year but they were eaten or destroyed. 😫 Praying for fewer critter issues this year!!!!!

Later I will plant tomatoes, zinnias and cosmos when the weather truly and consistently warms up! I was amazed last year at how wonderfully these warm weather varieties did last year with the winter sowing method!

If you want to know more about how I do the winter sowing method, here is a post I did last year with details. WINTER SOWING LINK

Some of last year’s results…

FLORET FLOWERS

Are you familiar with Erin Benzakein and Floret Flowers? If not, check them out at the link below.

Our Story

Erin and her team have done amazing work as flower farmers in the cut flower industry – adding so much beauty as well as education!

Her latest work is exclusive seed varieties. These exclusive seeds went on sale this week. So many were waiting by computers and phones to place our order. Same as roses, I rarely see a packet of seeds that don’t interest me – especially when paired with the word “exclusive.” I love zinnias and from the pictures Floret has done amazing things with them. My order was small but I am very excited to try two of the new Zinnia varieties.

Zinnia Dawn Creek Honey
Zinnia Dawn Creek Peach

Rose friends, Erin has an amazing rose story as well. She was the last person to interview Anne Belovich – just 7 months before her death at 97! Anne gave her permission to take cuttings of her roses and take she did. Her team came in and beat down the brambles to find the gems. Anne’s roses are in great hands with Erin! You can read about this adventure here.

A Rose Story Part 4: An Interview with Anne Belovich

ROSE CHAT 2024

Look at this collage!

So many wonderful rosy friends are coming to chat this season. Each one is unique and amazing. I can’t wait!

Sunday, Feb 11 and Sun, Feb 25 the first two podcasts will be released. Both are fantastic!

Gaye packed so much fascinating information from her research on this one. We go back to the pre-historic days! 

Randy gives us so much great information on using beneficial insects. Covering all the basic questions and so much more! 

Here is a link to find the new ones or listen to any of the previous ones anytime! LINK

SAUNTERING OR FULL STEAM AHEAD?

Are you sauntering into spring too or is it time to be full steam ahead in your garden. I just checked and more daffodils and snowdrops are popping up but it will be awhile before bloom. That’s okay. I’ll enjoy the posts of my southern friends for a bit longer. Seeing the babies come back is one of my greatest garden pleasures. I am happy to saunter and take it all in.

Until next time, here’s a bit of spring beauty from last year…

The lovely Thalia daffodill!

BLOOM THYME FRIDAY: Peaches and Cream

Link | | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

First up… Happy New Year! Don’t you just love a fresh start! A clean slate to fill up! Time to start planning our next garden season in earnest!

PICTURE TIME!
I am so glad we have pictures! Especially in winter! While I pour over the pictures of last year, the memories of the varmints gets fainter and fainter. But not so faint that I didn’t ask Santa for a super duper sprayer. I plan to be excessively spraying of all those smelly things that make the varmints feel less at home!

The pictures prove it! We have so many good days. #grateful

JUST PEACHY!

Have you seen Pantone color of the year for 2024? It’s a beauty! Peach Fuzz… 

From Pantone…

PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz captures our desire to nurture ourselves and others. It’s a velvety gentle peach tone whose all-embracing spirit enriches mind, body, and soul. 

Read more from Pantone here.

I am in love with this color – especially in the garden! One of the reasons I love Mother of Pearl roses so much is that she goes peachy. Many call her pink/salmon but she’s definitely more peach than pink in my garden.

Here is Mother of Pearl with my very favorite peach rose  — Petite Peach 🍑…

REMINDER

Petite Peach 🍑 and so many other beauties will be available again at High Country Roses starting January 10! Don’t delay!  HighCountryRoses.com

CREAMINESS

It seems that I’m also falling in love with all the creamy colored roses this year. If the pictures don’t get you, the names just might. Here’s my creamy list…

CREAM VERANDA

Floribunda (Tim Hermann Kordes, Germany, 1997)

Beautiful picture from Heirloom Roses website!

A beautifully romantic rose with old fashioned quartered blooms in delicate shades of apricot. Flowers are lightly perfumed on a disease resistant, compact shrub. Performs well in hot climates. This variety is ideal for use in patio containers or can be used in landscapes where a low growing compact plant is desired.

TOP CREAM 

Hybrid Tea (Alain Meilland, France, 2021)

Beautfiul pic from High Country Roses (link) Website.

The large, old-fashioned blooms of this special rose harken back to an old cottage garden.  Flowers are extremely fragrant with notes of anise and earthy pear.  Its abundant petals are creamy white with an occasional light blush.  It exhibits excellent disease resistance and is a wonderful rose for cut floral arrangements. 

CHANTILLY CREAM

Hybrid Tea (Christian Bédard, United States, 2021)

Beautiful pic from High Country Roses (link) Website.

A classic hybrid tea featuring large (4″-5″), very full blooms and a strong citrus aroma.  Light yellow blended flowers are delicate yet stand up to the heat of summer without missing a beat.  Very strong resistance to such diseases as rose rush, downy mildew and powdery mildew.

Creama (Reminiscent Series)

Shrub / released by Proven Winners

Beautiful pic from Proven Winners (Link) website.

Not quite white and not quite yellow, Reminiscent® Crema shrub rose combines the best of all worlds with blooms the hue of fresh buttermilk. Each big, full bloom boasts a very high petal count and a delightful fragrance. The perfect choice for adding classic beauty to the landscape or flower garden! Clean, vigorous growth and foliage, with no deadheading required for continuous bloom. Disease Resistant / Long Blooming  / Heat Tolerant / Size: 2.5 X 2

Aren’t these just amazing!! Are you growing any of these? I’d love to hear how they are doing for you.

ROSE CHAT

The 2024 Rose Chat Season starts in February. We have some wonderfully rosy friends joining in! 

First up will be the amazing Gaye Hammond chatting about The History of Roses: America’s True Native Plant. Of course, Gaye will teach us but she will also entertain us! I can’t wait! Read more about Gaye here.

Winter is a good time to catch on chats you might have missed during the busy season! Here are four great chats! But there are so many more!!

GARDEN DESIGN TIPS & TRICKS: Michael Marriott and Paul Zimmerman
These two are the best in the business and generously gave us so many tips! Perfect for garden planning season!
(LISTEN HERE)

GRACE ROSE FARM: Gracie Poulson
Learn about the beautiful work of this farm and hear about oh so many beautiful roses!
(LISTEN HERE.)

MY TRIP TO ENGLAND
Kimberley Dean (The Rose Geek)
Kimberley shares how this trip changed her and her garden!
(LISTEN HERE)

GARDENS OF THE NORTHEAST:  Stephen Scanniello
Stephen uses his razor sharp wit and his incredible rose knowledge to tell the “story” behind the story and this podcast is full of them!!
(LISTEN HERE)

POTTING SHED PUTTERINGS

This week I potted up my White Geraniums (Maverick). My garden journal tells me that I planted the tiny seeds on December 13 and they germinated in three days!! Now 3 weeks later they are showing off those lovely leaves! Three of them grew so large in the broadcast seed tray that I potted them up to 4″ pots. They have a long away to go! I sure hope they do well!

I bought my seeds at Park Seed. I received 10 seeds and I have 10 plants!

Resting under the lights!

FROM PARK…

Maverick is an annual geranium, which is to say not a true geranium at all, but a pelargonium. 

They are a southern gardener’s salvation, thriving even in the sopping-wet humidity and searing heat of our summers. Other container plants look wilted even the same day you water them, but never Maverick. It’s compact, well-branched, large-flowered, and thoroughly agreeable to weather extremes. We wouldn’t want anything less for our terracotta pots and white window boxes.

Maverick is a very compact plant, reaching just 14 to 16 inches high (in full bloom) and nearly as wide. The foliage is large, softly lobed and creased, and bright green. It forms bushy rosettes beneath the flowering stems, which hold their giant spheres of blooms several inches above the rest of the plant.

I absolutely love, love, love annual geraniums (pelargoniums) and I think Thyme Out (my outdoor potting area) is just the place to have several white Mavericks!

One more thing…

Ever wonder about the origins of the geranium/pelargonium debate? Through the years I have heard many things. So, I asked the internet this week why pelargoniums are called geraniums and here’s what I found…

The name Pelargonium was first proposed by Johann Jacob Dillenius, a German botanist, in 1732 who described and illustrated seven species of geraniums from South Africa that are now classified as Pelargonium. Although it was Johannes Burman, who formally introduced the name pelargonium in 1738.

It was a simple mistake. Linnaeus thought the plants were close enough relatives to put both types in the genus Geranium. But Charles L’Héritier saw things differently and separated them into two genera in 1789. The change was widely accepted even back then and still holds today.

⭐️ And… we are still talking about it today. Right or wrong, some things just stick! Regardless of what we call them… they give us quintessential cottage garden beauty.

UP NEXT

The next fun winter projects around here will be planting Lisianthus and Winter Sowing. The extended forecast looks like we are going to have a bit of winter after all. What are you up to?

Until next time…

To make a great garden, one must have a great idea or a great opportunity.

Sir George Sitwell
Essay on the Making of Gardens (1909)

BLOOM THYME FRIDAY: HIGHS AND LOWS

Link | | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

2023  gardening season was a year of many, many highs but also a couple of major lows. So on this last week of the year let’s deal with the 3 biggest lows, learn from them, and leave them behind and start out 2024 with a clean slate.

1. THE VARMINTS

I wrote so much about the varmints this year and you are probably tired of all that. However, I’m sure you’d like an update from the critter cam while we were in England recently.  We had multiple visits from Skunks, Raccoons, 5 different wild cats, Rabbits and one huge hairy critter that looked like a ground hog but we are hoping it is another raccoon at an odd angle. So far no deer – at least near the critter cam! If you missed my varmint whining … here’s a link to one of my varmint articles LINK.

Bunny
Skunk
Raccoons

2. THE WEATHER

Seems we all had at the very least “crazy” weather. We started out wet wet wet and plants were drowning and moved to dry dry dry. 

3. THE LOSS OF A FAVORITE ROSE

My glorious Ghislaine de Feligonde that has for the last few years hugged up beauitfully to the potting shed succumbed to RRD. Talk about your sick feeling. When I found it, I was for the moment devastated. I have since planted two other Ghislaines so we are not to be without her long! To find RRD in your garden is so cruel. With all the roses I grow, I’ve dealt with RRD very little but it is always so disappointing! First you cry  – then you replant. Luckily she is a fast grower!

The upside to this horror was that Mr. G was able to paint the potting shed!

We are very fortunate that we have such a great research team working on RRD and other diseases that plague roses. Last year we had two very good Rose Chats on this subject… 

THE MANY FACES OF RRD with Gaye Hammond, Master Rosarian
LISTEN HERE

Gaye gives us detailed information about detection, what to do and what not to do!

THE RESEARCH JOURNEY OF SUSTAINABLE ROSES with Dr. David Byrne
LISTEN HERE.   

Dr. Byrne is leading a research team on RRD and the other diseases that plague roses and other plants too! He’s got the big picture!

2023 GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS

Two of the top garden highlights for 2023 were having the garden featured in two magazines… Midwest Living and Birds and Blooms –  and on the heels of the Garden Gate magazine article last year (Link) !! 😱 My word! Life sometimes gives you more than you even know to ask for. I am so so so grateful. 

The other garden highlight for 2023 was receiving the official patent for my little rose, PETITE PEACH. Read more about her here (LINK). And receiving the American Rose Society’s Award of Excellence for a mini rose in the “no spray” division! Be still my heart! A highlight INDEED!

REVIEW OF MOTHER OF PEARL FROM TRUDY STRUCK, PRESIDENT OF INDIANAPOLIS ROSE SOCIETY:

On our trip to the National American Rose Convention this year in Shreveport, LA, ‘Petite Peach’ was introduced as the 2024 Award of Excellence Winner. Because this miniature rose was discovered by one of our own Indianapolis Rose Society members, Teresa Byington, we decided to order it while we were at the Convention for the Hamilton County Master Gardener’s Rose Garden. When the rose came it was tiny but very healthy.  It didn’t take long for it to flourish and begin to bloom the sweetest little apricot roses. The blooms are almost a bi-color of orange and pink.  Roses bloomed nonstop all summer long and well into the fall. In fact, to keep it winter safe, I buried the pot I transplanted it in and most of the plant around the beginning of November and it still had blooms on it. In the springtime, the rose will go to the HCMGA Rose Garden in the miniature bed with recognition to Teresa. I highly recommend this sweet rose for anyone’s garden.

HIGH COUNTRY ROSES

If you would like to have Petite Peach in your garden, she will be available again at High Country Roses on January 10. She sold out last year! Info on Petite Peach at High Country Roses here (LINK)

THE ULTIMATE HIGHLIGHT

All of life’s troubles, disappointments and even highlights pale in comparison to celebrating the Light of the World being born. I can’t begin to imagine what this event was like for the shepherds that night to receive the good news of great joy for all people!

Luke 2: 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Even in a world with much unrest and horror there is still so much good. And, whatever our circumstances, we can add the good!

May peace, comfort and joy be yours as we put our future and faith in our Heavenly Father.

Merry Christmas friends.