ROSE GARDEN

Earth Kind

| Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

I just received three beautiful roses from Chamblee Nursery–Aloha, Belinda’s Dream and Carefree Beauty. Two of these lovelies are considered Earth Kind roses.

Three New Beauties...
Three New Beauties…

photo 2-4EARTH KIND

Earth-Kind is a special designation given to select rose cultivars by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service through the Earth-Kind landscaping program. It is based on the results of extensive research and field trials and is awarded only to those roses demonstrating superior pest tolerance, combined with outstanding landscape performance.
Read more About Earth-Kind Roses.

Belinda’s Dream

  • Classification: Shrub rose
  • Introduced: 1992
  • Size: Medium shrub (5’X 5′)
  • Bloom: Very double, 100+ petals, up to 4″ diameter. Successive flushes of bloom spring, summer, and fall.
  • Fragrant: Moderate
  • Cold Hardiness: Zones 5-9

I had the great pleasure of seeing Belinda’s Dream in all her glory in the Biltmore Rose Garden a few weeks ago. (Read more about that here.)   This rose had first been recommended to me by Peggy Martin as her favorite rose … especially for those new to growing roses. I am not new to growing roses but I just had to have this lovely rose! Wouldn’t you?

Belinda's Dream in the Biltmore Rose Garden...
Belinda’s Dream in the Biltmore Rose Garden…

You can read more about Peggy Martin and her incredible rose here.

Carefree Beauty_PolCarefree Beauty

  • Classification: Shrub
  • ARS Rating: 8.5
  • Introduction: 1977
  • Color: Light rose
  • Size: 3′ – 4′ 3′ – 4′
  • Cold Hardiness: Zones 4 – 9
  • Disease Resistance: Very
  • Fragrance: Mild

To see other Earth Kind roses, read on.

Her is a fascinating article on Dr. Buck’s life and roses by Julie Jean Gustafson Minot–Dr. Bucks Life.

Other Earth Kind roses I have in my garden that do extremely well are New Dawn and The Fairy.

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New Dawn Spring 2013
The Fairy Rose peaking through the fence.
The Fairy Rose peaking through the fence.

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My rose friend, Chris- The Redneck Rosarian, grows Mutabilis and just raves and raves AND RAVES about it. If I had this rose in my garden, I am sure I would rave too!

Here is a picture of Mutabilis in the Biltmore Rose Garden…

Mutabilis at the Biltmore Rose Garden
Mutabilis at the Biltmore Rose Garden

Peggy Thumb_Pol

Click here to hear Peggy Martin tell her story … From Devastation to Inspiration.

Beautiful and Sustainable

| Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

While I was at P. Allen Smith’s Moss Mountain Farm for Garden 2 Blog, I was surrounded by beautiful and sustainable roses. This garden of thousands is a no-spray garden…

“If it doesn’t look good, we pitch it and plant something else.” -P Allen Smith

From the delicately fragrant Noisettes to the spectacular bloom of the Knockouts, Drifts and many other varieties both old and new, Moss Mountain is alive with the beauty and fragrance of roses. This amazing garden gets your attention with it’s size, but then draws you to come, slow down, relax, stroll……

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Though Allen has always loved roses, it was while doing his graduate work in England that the rose love deepened. Allen became friends with Lady Elizabeth Ashbrook who grew beautiful roses. Upon his return from England he planted more and more roses that led to what you see above … a two acre garden reminiscent of the Gothic style found in Aiken-Rhett House garden in Charleston, SC.

EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY

But, roses are not just in the rose garden, in fact, you can’t walk very far either at his home in the historical district of Little Rock or at his farm, until you see more beautiful roses. Roses have found their way into most every “room” of the farm. Well, maybe not in Poultryville, but that is another post. Psssst… I fell in love with chickens and well–just might have to have some. Especially the Buff Orpingtons. For an article from Allen on  how to raise backyard chickens, read on.

Okay, okay back to roses. Look at these beauties…

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BUILDING THE ROSE GARDEN

To hear Allen tell the fascinating story on the building of the garden, watch this…

THE ROSE REPUTATION

Many people say to me that they think all roses are prima donnas that need constant spray and attention. This garden proves otherwise. Sure, roses do need sun, food and water to survive and a little love and attention to thrive, but don’t we all. And, wow … aren’t they worth it!

If you have been reluctant to give roses a try, come on you can do it. I promise! Let Allen’s beautiful AND sustainable garden inspire you.

OTHER ARTICLES YOU MIGHT ENJOY

AllenSilkiesThen there were the chickens!

Pol-moopoo

Spring Rose Care Top Five

RoseChatRadio_PolWhat is Rose Chat Radio

Disclosure: The majority of this trip including room, board and a bunch of neat swag – were provided to me at no expense for participating in the Garden2Blog event. There was no obligation to write about my experiences and all opinions stated here are my own.

 

 

 

Bloom Thyme Friday: Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden

| Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

Recently my daughter and I made a rather impromptu visit to the New York Botanical Gardens on a cold, sunny November morning. The cold wind did not stop us from being completely enchanted by this beautiful place. Half way into our tour we passed by the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden. What a beautiful surprise. Even through it was closed and past its blooming season, it was spectacular and quickly made it to our “must see in 2012” list. (Open May – October)

The rose garden, originally designed in 1916 and renovated in 2006/2007, is home to more than 4,000 rose plants and over 600 varieties.

This garden is fast becoming one of the world’s most environmentally friendly rose gardens.

Overcoming the rose’s reputation of being among the most chemically dependent flowers, they celebrate the addition of more than 1,700 new, hardy varieties–hybridization efforts from all over the world.

If you have never been there, maybe this needs to be on your “must see” list too. But, you don’t have to wait… take a peek at this video. Enjoy!

Bloom Thyme Friday: A Friend’s Garden

| Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

Recently I had the pleasure of visiting a special friend’s garden. The same friend who brought the unforgettable rose bokay to me when I was a teenager that launched my love affair with roses. Life changing. (Click for story.)

Even though I garden in Zone 5 and she gardens in Zone 7, there are many similarities. Especially when it comes to the love of roses. When I walked out into her garden the fragrance of roses was everywhere! Her garden is beautiful! A beautiful garden. A beautiful friend.

Note the wonderful arbor–handcrafted by her amazing husband. They are a great gardening team!

I know you will enjoy the pictures, I just wish you could enjoy the wonderful fragrance…

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Can you think of a time when you’ve been inspired by another person’s gift? I would love to hear about it.

Bloom Thyme Friday: A Garden Walk

| Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

On my morning walk through the garden I was greeted by these beauties…

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Meditations from a Rose Garden

| Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

“The most obvious comparison between my roses and life’s story can be found in the presence of dangerous, sharp thorns growing so closely on the very same bush with fragrant, beautiful blossoms. For years I have seen and experienced that life is this way, too. … I saw an old cross-stitch sampler from France that said, “Don’t grieve that your roses have thorns. Rejoice that your thorns have roses!” … You can’t change the reality that life is a mixture of beauty joy, danger, and pain, but you can change your perspective, your attitude; and that one change can transform everything!”

-Carolyn Huffman, Meditations from a Rose Garden

My roses have taught me a lot, especially how creative the Creator and First Garden Designer is! I never forget–time began in a garden –His garden.

Here are a few pictures of my roses…

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