Let’s think of something to do while we’re waiting…

November 30, 2014December 23, 2014 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

During this season of Thanksgiving, I want to send out a big “THANK YOU” to you for joining me on this gardening journey. You mean the world to me!

Now it’s time for me to start waiting the winter out.

“Waiting the winter out” brings to mind something I learned from Mr. Rogers…. “let’s think of something to do while we’re waiting… ” Mr. Rogers was right, it IS always good to have something to do!

INSIDE GARDENING…

I have several pots of amaryllis and daffodils I will soon enjoy in the Potting Shed. And, will continue to “tend” the gerainiums and herbs that are over wintering there. The shed is a tiny space so the roses and herbs that we had outside this summer in large pots will spend their winter in Mr. G’s woodworking shop. They will be very happy there.

ROSE CHAT…

Chris and I will keep you in the “rose gardening know” with past and upcoming Rose Chat podcasts. There are 100+ recorded podcasts you can listen to here via your computer or on your mobile devices by using iTunes or the Stitcher App.

We will take a short break from live shows for Christmas, (All the archived show are still there for you!) and start back strong in 2015 with…

Pat Shanley, VP of American Rose Society, Michael Marriott of David Austin Roses, Paul Zimmerman of Paul Zimmerman Roses, Susan Lyell Young (Rose.Cottage on Instagram) and Richard Anthony and Brenna Bosch of For the Love of Roses plus many more!

PLANNING & PLOTTING…

One of my favorite winter activities is planning and plotting what I will do to the garden next spring. And, pouring through catalogs to make my plant buying decisions! We have so many options … isn’t it great!

PICTURES…

Another thing that gets me through the long midwest winters is pouring through the pictures I take. Actually, I consider my iPhone one of my most valuable garden tools!

Here’s a gallery of some of my 2014 favorites…

Falling In Love

Gemini with Dick Clark in the background

The line up ….

Comte de Chambord and neighbors

Our Lady of Guadelupe and neighbors.

Hansa and Roseraie de la Hay

Early June evening…

Roses and peonies…

Rainy day…

Poseidon and company…

Amber Carpet Roses around the fish pond.

Etoille de Violette in the background…

Mr. H’s first visit to the garden! You knew he would be in this gallery, didn’t you?!?

SOCIAL MEDIA…

Many of you are growing in areas where things are blooming right now and I sure appreciate your shares via Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and other social networks!

Three of my favorites are…

Michele Endersby on Twitter

MyMountainCottage on Instagram and her blog… http://mymountaincottage.blogspot.com

Ann Chapman on Facebook

Whatever your season, I wish you all the best and thank you for stopping by!

Winter Came to the Rose Garden

November 15, 2014November 15, 2014 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

This morning I woke up to 16 degrees and today was a day I had set again to do more winterizing in the garden. So, I donned my dad’s hunting coat and one of his old flannel shirts (and my thermals) grabbed my pruners and headed out to prune some of those extra long rose canes and to add some mulch to those that I know to be a little more tender. Most of my roses can take most any weather that winter dishes out. (You can read more about that here.)

All it took was to just “be” in my garden for more than a few minutes stolen here and there and I was transformed. The birds were singing, the frost added an enchanting sparkle and God showed up. Just as he always does when I am in the garden. I cast all my cares on him … and he takes them as his own and I am different for it. The greatest peace I have ever known is in the quiet peacefulness of mornings in my garden. It doesn’t matter the chore, it simply is all that for me. And, if you throw in some potting shed time … well you have the fixings of a perfect day. I hope that you have someplace in your life where you are at peace and God shows up. We know he is always with us and he doesn’t just “show up,” but in the stillness of a special place we “know it’ more.

Here are a few images of the winter roses …

Bloom Thyme Friday: Fall Cleanup

November 7, 2014October 10, 2018 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

UPDATED OCTOBER 2018…

Many people ask … “What do you do with all those roses in the fall?” Really not much … I tend to keep it simple. There are other chores that get a lot more of our attention in the fall than the roses. Like leaves! We have a lot of trees and so there are a lot of leaves. Mr. G has that process well in hand — with power tools like his leaf blower and tractor.

As far as the rose companions are concerned, I don’t cut back my perennials and annuals until the spring–I love the winter interest they provide especially when the snow falls on the different plant shapes. And, those seed pods are very yummy to our birds who hang around.

Now for “all those roses.” Many of my roses are known to be winter hardy because I know that it is very likely that we will have a harsh winter and I would advise you make decisions on the roses you buy based on your weather conditions throughout the year not just your spring and summer.

I will clean up the beds of diseased leaves and debris and add mulch were needed.
I will take those in pots into the garage to protect from the winter. They don’t require much, just a drink of water every few weeks.
I will provide a heavy layer of much for a few of the particularly tender roses or sentimental favorites that I would hate to lose, by adding 4-5″ of extra mulch.
I will tie up the long canes of the climbers. I can look out and see that Peggy Martin and Francis E. Lester has grown some long arching canes since I tied them up a few weeks ago.
I will also cut back any of the roses that are extra tall to about waist high to keep them from flapping in the winter winds.

For the rest of the roses, they are on their own. Most can take it, but I know that if we have a winter like we had last year, I will lose a few and it is to be expected. But, you know what that means, once I get over the emotion of the loss, I will celebrate the extra space for the new introductions.

Rugosas are some of the toughest roses I grow. They will be back next spring give us their own brand of fireworks and fragrance in the garden. Oh I just can’t wait. If you want to read more about FIREWORKS and FRAGRANCE in the garden, read on here.

Have a wonderful week and enjoy the garden down time!

Bloom Thyme: November Surprises

November 1, 2014November 1, 2014 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

The weather has been soooo cold and this morning when I took a garden walk I feared all the buds I have been watching would be lost. What a surprise I received …. blooms everywhere. I scrambled to get my rescue bucket and get them cut before the temps dip down tonight.

I hear the temps will be on the rise next week. Wouldn’t it be nice if all those buds out there bloomed. I would love to be like my deep south friends with my own roses on the Thanksgiving table …. probably a pipe dream!

But these pretties made it to the rescue bucket…

Poseidon Bud

Apricot Drift

Pink Supreme Carpet

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Lady Salisbury

Moje Hammersburg

Petit Pink

Anna’s Promise

Boscobel

Music Box

Ingenious Mr. Fairchild

Doris Day

Pink Drift

Dick Clark

Carefree Wonder

Apricot Drift

Cherry Pie

Black Forest

Cecile Brunner

Cecil Brunner

Cecile Brunner — can you tell I am uber excited about this one!

They are still trying to get inside. Proven Winner’s supertunias!

Rescue Bucket

The Bokay

In other news I have lost my Barnels. And, I love my Barnels. Hope they don’t end up lost for 15 years like these guys were…

I found these last fall and it had been at least 15 years since I’d seen them. But, hey they are Craftsman, so there is a lifetime guarantee but I couldn’t part with them. 🙂

Lucky for me my good friend Wendy Tilley has her new website up and running and she has plenty of Barnels …. check out TheRoseGardener.com

Now it’s time to start thinking about the holidays. Tons of fun stuff coming!

What do you think??? Is it going to be a mild winter OR is the Polar Vortex gonna visit again.

Bloom Thyme Friday: The Charm of Rugosas

May 31, 2014May 23, 2015 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

Rugosa roses are species roses native to eastern Asia. These profuse spring bloomers are hardy in Zones 3 – 9 and in a variety of conditions: heat, cold, wind, even salty, sandy seaside conditions. Rugosa roses prefers full sun (6-8 hours per day) and average well-drained soil. So, with very minimal care, almost anyone, anywhere can enjoy these dependable workhorses in the garden. As for their size, Hansa, Roseraie de la Hay, Theresa Bugnet and Blanc de double Corbert are 5′ X 5′ in my garden. Moje Hammerly is 4′ X 4′ and Belle Poitevine is 4 X4 too. There are other rugosas that are smaller in general … do some investigating to find the ones most suited for your location. For more on rugosas, go to the ARS website HERE.

These rugged plants are excellent choices for the organic gardener. Their distinct wrinkled (regose) foliage is very disease resistant.

In my cottage garden they are the back drop and anchor for many of my flower beds. They give me a most outstanding introduction to the garden season with their striking, prolific bloom and the intense fragrance that permeates the entire garden. And, as repeat bloomers, they provide fragrant blooms throughout the season. And, beautiful roses hips to enjoy in our fall garden.

Nothing in my garden is quite like the first bloom cycle of my rugosa roses. See what you think…

Hansa: Beautiful foliage and striking magenta blooms.

Moje Hammarberg: More compact in growth but equal in bloom power and fragrance.

Roseraie de laHay: My favorite and the largest of the rugosas in my garden. named for the French rose garden of the same name

Double de Coubert: Pure white flowers and strong fragrance.

If you have some space and are looking for a rose with a major impact, think about rugosas!

HAPPY BLOOM THYME FRIDAY!

2014 Rose Introductions: Weeks Roses

October 31, 2013October 31, 2013 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

This week on the Rose Chat Radio podcast, the delightful Karen Kemp-Docksteader, sales and marketing manager for Weeks Roses, joined us to chat about some wonderful new rose introductions for 2014! Podcast link.

Coretta Scott King Grandiflora Rose
Named for the wife of Dr. Martin Luther King, this rose is not only lovely but very disease resistant. Chris, (The Redneck Rosarian) had an early release of this rose and it has performed beautifully for him this entire summer!

Good as Gold Hybrid Tea
A very unusual gold color! Karen said it is stunning in the field and she can hardly pass by it without stopping. This rose is known as a blooming machine!

You’re the One Miniature Rose
Karen pointed out to us that “miniature” does not refer to the growth habit of this rose but rather the blooms are miniature. Isn’t it just so cute! Perfect rose show form!

Jump for Joy Floribunda
Like its parent, Julia Child, this rose is known for disease resistance and beautiful foliage. This is another blooming machine that will fit well into any landscape.

Happy Go Lucky Grandiflora
This beauty has the multi-petaled old rose form with a lovely tea fragrance. I find yellow roses hard to resist so this may quickly go on my wish list!

SNEAK PEAK…

Karen shared with us that it is confirmed there is to be a new line of Downton Abbey Roses. Starting with the first in the series, Anna’s Promise.

Look at this beauty…

We look forward to having Karen back to talk more about this new line of roses! 🙂

WEEK’S ROSES HARVEST…

Harvest at Weeks Roses begins next week, so follow along with the progress of their work in the fields of roses on their Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/WeeksRosesCA

Now back to working on my wish list for 2014. How about you, what’s on your garden wish list?

2014 Rose Introductions: David Austin

October 2, 2013October 2, 2013 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

David Austin English roses with their old world fragrance and form are modern roses that are so reminiscent of the old gallicas, musk and bourbon roses that I love. The English Roses are some of my favorites — mixing old with new is what my cottage garden is all about.

Every year for the past 20 years I get completely giddy when it is time for the new English rose introductions and I am never disappointed. This year’s introductions are exquisite and are promptly going on my wish list!

Take a look…

Boscobel-a classic English Rose with pretty cupped flowers that evolve over time from deep salmon to deep pink, and a delightful myrrh fragrance with hawthorn character laced with hints of elderflower, pear and almond.

Heathcliff-a brilliant new deep crimson addition to this hard-to-achieve color range, with a beautifully shaped flower and singular fragrance of Tea Rose and Old Rose played off a minor base note of elegant dry woody cedar.

Tranquillity-a glistening white rose in a perfectly rounded rosette shape, with a crisp light apple fragrance.

Royal Jubilee-a stand-out beauty even amongst other English Roses, Royal Jubilee’s luscious, large, deep pink semi-double flowers are presented on an airy upright bush of exceptional strength.

The Lark Ascending-a very different look in an English Rose, with gently cupped flowers of just 22 petals in a heavenly warm apricot shade splashed with gold at the centers.

Michael Marriott

This week on Rose Chat we had the pleasure of Michael Marriott of David Austin English Roses as our guest. He brought us up to date on David Austin, Sr., the new introductions and provided us with many tips for getting our roses off to a good start and keeping them healthy. You may listen to the podcast here.

It’s been said more than once that I might have a crush on Mr. Austin Sr. 🙂 … I wrote about that here.

Are you beginning to start your 2014 wish list?

Bloom Thyme Friday: This week in the garden…

August 24, 2013April 4, 2014 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

Here in my world the temps are lower than normal and that makes for some wonderful garden thyme! The garden is looking more like spring than fall this week as the roses are coming back to bloom! Know that I am totally in denial about the leaves on the trees that are beginning to change color and the cicadas that are singing!

Here are some of my pretties…

Here are some of the other blooms I’m getting to enjoy…

And we have butterflies everywhere!

Thanks for stopping by! I am wishing you a wonderful day filled with what you love best!

Bourbons … some of the Old Beauties

May 27, 2013 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

Bourbons were the roses of Victorian England and probably originated from a natural cross between Old Blush (China Rose) and Quatre Saisons (Damask), two roses which were used as hedge material on the island of Bourbon (now Reunion). They produce beautiful, large, full old rose, crepe-like blooms on vigorous growing bushes. These blooms have a wonderful, heady fragrance and many Bourbons repeat bloom.

One of my favorite Bourbons is Queen of Bourbons (sometimes called Bourbon Queen) although it does not repeat bloom for me in my Zone 5b garden–when she blooms, she BLOOMS!

Last year I sent a picture of the Queen of Bourbons to The American Rose Society and she was chosen to be in the 2013 calendar. So, you could say my Queen of Bourbons is a calendar girl.

I think she took her calendar girl status to heart and upped her game because she went from beautiful last year to magnificent this year. I may have to send another picture or two to ARS.

With her neighbors... — With her neighbors…

Peter and the Old Beauties

I often say that I have never met a rose I didn’t want. And, though that may be true, it is the old roses like the Bourbons that legendary rosarian, Peter Beales’, referred to as the Old Beauties—they are my very favorites.

Old Beauties are survivors.
Old Beauties are beautiful.
Old Beauties are enchanting.
Old Beauties are incredibly fragrant.
Old Beauties have a rich history.

As I write today in my Potting Shed, I have on my desk a bucket of Old Beauties. Yes, I think Peter had them aptly named.