Bloom Thyme Friday: Penelope’s Story

Link | May 15, 2020May 15, 2020 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

Between winter, these cold snaps and “shelter in place”, I have had too much time on my hands. Keep looking at online catalogs etc. I have added – let’s just say SEVERAL roses to the family.

Just when I told myself I was officially DONE and truly had all the roses I need at this time, this happened… I was chatting with Mike Shoup of Antique Rose Emporium about his upcoming Rose Chat Podcast. (Release date May 24. Don’t miss it — Mike is amazing and you will be inspired. When he speaks about roses it is though he is reciting poetry!

As we talked I noted one of his favorite roses is Penelope and he told me all the great things about it (and there are many). I was doing okay and still good with my decision for NO MORE ROSES THIS YEAR… until I saw their Facebook post of a picture of an entire shrub line of Penelope roses in full bloom at the Antique Rose Emporium. 😳

I tried to get my good friend Linda Kimmel to talk me out of it – but alas she was no help. At the mere mention of Penelope, she launched into a story of how her Penelope was so beautiful and such a good rebloomer than it won an award in a rose show and beat out some very prestigious contenders and on and on she went. No. Help. At. All. 🙄

I caved. 🤦‍♀️ Wouldn’t you? Do you grow this rose? Do you ever “cave” when it comes to plants? If so, please leave me a comment. Safety in numbers. 👊🏻

Penelope now lives in Brownsburg in a prime spot where I will see her constantly. I keep apologizing to her for all the cold. It must be a shock coming from Texas to Indiana where it is even colder than usual for this time of year. 🥶

UP CLOSE & PERSONAL WITH PENELOPE:

Image of Penelope courtesy of Antique Rose Emporium Website.

Penelope is a fragrant Hybrid Musk Shrub Rose bred by a historical favorite, Rev. Joseph Hardwich Pemberton in 1924.

David Austin’s website says it is deliciously fragrant and ideal for hips. Link.

High Country Roses website says it is known for its healthy vigor and shade tolerance! Link

Note: HELP ME FIND says resist the urge to prune this rose too heavily – it doesn’t like it. Hopefully, winters won’t do that either. More info here.

BLOOM THYME

Early this week we had record low temperatures. For the first time I can remember we had a FREEZE (not frost) WARNING in May (26 degrees). I turned my garden into a POT AND TENT CITY. Was so very thankful for all the pots I have kept on hand. Almost got rid of them last fall!!!

My garden is way too large to cover everything. So I went with the veggies, peonies and as many roses as I could.

The sergeant crabapple suffered greatly.
The hostas and lilies suffered greatly.
Tips of roses not covered suffered too.

Time will tell how much other damage we had. Each day I am seeing more signs. I’ll keep you posted on how the recovery goes. A big surprise was how well the clematis did. I have a ton of clematis and many of them are covered in buds.

Yes, time will tell.

So, while the temps prevented outside fun, we went in to enjoy hot soup and homemade bread…

FRED:

Handsome Fred (the frog) is back out and conversing with the goldfish so all is well for spring!

GOING STRONG:

Bloomerang lilacs …

Dogwoods…

Pansies and violas are still bright spots. They like cool weather.

First lettuce picking! Always a great day.

DREAMS…

And, then there’s this guy — the dream maker. Mr. G is busy making furniture for my new and improved potting area! More pics to come!! It is soooo fun. I can’t wait to show you. He is the very best. #swoon

The weather app is giving out better news for the days to come – if our tender plants can survive the downpours of rain. Happy Days!

COVID-19 & GARDENING:

On the Rose Chat podcast, we are featuring stories from those in our garden community on what it is like WHEN GARDENERS SHELTER IN PLACE. Listen in to these short, insightful stories told by the gardeners themselves… LINK

Friends, wishing you safety, health, and fun in the garden.

Bloom Thyme Friday: A Match Made in Heaven

Link | June 2, 2017June 2, 2017 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

When God put Mr. G and me together, it was surely a match made in heaven. In more ways than you can imagine.

But, one of the most obvious ways is that I am a gardener and he is a builder. If I can dream it, he can build it. I’ll admit I’ve dreamed up a ton of stuff through the years!

Last year “we” decided that the main gate to our garden needed refreshing. (Well, maybe that part was “I”.) “I” wanted it to look more like the gate/trellis’ we had done for another area in the garden. The layout of the entrance is a bit different but Mr. G, the engineer, figured out just what we needed and started building in between rain storms a few weeks ago. Digging the post holes was a two-man job and our son came to lend a helping hand. From building snowmen to building gates, these two have worked on countless projects together and are a great team!

It is now complete! I just love it! Time will give it the rustic patina we love and allow for the New Dawn roses and Etoile Violette Clematis to climb and wind and add their charm.

This is New Dawn this week over the other main gate/trellis when she was going “up and over“. When she blooms she blooms. And, such a sweet fragrance too.

Behind New Dawn is the arbor with Francis E. Lester and Peggy Martin. Picture day for these was a rainy day, but they are holding up pretty well in all the rain. Good thing!

Yes, I have planted two New Dawns that will head up and over this new handcrafted “work of art” and two Etoile Clematis. Blue Angel Clematis is already getting cozy!

TA DA! The finished product…

He is a true craftsman! The roses and the clematis will have a firm foundation. And, our guests will have a “handcrafted” warm welcome!

BACK TO “MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN”

Before you get to thinking that things are toooooo perfect around here, know this… If you know anything at all about “birth order” — we are two strong-willed first borns. Need I say more! Yes, on occasion there are “strong” conversations in our world. 😉

If you want to know more about “birth order,” read Dr. Kevin Leman’s book The Birth Order Book … Why You Are the Way You Are, immediately, from page 1 you will find yourself, your kids, your friends and yes your spouse. He will shed light on how these relationships work—with all the humor you can imagine. I read it back in the late 80s and even gave it to my children when they were in jr. high! You can purchase here. A fun and helpful read for only $12!

Whatever your birth order, I wish you buckets of blooms, a sturdy foundation, a warm welcome wherever you go and an outstanding BLOOM THYME FRIDAY.

“Wood” You Look at This…

Link | July 30, 2016July 30, 2016 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

All I said was, Honey, I think I could really use a potting bench on the deck. and he said, I have some extra time, show me what you want and we’ll get started.

I looked at some pictures, decided what I wanted and before I knew it, he was at Lowe’s picking out the prettiest cedar I have ever seen. And, believe me, living with a man whose hobby is woodworking, I have seen some pretty wood in my day. Look at this…

One feature I just had to have was a dirt drawer. I have one on my “inside” potting bench in the potting shed. It is so handy!

Potting Shed Dirt Drawer (more on that here)

PROCESS…

TA DAH!!!

This little cutie sitting on the bench is my start of the Barbara’s Pasture Rose… I’ll be telling you the story of how I came to have this one soon!

Love how it fits on our deck!

So from where I sit, this is more than a potting bench, it is a work of art and a sign that I am loved. Thank you Mr. G! He knows my love language! 😉

My love of gardening and Mr. G’s love of wood fit together like a hand and glove. God knew what he was doing when he put us on the same “team.” We’ve been loving each other, supporting each other and doing projects together for almost 39 years. Oh the stories I could tell you. Like the years that I made and sold dried arrangements out of the flowers and herbs I grew. I kept Mr. G busy making drying racks of various sizes and designs to get the best results.

Then, there’s was the time we wallpapered the kitchen together … Oh no, no one wants to hear that story. #nightmare 😁

WISHING YOU LOVE, LAUGHTER AND THE SMELL OF FRESH CEDAR.

A Craftsman and His Veggies

March 24, 2013 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

With all the rosemania going on in our garden this year (we are adding 75 or so roses … I know, I know, it “seems” excessive but several of them were gifts, but more about that later), Mr. G is getting a bit concerned about veggie space. In an attempt to secure a spot for his veggies, he did one of the things he does best—built something out of wood.

Mr. G is a very good garden assistant, but his “real” hobby is wood working. He has built everything from stage sets to thousands of craft items for places like Michaels (remember the tole painting & craft era?!), to school projects for the kids and garden fences & arbors. And, who could forget the potting shed and the dirt drawer?

When a craftsman wants veggie boxes here’s how it goes…

The project started with a trip to Lowes with Mr. Bennet to pick out wood.

In the wood shoppe there is everything you need to build just about anything with wood… including a laser guided miter saw. (Whatever that is?)

Process…

I think veggie plants will be very happy in these beautiful boxes. However, I must say that I think the mini flora roses on the For Love of Roses website I was looking at last night would fit in there very nicely too. But, we won’t talk about that … at this time. 🙂