Just Some Quick Pics

This pretty girl lives in Blowing Rock, with two or three sisters. I took about 20 pictures of her and her sisters, but I don't think you'd be interested in seeing all of those pics.

Rose hips on one of my Unidentified $3.00 Roses. I do love rose hips. The pink flowers were lovely, albeit only mildly scented.

PUMPKINS! Need I say more?

This is another one of my Notso Famous $3.00 Roses. This one is a Rugosa, and has bloomed in these clusters throughout the summer.

This is the prettiest donkey I've ever seen. Mule...donkey...whatever. I wish she lived in my back yard.

Bullet got a good Clean'N'Polish for my birthday. Just like new!

Mountains in the soft fall mist.

That's all for now. I love fall. You love fall. When you go out, don't miss anything. Don't forget to stop and smell the beautiful fall air.

Random Garden Thoughts, Tips, and Photos

My most recent mystery roses have bloomed, at last. I must say, even the ones that I thought I knew turned out to be mysteries. But my favorite and most anticipated, the Rosa Rugosa, bloomed today. She has not disappointed me. She is pink and semi-double, with a fluffy yellow center. I'm very happy with her.

We've had a lot of rain this spring. I'm not complaining, mind you, because who in their right mind (and I always am) would complain about something as good as rain? But not only is this wonderful, abundant rain causing blackspot on most of my roses, it is also giving the weeds a strong foothold along the walk.

However, weeding can become a fun hunt for freebies.

For example, the Johnny Jump-ups that I planted in a pot last fall have gone to seed, and all kinds of Johnnies are coming up in the walkway.

I carefully dug these sweetie-pies up, making sure to keep the tender roots as safe and undamaged as possible. I kept a bit of dirt with each plant. There were probably 20 plants growing among the weeds! After digging them up, I added water. Later this week, I'm going to plant them in the new raised garden Bill is making for us. Useful plants are going to take up of the planting space, but I would like a few cutting flowers; these little Johnnies (named for my dear old daddy, no doubt) will be tucked in along the edges. Once planted, like their wild cousins, common violets, they will come up new from seed for several years.
Note: If I am not able to put them in the planting beds before a few days, I will put them in a large pot of potting soil, watering them well and keeping them in part shade until I am able to get them in the ground. They won't last long this way.

Our herbs are growing fabulously this year. I know what some of you are thinking. Herbs are weeds, so if the weeds are happy, the herbs are, too. Not necessarilary true, my friend. But for those of you who know how magnificent an herb plant can be in the garden, here are some easy to grow, useful and beautiful herbs:

Normally, Echinacea is a soft violet pink color, but I found these at Home Depot this weekend. I thought I'd died and gon to heaven, but thank goodness, it's just a new hybrid!

I'm going to plant them next to something blue that is also blooming this time of year, so the blooms will complement each other.

Echinacea is a medicinal herb used for asthma and other lung ailments. But it is known to raise bloodpressure. As an asthmatic (since I was four), I can assure you that the new medicines for asthma far exceed any benefits you can get from Echinacea. I grow it for it's beauty only.

Russian Comfrey has a gorgeous blue flower.

Most comfrey plants I've seen have a pink/purple flower. Comfrey makes a poltice to put on infection. Again, though I know people who use it, I never have. It's a beautiful plant. A friend gave me three tiny sprouts about 15 years ago, and they've tried to take over the garden ever sense. I just pull them up if they come up where I don't want them. Over and over and over and over, all summer. These gorgeous Periwinkle blooms are worth it, however.

Speaking of Periwinkle Blue blossoms, Borage is an herb with edible flowers. Not only are they pretty on a salad, they taste like cucumber. I have read that you can add the leaves to salad, but I've only eaten the flowers. You can toss them on your salad with Violets and Nasturtiums. Gorgeous, healthy, and delicious!

Though it's not an herb, there are still a few stray blooms of Bleeding Heart peeking over the Peonies at the back of the border. This girl is over 4 feet tall. I planted her many years ago.

 

Pineapple Sage is a delightful smelling herb used for making teas. This one was planted this year and is already quite large. I usually grow Pineapple Sage as an annual in this climate, but many years it does survive the North Carolina Piedmont's winter. After buying a new one this year, I realized that last year's plant had shown her pretty head once again. (After all, we'd had snow all winter, which protects many plants from the bitter cold.) As you see, Pineapple Sage has red trumpet shaped blooms on spikes at the end of each branch. This is the first bloom this year.

I found the cat in the garden the other day, laying contentedly on his back. Actually, at first sight, I was afraid he was sick. Then I saw this Catnip had sprung up along the garden path...it came up from seed. So El Cat-o wasn't sick. He was just happy.

Catnip not only delights your kitten, it makes a relaxing tea, but it's good for respiratory infections and asthma, tummy troubles, and many other things. (read more about it here: http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_catnip.htm)

Mr. and Mrs. Birdie have decided to build a next in the Brown Turkey Fig that grows well on the southeast side of the house. I hope that's a good idea. The hornets and bees love that fig tree come August. So do I, but I don't like the bees and the hornets, so I miss most of the fig season due to bugs. My sis Jeanie is taking allergy shots for stinging insects. I'm going to look into it.

Being allergic to bees is hard on a gardener.

The Kimberly Fern is, in my opinion, the best fern for the front porch pot. I prefer it over the Boston fern any time. Not only does it not drop its leaves like the Boston does, but it can handle the cold and the heat better. Let it dry out between waterings. If it likes where and how you keep it, it will get really large, with fronds that grow long and lush. If planted in the deep South, it may escape into the garden and become a pest (if you can consider ferns in the garden pesky...). Up here in North Carolina,

I don't think that's anything to worry about.

Last but not least, my darling, Rainy Spring days are perfect days for setting the

hanging orchids out on the stoop. I watered the ones in pots, but these Vandas can get messy when watered, because the Orchid Mix falls all over everything, and water can't be contained. I usually water them in a large bowl, but on this rainy day, I happily set them on the porch; and they were glad to be there.

That's it, honey-bun. Just some garden thoughts and pictures for you today. See ya' next time.

deber

Antique Roses

Honorine de Brabant, a Bourbon Rose.

I've been waiting for this gorgeous bloom for one year.

You've seen roses like her in the paintings of the old masters.

Honerine is full of buds, and I'll be

photographing her again later in the week.

This flower is cupped, striped and fragrant. 

An unforgettable combination.

These Lady Banks blooms cover a huge rambling plant.

The flowers aren't very fragrant (if at all),

and the Spring only blooms are each the size of a penny.

But she makes a gigantic display.

I remember my Grandmother Gray's rose garden. It was in a sunny side yard, along the road where everyone in the neighborhood could enjoy it's colors and scent.

With long stems and long lasting blooms perfect for picking, most of Grandmamma's roses were modern Tea roses or Floribundas. Being a teenager, I didn't understand her love for roses, but was delighted that my grandmother had that rose garden, because it always gave me a ready idea for Mother's Day.

A handful of sweetly scented elegance,

mostly Madame Pierre Oger,

but a sample of all blooming in our garden today.

On my 16th birthday, Grandmamma picked 16 different roses and presented them to me in a Mason jar; it was one of my most treasured gifts, ever. With all the colors, shapes and scents in one place, I acquired a new appreciation for the elegant, yet humble rose.

Champney's Pink Cluster, a Noisette, has grown thru her friend,

Lady Banks (a yellow species rose)

and is now thriving above the Lady's head.

Champney's Pink Cluster was first grown in Charleston.

I was going to dig her up after the 3rd year, when she was

leafless, thanks to a bad case of blackspot.

Then she discovered her wild but accommodating neighbor.

Turns out, that's how she grows best.

Bill showing off for the Lady and me.

Grandmamma would be proud to learn that I, too, am a rose grower. My first love, however, are the old roses; the Bourbons, Noisettes, Mosses, Damasks, Rugosas and other very fragrant roses.

Madame Pierre Oger

This rose has the most incredible scent.

I picked most of these because she's not in a

good location for me to enjoy.

Contrary to what many people think, though they can be hard to find, old roses need not always be a costly purchase. It is true that many antique roses are rare, and must be obtained through nurseries that specialize in old roses.

I bought most of my collection through inexpensive sources. This has it's advantages:
1. Cheap. I have paid no more than $5.00 for many of my old roses. If you can't afford to buy perfect specimens from garden stores and online shops, you can still acquire a limited selection of beautiful roses for low prices.
2. Readily available. In my area, old roses are hard to find in nurseries. There are many reputable sources which guarantee quality and assure that the rose you are buying is actually the rose you think you are buying. But often you have to wait for the rose to be rooted, and then shipped. (Though it's well worth it for a special, rare bloom.)

Rose de Rescht, my wonderfully scented 

Damask, is infected with a mosaic virus,

as evident in the yellow patterning on the leaves.

Purchasing discount bare root roses has disadvantages:
1. Questionable quality. Though they may be perfectly fine, when you're buying from discount stores there is no guarantee that you aren't buying a rose infected with a virus. This may or may not affect the bloom, and though it isn't contageous, it may be unsightly. It will most certainly keep you from winning a prize at the local Rose Society.
2. Questionable variety. I'm glad to see that my Champney's Pink Cluster is actually what it was labeled to be. The same with my $5.00 Home Depot roses. But the roses I bought this year from (...I don't even want to tell you where I got them!) a cheap place?

Climbing Fourth of July

This rose came from a nursery. It isn't an "old rose"

but is gorgeous, combining some of

my favorite old rose qualities, like scent, a yellow center,

the single bloom, and a deep red stripe.

When I bought them, I knew that one of these discount roses wasn't what it was supposed to be. I could tell because of the strangely prickly, dark stems and deeply grooved leaves. It's going to be either a rugosa or moss. Since I love both of those, I took my chances and bought it.

Our newest Mystery Rose:

With this black, prickly stem, I knew this wasn't

a properly labeled rose. Bill and I decided

that for $3.33, it was worth the risk. If it's a Rugosa which suckers,

it will have to be moved in the fall.

But as the other roses from that purchase acquire their leaves, I'm realizing that their leaves are all different even though four of them were supposed to be just two certain roses. I'll have to wait for the first big bloom to be able to identify them, and even then it might be impossible. Plus, they might be Teas or some new varieties, which are lovely, but not what I'm looking for.

But don't worry about our little garden, my friend. The thing about Mystery Roses is that they can be moved and relocated, or even given away. It's a little trouble, but it's worth it...I hope...

One bit of advice for planting bare root roses: buy them as soon as you see them in the store and plant them the right way (I talk about this in a previous post) right away.

Have a rosey day, my friend!

An Honorine de Brabant bloom, fully open.

Below are some links to various rose sources and information:

http://www.antiqueroseemporium.com/
http://http//www.vintagegardens.com/
http://www.heirloomroses.com/
http://www.rose.org/
http://www.ars.org/

Books on Old Roses and Antique Roses (Many of these are out of print, but can be found through Amazon and other on-line sources):
100 Old Roses for the American Garden (Smith & Hawken) by Clair G. Martin (my favorite)
The Random House Book of Old Roses by Roger Phillips
The Fragrant Year, Scented Plants for Your Garden by Helen Van Pelt Wilson (out of print and no pictures, but my sister Jeanie's favorite)
Best Rose Guide: A Comprehensive Selection by Roger Phillips and Martyn Rix

PS: Later this week I'll show you how to root a rose (or other plant) cutting. I also want to talk about potted herbs. See you then.

How to Transplant a Rose

Above, Rose de Recht, planted "bare root" this spring, this one has been blooming continuously. The medium sized flowers have a wonderful fragrance. Though there is some virus in some of the leaves, she is still a beauty, and my favorite of the new "old" roses I planted this year.

How to transplant a rose bush:

It's best to do this in the fall or spring, but can be done other times, if you have no other choice. (If it's really hot, I might give it some relief from afternoon shade with a proped up piece of plywood or an old towel. Make sure it won't blow over onto the rose bush in a high wind. If it's really cold, what in the heck are you doing gardening now? You can put a heavy load of mulch around it which will generate some heat and help it survive the chill.)

1. When you dig the rose (check laws in your area if it's not from a place where you have permission) be sure to get as much of the root system as possible. You may prefer to divide the rose, taking only one side of the plant and roots. Also get a good amount of dirt from around the bush. You'll need it later. Being planted in familiar soil (with local bacteria, etc.) will help it to survive the transplant.
2. Trim away any large branches to about one foot above the soil line. This will allow the rose to put most of its energy into developing new roots instead of having to support large branches and leaves. Leave some leaves, if possible, and any new growth at the base.
3. Dig a large hole, easily big enough to accommodate the root system and some added soil. As you dig, you may want to put the dirt onto a garbage bag so it won't leave a mess around the plant. Bill and I, being reckless, never do that.
4. Once you've removed the soil from the hole, dump a couple of large scoops each of peat moss or root starter mix, manure (from the garden store or from the pasture, if you're lucky enough to have a farm) and rich top soil maybe with some leaf mold into the new hole along with the dirt you salvaged when you dug up the rose. If you have heavy clay soil, add a scoop or two of sand for drainage.
5. With a shovel, mix it all up well. Then remove enough so that the rose can be planted back up to the soil line it had when you dug it up. Pack the remaining soil into a mound within the hole so the roots will fit over the mound.
6. Set the roots on the mound. You are going to want the planted area to form a sort of "well", slightly lower than the surrounding earth, so that water will sit long enough to soak into the roots below. So make sure that the roots will be deep enough to where the old soil line at the base of the rose is slightly below the surrounding earth.
7. Place the soil mixture around your rose, distributing it evenly. Pack it down with your foot as you go so the soil will make contact with the roots of the rose. Don't forget to leave the well.
8. Top with a good layer of mulch, to hold in moisture and protect the roots from too much heat or cold.
9. Water your acquisition well. I water once so the water comes up to the edge of the well, and soaks in. Then I water at least two more times the same way. That way, I am sure that the water will go all the way down into the soil in the entire hole. For the first few weeks, I don't let it dry out too much. Water when the soil is dry on top, but still slightly moist an inch deep. Water in the morning to prevent black spot or other such ailments, but if you must water later in the day, try to avoid getting water on the leaves.
10. If you are really worried about root development, use a rooting hormone (such as Root Tone)  in your first or second watering. Follow the directions on the package for transplanting.

And as every fancy-pants Rose Rustler says when she's all done plantin', "Voila!...pardner.  I'm gonna just mozie along to the sank and get this here dirt out from under my fangernails." (Do be sure to get your hands and fingernails cleaned thoroughly using soap and a nail brush.)

So long for now.

Rustlin' Abandoned Roses

There it was, a rusty old crane at the end of an old dirt road dotted with a couple of worn tires, various common weeds, some interesting rocks, one frog and a wide assortment of buzzing, biting insects. The perfect subject for daughter Joie's boyfriend, Donavan's photography assignment. Grandson Nate immediately dove for the frog; Joie immediately dove for cover from mosquitoes in the car. Bill went exploring along the river bank, and Donavan started snapping photos.

At first, being an artist, I examined the composition possibilities for the crane. Then I spotted something from the corner of my eye. Delicate fresh red foliage in a ditch filled with rubbish and weeds. I carefully crept near enough to investigate. It was the foliage of a rose. Obviously an old rose. An abandoned and unloved rose who had once graced the garden of some now demolished old home. She must have been bulldozed to the side when the road was made, and now she was begging me to save her from certain extinction.

Seeing that this faded beauty had only brand new growth sprouting from a few large and long dead canes, I used my thumbnail as a knife to cut off a pair of those new red shoots. But there was a big problem. The fragile red canes were already wilting after just a couple of minutes. Because Bill likes a tidy vehicle, there was no left over bottle of water with which to refresh the canes. Luckily, we were all desperate for water ourselves, so we bought some at a gas station up the road. After a bit of pleeding with the storekeeper, I was allowed to take a styrofoam cup to put my new acquisition in, with some of my own bottled water.

I can't understand how none of my companions found my new friend as interesting as I did. As we headed to River Bend Park, I examined her intently. Her canes are reddish green, with mossy growth at the stem around each new leaf. The new leaves themselves, are thin and folded and curly at the tips. They open to be a deep red-brown. I worried that new shoots wouldn't root this time of year, and finding scissors and a hatchet in the back of Bill's car (the scissors were mine, and the need to have a hatchet handy at all times is a remnant from Bill's Boy Scout days) I told him that I'd like him to dig up a small section of the rose when we went back for the "later in the day" photos that Donavan needed.

Heading home, we returned to the abandoned lot. As Donavan went right for the crane, I grabbed my scissors and Bill, his trusty hatchet. He didn't question. He didn't complain. (He is the best husband a girl like me could ever have!) He just climbed into that ditch and started hacking at the roots. All of the roots. I refused to succomb to a sense of guilt for leaving nothing behind, and a fear of responsibility (now I must succeed in making her live!). Bill dug her up, dead canes and all. Then he got a full grocery bag of the soil she'd been growing in, and stuffed her right on top of it. Dousing her bare roots with a bit of H2O, we headed home.

After pouring over all of my rose books, I can't find any foliage like hers. And examining the growth on the root we dug, I suspect that she may be two roses. One that was planted there on purpose and the other, perhaps a sport of it or a return to some older rose.

It's funny how your brain can train your eyes to spot a jewel amongst a passle of weeds. My little brain has trained my eyes to spot plants; all kinds of plants. I identify Joe Pye Weed, Goat's Beard and May Apple in the woods and along the shore of creeks and rivers. I find old herbs like wild mustard, sorrel, cinquefoil and Angelica in meadows. Best of all, I can spot an old abandoned rose just about anywhere.

I have read about "rose rustlers" who rescue old roses from certain extinction. I suppose I am a bit of a rose rustler myself. (I blogged about one earlier this year, on my art blog Little Pink Spaceship Gazette at deberklein.com.) This old girl in the picture is right happy about it, too. She deserves to live; even a place in my garden. And later, if she turns out to be a newly discovered "old rose", a moss or perhaps a long lost damask, I'll see to it that she gets spread around to the right people. If it turns out that she is just a common wild Carolina rose, Shakespear's words come to mind. "A rose by any other name does smell as sweet." I will still enjoy her. The foliage already has made her worth the rescue.

See youn's later, as they say 'round these here parts!

deber

By the way, if any of you could help me identify this foliage before a flower comes about, please feel free to comment! I'll be ever-so-grateful.

(And added later) She is now planted in the yard, right outside the garden fence, where I can water her from the front porch. I know this isn't the best time to transplant, but I think she's going to make it.