The herbicide I sprayed the other week has done an amazing job of killing most of the weeds ... in the HALF of the field that I sprayed. I had to stop at that point, and I never got back to the job.
Dead and dying weeds are a good thing.
I turned around 180 degrees, snapped another photo, and this is what I have left to deal with. How can the roses struggle so much in the horrible heat and drought we have had this summer, while weeds thrive?
Believe it or not, there's a gravel path under this mat of fluffy weeds.
The Damasks and Gallicas are happy and are growing big and tall and wide ... a bit too wide, so they'll need to be trimmed a bit. Uh oh, there's more of that fluffy mat of weeds. There are other weeds here, too, but not too bad.
Morning Glories are trying to regain their foothold in the row of Chinas. This is easily controlled by pulling them out, and spraying the remains with herbicide.
I'm seeing far fewer Japanese Beetles now. The worst of the season definitely seems to be behind us.
I found this beautiful cluster of flowers on 'Dancing Doll'. This rose is really super in every way.
Bees like her, too.
I was surprised to find this cluster of flowers on 'Blairii No. 1'. It's supposed to be a once-bloomer, and it has never repeated for me here. The flowers are fried and WAY past peak, but I'm thrilled with them anyway.
'Summer Snow' doesn't seem to mind the heat much at all.
'Friends Forever' is putting out another set of flowers. I planted this rose last fall, having heard good things about it from a rose friend of mine. I like what it's doing so far.
When anyone asks me how my garden is doing, my answer lately is, "It looks like crap." In truth, there are parts of it that really do look like crap, but this morning's walk-around shows that there's almost as much positive out there as negative. It's nice to put it into perspective.
If you'll excuse me, I have some more weeds to kill.
