Foggy Flowers on Friday, and an Invitation

It's raining today.  It also rained yesterday ... and the day before.  It's supposed to rain tomorrow, too.  I'm okay with it, because the roses love the rain (and saturated soil will make for easier weed pulling next week.)

Before the rain started on Wednesday, Ruby and I went for a walk through the garden to see what was blooming.  It was overcast and a bit foggy, and I am really pleased with what this did for my photos.  I hope you like them, too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I forgot to mention here that I am having a pot luck Garden Social next Saturday, October 19th, from 2:00 to 5:00.  I am excited to show everyone the improvements in the garden (fewer weeds, more roses, and my new garden along the fence behind the greenhouse.)  If you would like to come, please send me an email so I know ahead of time who's going to be here.  Plan to bring a dish to share, and a rose (or other plant) to trade.  (It's okay if you don't have anything to trade ... there will certainly be enough extra plants so no one goes home empty handed.)

I love a good garden party!!  I hope you can come.

An Accidental Combination

I readily admit that I have WAY to many roses still living in pots.  (There are 200+ at last count, which was a while ago.)

As I was watering the other day, I noticed this:

Sally Holmes (the white rose) and Souvenir du Dr. Jamain had snuggled up together, making the most beautiful combination of colors and forms that I've seen in a while.

I think I may have the perfect spot in the garden to show this off.

(written by Hartwood Roses.  Hartwood Roses blog.)

Flowers on Friday: Earth-Kind Roses

The "Earth-Kind" designation was developed by Texas A & M University, following a grueling trial to find varieties of roses that would survive under extreme conditions of neglect.  Their web site says, "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."

The trials began with 117 rose varieties being tested.  The roses were planted in alkaline soil, watered when necessary during the first year only, never fertilized or sprayed, and only pruned to remove dead wood.  The survivors of that trial were the first Earth-Kind roses.  It is important to note, especially here in the hot, humid South, that these roses were not evaluated for their resistance to blackspot.

There are currently 25 roses that have received the Earth-Kind designation, with more under evaluation, and I grow 13 of them.  None of the Earth-Kind roses are Hybrid Tea roses.  Most are Chinas and Polyanthas ... some of which are my favorites, and many are the most blooming-est roses in my garden.


Caldwell Pink
A found Polyantha rose that may be Pink Pet.

Carefree Beauty
Shrub rose, hybridized by Dr. Griffith Buck in 1977.

Else Poulsen
Floribunda, 1924

Marie Daly
Polyantha, color sport of Marie Pavie.

Here's Marie Pavie for comparison.

Mutabilis
China rose, bef. 1894.

Duchesse de Brabant
Tea rose, 1857.

Ducher
China rose, 1869.

Cecile Brunner
Polyantha, 1881.

Madame Antoine Mari
Tea rose, 1901

Reve d'Or
Tea Noisette, 1869.

New Dawn
Large Flowered Climber, 1930.

La Marne
Polyantha, 1915

I also grow Climbing Pinkie, but I can't find a photo of it.  The Earth-Kind roses that I don't grow (yet) are Belinda's Dream, Perle d'Or, Sea Foam, The Fairy, Spice, Georgetown Tea, Souvenir de St. Anne's, and Knock Out.

If you want to know more about Earth-Kind Roses, visit the Texas A & M Aggie Horticulture web site HERE.

(written by Hartwood Roses.  Hartwood Roses blog.)