Rose Delights

“It was June, and the world smelled of roses. The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside.” 

― Maud Hart Lovelace, Betsy-Tacy and Tib

As June drew to a close, the roses became the star of the show amongst the shrubs at the greenhouse and in the city, roses blossomed eagerly. The following collages are a mix of both locations where roses stole the spotlight.  

“I feel as if I had opened a book and found roses of yesterday sweet and fragrant, between its leaves.” 

― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of the Island

This post is in honour of my mom who taught me the love of gardening and especially the beauty beyond the thorns.  Today her garden has a dedicated rose bed that fails to contain her enthusiasm for this magnificent shrub, nor mine as I love to add to her collection.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to my hubby!

Last evening we gathered together as many of us as we could and went out for supper in celebration of Father's Day.  The meal was delicious, the service fabulous, and the company even better.  We missed you S, K and C.  BTW, if you ever make it to a State and Main restaurant, have the Jalapeño Mashed Potatoes and the Chicken Club Wrap!  Soooo good!!

A fact I learned today:  Did you know red and white roses are the official flowers of Father's Day?

In memory of all fathers who are with us in spirit and memories, and to those who miss them still.

Mosaic Monday - Celebrating Summer With Blooms

I was thrilled to find an upright rattan planter to match the balcony planter that my husband installed on the railing this spring.  Falling in love with this brilliant blue salvia, I planted it in the rattan planter where it adorns the landing at the front steps.  I'm debating on bringing it up by the front door but am wondering just how much partial sun a salvia can get by on and still bloom like this.  The front faces east so by 2pm it is in shade by the front door.

Thrilling update!  The Red Prince Wiegela that I had to cut back severely due to dieback, now has flower buds!!!!  Both the hydrangeas are covered in miniature ball-shaped blossoms.  I'm pretty certain  these are Annabelle hydrangeas, a super hardy variety for our area!

I moved the planter with the palm, gerbera daisies and osteospermum to the back.  I took a chance on having adequate light by the front door but once the existing blooms expired, there was an abundance of lush foliage and very few flower buds.  So off it went to the back deck where it faces west and will receive a lot of sun.  Conundrum, it's very windy back there and the palm won't be too happy about that.  The white miniature rose my son gave me for Mother's Day is blooming happily in full sun and the dahlia is bursting with blooms!  I don't usually go for a lot of colour in my gardens but since the yard is all grass in back and planted with hydrangeas and wiegelas in front, I have only planters in which to garden so I am using a lot of colour and enjoying it in the brilliant hot west sun.  (If only the rain would abate and we'd actually get some nice sunny days!)

Mary is hosting Mosaic Monday.  Won't you stop in for a visit to The Little Red House?

New Research on Powdery Mildew and Lighting is Promising

Once a week I receive Jim Hole's Notebook, a virtual newsletter written by Jim Hole and distributed by Hole's Greenhouses in St. Albert.  Under the Science and Technology section, I read the most interesting and promising bit of research that I've seen in some time and it regards powdery mildew on roses.  Here is what it said,

"A Gardener’s Red-light District?  Researchers in Norway have discovered that exposing roses to red light during the night reduces the incidence of powdery mildew. Apparently, red light inhibits germination of powdery mildew spores. Even a short period of exposure can be quite effective. How well this research will translate into the real world of gardens is tough to say. But who knows? Perhaps night lighting will become one more pest-fighting tool for gardeners."

Are you ready to go out and buy red night lighting for your rose garden?  Believe me, I am tempted!

Hot Cocoa Rose (floribunda)

Happy Mother's Day!

photo by Shawn in Vancouver

Wishing you bouquets of roses, laughter, and the company of loved ones today. 
Happy Mother's Day!

Now I Lay Thee Down to Sleep

Photo courtesy of Growquest.com
"Hot Cocoa" Floribunda Rose

It's that time of year here in Edmonton.  The time when gardeners do their last preparations in the garden before winter.  This often involves mulching tender perennials and roses, installing burlap screens around cedars and hydrangeas, raking of leaves and general clean up of garden beds.

If you have hardy roses, ie. Morden series of roses or shrub roses, very little must be done to winterize them.  Water in well, if very tall cut back by 1/3, and mulch if desired.  Tea roses, on the other hand, require more attention to prepare them for old man winter.

How do I overwinter tender roses?  The following advice is provided by Jim Hole of Hole's Greenhouses in St. Albert:

"In our area, tender roses need protection to successfully overwinter. Ideally,

cut them down (to 25–30 cm) and mulch at the same time. This should be

done when the ground is frozen but before it snows, which is usually in late

October. However, given how unpredictable the weather can be, it’s often more

convenient to cut back the roses earlier (about mid October) and then mulch

when the ground freezes. In either case, make sure the roses are well watered

before the ground freezes. Use at least 30 cm of peat moss, and top with soil

to prevent the peat from blowing away (you can also wet the top of the peat

to freeze it in place). During the winter, shovel snow on top of your mulch for

added insulation."

Be sure when screening your cedars and dwarf Alberta spruce that your screen of burlap does not touch your tree.  Rather, it should be a few inches away from the foliage and tall enough to act as a sunscreen against the strong January through March sun.  This also forms a shield against drying winter winds.  It is also advisable to spray the entire evergreen with an anti-dessicant spray such as WiltPruf to the point of runoff.  This spray helps retain the moisure in the needles, thus adding protection against wind and sunscald.  Remember to water before the ground freezes.  Here in Edmonton it is sometimes necessary to water trees, shrubs and evergreens during the winter should we have a dry spell.  We had one winter a few years ago with minimal snowfall and bare ground in January and February.  It was necessary at that point to water to prevent stress to the trees.  The ground wasn't frozen solid, thus moisture was soaked in.  When the ground froze, a block of ice acted as protection against upheaval in the spring thaw/freeze and, as it melted, provided necessary moisture for the plants.

For the Love of Roses

Morden Blush Rose

Rose garden, southern Alberta photos by Anne M.

My Morden Blush Rose

In a Southern Alberta Garden

poppies

rose garden just coming into bloom

young ninebark

photos by Anne M.

Canadian Gardening Ezine Blogging Contest

I recently entered a contest with Canadian Gardening to blog on their site.  Here is my entry:

My husband loves to remind me that when we were first married I killed all the plants he gave me! That is until he bought me a philodendron called the sweetheart plant! It grew to monstrous proportions, cascading down the wall, across and beyond! It and my sanseviera rewarded my tenacity despite my toddler's attempts, either accidentally or on purpose, to bring it to its demise by repeatedly dumping it from its pot! I am convinced the sanseviera is foolproof!

Years later; with a home gardening course, my own joys and experiences in my gardens and a job at a local greenhouse; I am much better equipped as I expand my horizons and the beds in my garden. Who said you need grass afterall? When I come across a plant that calls out to me to come home, I just remove a little more sod and widen the beds to accommodate the willing. Aren't you the same?

I yearn for spring to feel the coolness of soil under my hands as I weed and widen the everchanging landscape. Introducing new specimens and coaxing the less willing along. Will my Endless Summer Hydrangea actually bloom this year in my zone 3 garden? Tomato fertilizer, soil acidifier and patience in hand, I hope to coax those blossoms to fruition. Will I succeed? You will have to read my blog to find out. I love the challenge of pushing the boundaries in the garden. Trying tender perennials. Introducing new specimens. I love my rare three-flowered maple! A slow-grower, its branches cascade over the garden pond shading the fish within. Hydrangeas, topiaries, rare plants, roses and new introductions all abound within. I'd love the opportunity to share with you, my fellow enthusiasts, the joy, the serenity and accomplishments and, well, mistakes (we all have them) with you. Won't you join me here in Western Canada? Come sit awhile and we will learn and grow together here on my blog. Furry friends welcome!

Your fellow garden addict,

Shirley

 

Comments are welcome on their contest site.  The link is:

http://bloggercontest.canadiangardening.com/