Azalea Rosy Lights 

reBlogged to azalea on May 7, 2006, 8:41PM

Posted by IBOY Reblogged by Old Roses to azalea on 2006-05-08, 23:31:23

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I've had a wonderful garden weekend with beautiful weather and I hope you could enjoy your gardens as well! I took some photos too, For example these of my bleeding hearts. It's my fave blooming plant at the moment: I've planted several new plants and flowers in pots and hanging baskets and I finally sowed some seeds too Auricula is blooming at the momentand tulips are still bloomingand

reBlogged to dicentra on May 7, 2006, 5:31PM

Posted by Carol Reblogged by Old Roses to dicentra on 2006-05-08, 23:28:29

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I read a few posts from the USA about a report moaning about how few young people are listing gardening as their main leisure activity.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/05/06/HOG3OIKTLK1.DTL&feed=rss.homeandgarden
Amy Stewart wrote a funny counter piece analysing the statistics in detail.I guess the journolist was bored and wanted to write something provocative even though its not true.
http://dirtbyamystewart.blogspot.com/2006/05/reports-of-gardenings-death-greatly.html

I thought about here in the UK, gardening is booming i think.. .

I think it is booming here in the US too. How else could all the garden centers stay in business? -OR

reBlogged to gardening on May 7, 2006, 6:30PM

Posted by snappy Reblogged by Old Roses to Gardening on 2006-05-08, 23:28:11

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There is not much to write except it rained all day, after a few days of hot sunshine.My outside nursery got soaked.I worried in bed last night as i heard the rain bouncing off the roof and hedgerow.Will my morning glories be okay?They are so delicate at the moment as i found out tieing them to sticks.I decapitated several growing buds.Ooops, at least they will thicken their stems and develop a good root system.
They looked okay when I checked on them.I then worried whether it would be frosty tonight.I now have the BBC weather page as a internet Fav to see Castleford weather.9 degrees C tonight, then forecast for sunshine next four days.
I will redesign my moon garden after finding Beverlys pictures (IN MY BACKYARD)

http://iowagarden101.blogspot.com/2006/05/whats-growing-in-moon-garden.html

reBlogged to moon_garden weather on May 7, 2006, 6:49PM

Posted by snappy Reblogged by Old Roses to moon_garden, weather on 2006-05-08, 23:27:01

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Latest infatuation: Mimulus x hybridus. My first Mimulus from seed has just started to bloom. What a cool plant! The family (Scrophulariaceae) resemblance is there - the flowers look something like a wilder, more open, more tropical, snapdragon. But like its snapdragon cousins, it's supposed to fizzle in the heat of summer. Oops, check that, I just looked at GRIN and Mimulus is now in the

reBlogged to seeds on May 7, 2006, 6:21PM

Posted by Entangled Reblogged by Old Roses to seeds on 2006-05-08, 23:25:54

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The literal intoxication did not start until later, but we all felt a bit tipsy watching Sandra and Jack get married at the Botanical Gardens today. What an incredible setting and what a very sweet (and mercifully short) ceremony.


The place is always under construction, but then there’s always something new to see. I honestly felt the only thing missing today was the opportunity to drink champagne while wandering through the flowers. . . .

reBlogged to coleus on May 7, 2006, 10:08PM

Posted by EAL Reblogged by Old Roses to coleus on 2006-05-08, 23:25:09

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It's another blue sky day, 67 (F) degrees outside. I can hear a neighborhood kid hitting the pavement with jumps on a skateboard a half a block away. Earlier, there was a small sound from the Speedway, drivers testing or preparing for the Indy 500 at the end of the month. . . .

reBlogged to planting on May 7, 2006, 6:48PM

Posted by Don Reblogged by Old Roses to planting on 2006-05-08, 23:24:25

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Biological Control, Chelsea Show Garden, Rock Garden Construction

Wild flowers in nursery rows
We are all looking towards biologically friendly ways of controlling pests and diseases in our gardens, and I was delighted to learn recently that the Dutch nursery industry is too. The combination of economics, pressure from legislation, and public demand, has led to some serious experimental work taking place at a research station in Horst in southern Holland. Although directed at the nursery industry, much of what is being reported from the early results of this work is very useful to gardeners. . . .

reBlogged to wildflowers on May 7, 2006, 9:00AM

Posted by GardenMessenger Reblogged by Old Roses to wildflowers on 2006-05-08, 23:23:46

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Above left: A hybrid between Angraecum Eburneum and Sobennikoffia humbertiana made by my friend Carlos Garcia Esquivel. Top right: A regular in this page, Cattleya Lulu "Hot Pink", very fragrant. . .

reBlogged to orchids on May 7, 2006, 4:19PM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to orchids on 2006-05-08, 23:22:37

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Never heard of stevia? Stevia is an herbal sugar subsitute that has no calories. It is not a chemical sweetener (that still has NOT been proven safe!) and diabetics can consume it without affecting their blood sugar. . . .

reBlogged to stevia on May 7, 2006, 5:56PM

Posted by Jennifer Hadorn Reblogged by Old Roses to stevia on 2006-05-08, 23:22:12

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Dutch Gardens delivered my replacement Ebb Tide rose on Friday. It looked much, much better than the one I received initially. I stuck the rose in the ground right away and already, it is sending up shoots. Apparently, it is also being guarded by a not-so killer rabbit. I was watching this bunny just a few minutes ago as he lounged and snoozed right next to the Ebb Tide and among the dahlia

reBlogged to roses on May 7, 2006, 4:12PM

Posted by Tamara Reblogged by Old Roses to roses on 2006-05-08, 23:21:50

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I know, I know. I can feel the chill in the air at night. But I just had the need to fill some containers.



My mom brought me a gift of coleus on Friday (which survived the cold, barely), and my son actually volunteered to come with me to the garden centre while my husband was spreading black mulch in the backyard this afternoon. I'm thinking I must have done something right to deserve this. . .

reBlogged to containers on May 7, 2006, 11:10PM

Posted by Karen Reblogged by Old Roses to containers on 2006-05-08, 23:21:27

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My green beans come up with only two leaves, and sometimes no leaves. What's wrong? (the answer).

From The Old Farmer's Almanac.

reBlogged to beans on May 7, 2006, 11:01PM

Posted by The Old Farmer's Almanac Reblogged by Old Roses to beans on 2006-05-08, 23:19:01

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We accomplished so much in our yard this weekend, will post more about that soon. However, we went up to grandma & grandpa's house today and here are a few things bloomin' and hangin' in grandma's yard. They live on a lovely pond and the weather was beautiful.


reBlogged to landscape on May 7, 2006, 8:57PM

Posted by ElizabethGardens... Reblogged by Old Roses to landscape on 2006-05-08, 23:17:57

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There was a wildflower exhibit over in Greenville, DE. Sean said he'd take me since he knew the back roads from doing volunteer work at Ashland Nature Center in that area a few years back. Well, we were up and down these narrow country roads, and my mouth was hanging open from all the gorgeous streams, waterfalls and homes literally in our backyard that I had missed seeing in 19 years! Sean said he'd take me back so I could take some photos. He's finished everything and has a good solid 'B' average. He's looking for a summer job and has applied online at a few places.
So we saw signs for a wildflower sale and did find that, thus the following photos:

reBlogged to wildflowers on May 7, 2006, 11:33PM

Posted by Dianne Reblogged by Old Roses to wildflowers on 2006-05-08, 23:17:07

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Last night I caught the end of a documentary on PBS about California agriculture and the paths that it is currently taking, with a focus on organic food and sustainable agriculture. There was a lot of Alice Waters talking about her Berkeley school lunch program, but they also showed, David Matsumoto. He wrote Epitaph for a Peach, which inspired me to plant my two Suncrest peach trees and he was talking about ‘food memory’ and how many middle-aged and older people have a food memory of what it was like to eat a juicy, ripe, fragrant peach, and what it tasted like and what it smelled like. . . .

reBlogged to organic on May 8, 2006, 1:28PM

Posted by meresy_g Reblogged by Old Roses to organic on 2006-05-08, 23:14:59

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I want a new boarder. Their is a lot to do, because old roots of neighbours Thujas must digged out. Now the boarder is finished, one week work for Mr. Wonderful!


reBlogged to gardening on May 8, 2006, 1:35PM

Posted by Sigrun Reblogged by Old Roses to Gardening on 2006-05-08, 23:12:49

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My view on grass is that it’s fine if you live on an estate suitable to be chosen as the set for a Jane Austen film. Otherwise, why bother? Recent grass-sightings at friends’ gardens have not changed my opinion one bit. Most Buffalo houses have a front yard of about 10’ x 20,’ and a back yard not much bigger. Many have less, and of course there are exceptions. (I’m not talking about the large properties on Delaware and in the Lincoln/Chapin/Rumsey, et. al. area. . .

My lawn is covered with dandelions also! -OR

reBlogged to lawns weeds on May 8, 2006, 1:11PM

Posted by EAL Reblogged by Old Roses to lawns, weeds on 2006-05-08, 23:09:58

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Oh, it's been a long haul for me and my Sears gas-driven lawnmower.  Bought used in 1985 and serviced only once, it's not only served my needs but those of several of my neighbors.  Yes, here in Crunchy Takoma we share mowers and power washers and spreaders and mulch deliveries and lots more stuff I don't know about in the child care department.  . . .

I love my cordless mower! -OR

reBlogged to lawnmowers on May 8, 2006, 2:52PM

Posted by astilbe20912 Reblogged by Old Roses to lawnmowers on 2006-05-08, 23:08:59

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I have several new tools I'm playing with right now to test and trial them. I want to emphasize I don't get paid to write a report about new plants, tools or software and I usually only write about the ones I like. In this case, I think that Fiskars has a winner in the kill-dandelion class of tools. . .

Another rave review! -OR

reBlogged to tools on May 8, 2006, 1:31PM

Posted by Doug Green Reblogged by Old Roses to tools on 2006-05-08, 23:07:45

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While I'm not looking forward to digging them up every fall, these Dahlia sure are nice looking. My basement is quickly becoming a winter vacation spot all of my non hardy plants.

reBlogged to dahlia on May 8, 2006, 12:00PM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to dahlia on 2006-05-08, 23:06:42

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At xmas time my mother asked me to try making her a duplicate of her favourite 20 year-old gardening headscarf. I made extras for myself and they are really comfortable, keeping my hair out of my eyes, my head covered from the sun, and preventing sunscreen from getting in my eyes (the cotton batting helps absorb sweat. . .

And it's attractive too! -OR

reBlogged to tools on May 8, 2006, 12:32PM

Posted by empressofdirt@gmail.com (M.J.Will) Reblogged by Old Roses to tools on 2006-05-08, 23:06:27

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If you plant it, they will come. Much of my life has been spent in the battle against the gastropods. First in the Willamette Valley in Oregon, and now in the Santa Clara valley down in California. With the salt shaker, the boot heel and even the methaldehyde pellet, I have fought long and hard. And the snails are still winning. Actually, I've always been kind of fascinated by snails.

reBlogged to pests on May 8, 2006, 11:36AM

Posted by Albert Huntington Reblogged by Old Roses to pests on 2006-05-08, 23:05:09

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Oh, for crying out loud. Rocky Mountain News is on about it too. This story is also filled with vague, unsubstantiated claims.

It begins, believe it or not, with this earth-shattering observation: "Once upon a time, people worked in their gardens and yards..." and continues, "Unfortunately, the act of garden piddling is losing ground, so to speak, to our busier lifestyles..." without citing so much as a survey of a handful of first-name-only sources as proof. ("Jane, an accountant, said. . .

reBlogged to gardening on May 8, 2006, 11:20AM

Posted by Amy Stewart Reblogged by Old Roses to Gardening on 2006-05-08, 23:04:53

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Their flowers are spent.  Now I have to wait for the leaves to brown and wither.  I planted around 100 of them over a two-year period "naturalized" on the outskirts of my cultivated area.  I love them because animals don't eat them and they are totally trouble-free. 

And here is my Irish Wolfhound, Lear, enjoying the daffodils:

reBlogged to daffodils dogs on May 8, 2006, 11:24AM

Posted by jdolangreen Reblogged by Old Roses to daffodils, dogs on 2006-05-08, 23:02:38

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I was in a virtual rainstorm of samaras (winged seed) from our neighbor's huge and ugly sliver maple which means next Spring we'll no doubt be pulling up hundreds of maple seedlings.

I noticed that not only the sliver maples were putting out a lot of seed, even a small sapling in the adjoining empty lot, no doubt a voluteer from the neighbors big tree is so covered with the samaras that it gives it a tannish pink cast. . . .

reBlogged to trees seeds on May 8, 2006, 9:45AM

Posted by Ki Reblogged by Old Roses to seeds, trees on 2006-05-08, 23:02:10

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Since both Heather and I have been mentioning butterflies so much in our latest posts, I wanted to put a quick entry together with some resources on how to create a butterfly garden. In essence, a butterfly garden should provide...

Excellent suggestions for a butterfly garden anywhere! -OR

reBlogged to butterflies on May 8, 2006, 12:26PM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to butterflies on 2006-05-08, 23:01:23

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After ignoring the dirt pit that is my back yard for 1.5 years, I've decided to take some action, rip out what's back there and start my dream garden / yard. I'm going to have a deck, a yard (with some grass alternative), and some garden beds for veggies and flowers.

I'm overwhelmed and don't know where to start.

Any books or websites on getting started. . .

Any suggestions? -OR

reBlogged to oganic on May 8, 2006, 2:24PM

Posted by My Body is a Temple Reblogged by Old Roses to oganic on 2006-05-08, 22:59:54

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I was surprised at the number of blogs that joined us this week. I thought with spring in full swing here in the northern hemisphere, gardeners would be too busy in their gardens to do much blogging. Happily, I was wrong. Before we move on to the new bloggers, I want to remind all the northern gardeners that it is fall in the southern hemisphere. When you take a break from your gardening chores, be sure to visit the blogs from Down Under where you will find gorgeous foliage pictures.

Kate Copsey is a freelance garden writer who writes about American Gardens on Suite 101. She has started a personal blog, From the Home and Garden where she plans to document her move from the Snowbelt in Pennsylvania to the Sunbelt in Georgia and all the gardening challenges that will entail. Definitely one to watch!

Julia Green has a problem. Her Kitchen Garden is too big! She grows the usual vegetables in it along with flowers and uses the rest as "nursery beds" for seedlings. Her blog, A Maryland Country Garden showcases her gardens and garden photography.

Another Master Gardner has joined us. George Kingston has started a blog on the WMMGA (Western Massachusetts Master Gardener Association) website where he shares his daily gardening activities. Also very busy, is Jennifer Hadorn in Mississippi. She works in a greenhouse and has her own greenhouse. Where does she find the time to blog? Somehow she does at Backyard Grown Gardening Blog.

I've discovered that I love niche blogs, those blogs where the author has chosen a particular topic or plant and really gets into the details. So I was delighted to discover Dawn Hill's Geranium Blog. That's "pelargonium" to everyone outside of the US. She is in Las Vegas, Nevada and provides lots of photos and growing tips. Who knew there were so many kinds?

Coincidentally, we had two bloggers from Ontario, Canada join us in the same week, each with a unique set of challenges. Tracey Farnady describes her blog, Just Your Average Garden Variety as "A brown thumb turns green, setting up in a new yard. Barrie, Ontario, Zone 5a, sandy soil, south-facing and sunny. Apparently I love a challenge". Judging from the before and after pictures, she has met that challenge!

Melissa, the Empress of Dirt, has an entirely different set of challenges. She describes her garden as: "Zone 5a, started 1996, organic, minimal watering, clay soil, flowering perennials, berries, veggies, low budget: $100/yr". How many of us could plant a garden we would enjoy on such a small budget? Melissa is a genius. Her garden is not only gorgeous, but also decorated with her own art made of "found" materials.

If you haven't visited my blog recently, you should know that I have started the "Weirdness Chronicles" for 2006. For those of you who are not longtime readers of my blog, the Weirdness Chronicles is my informal log of all of the really bizarre happenings in my garden each growing season. For instance, last year when my hosta bloomed, the flower stalk grew horizontally instead of vertically. Okay, that's just strange, but then we entered the Twilight Zone when the stalk made a sudden 90 degree turn to the right for no apparent reason. There were no obstacles or light advantage to growing in that direction. Here's the picture along with a few other weird happenings. This year's first entry is not a true weirdness because there could be a logical explanation (unlike supposedly sun-loving daylilies that insist on spreading into the shady part of the garden instead of the sunny part of the garden) but I thought it would be a fun way to start the year off. What strange things happen in YOUR garden?

Posted by Old Roses to blogs on 2006-05-08, 08:47:24

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