I think it speaks for itself. It has been blooming steadily since December but hasn't made a ring of flowers. Guess I should just enjoy what I have and stop expecting too much.
reBlogged
to cacti
Posted by Jade Reblogged by Old Roses to cacti on 2008-02-06, 07:22:09
Found some little snowdrops in bloom this week and the buds are swelling on the chasmanthe. A few more days of sunshine and the colors will start dazzling our eyes! The daylight is noticibly longer now too. This is always a good sign and a reason to jump for joy. (Although, jumping for joy right now would have muddy consequences) I hope to jump for joy tomorrow night when Barack Obama
wins the primary in California. My p.u. has sported his bumper sticker since last August, my front yard would love to join in with an Obama for President sign soon. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, this is Mom's green rose; Rosa chinensis viridiflora. It isn't going to win any beauty pagents but it has a very interesting personality. Curiousier and curiouser, the deer have left this variety alone.
reBlogged
to winter
Posted by weeder1 Reblogged by Old Roses to winter on 2008-02-06, 07:22:00
It's been tradition for the last few years to make at least one trip to the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, in the middle of winter. We need this to preserve our sanity, because it's this time of year that we are bored with winter and needing spring in the worst way. The conservatory conjures up our memories of warmer weather with its colorful blooms and lush green plant life. . ..
I built this espalier frame during December, using three-quarter inch electrical conduit and fittings from chainlink fences. I've planted two kinds of tropical apples (Dorsett and two Annas) and one pear tree (Hood). The length of the trellis is about thirty-five feet. . . .
The list of 2008 Washington Gardener Photo Contest Winners is now posted on our web site here. The winners were shown and announced on Saturday, 1/26 at the 2008 Washington Gardener Seed Exchange. They will all be published in the March/April 2008 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine. They will also be on display at an upcoming photo show so you can view them in superb quality. . . .
Skip and I took a walk through the community gardens today. I thought I'd take some pretty garden photos, but no such luck. Its still dull, dark and snowy. Seems to be some real nice garlic in one garden. Idle tools in others. All the plots are still sleeping.
Initially funded by the MacArthur and Sloan foundations to pay for the first 2 1/2 years, the Encyclopedia of Life intends to make available on the web all information available on the Earth's 1.8 million known species. The new encyclopedia will fill about 300 million pages and will include information from scientists as well as amateur observations which will be placed in a clearly marked side page. . .
reBlogged
to environment
Posted by Ki Reblogged by Old Roses to environment on 2008-02-06, 07:18:05
I'm a bit embarrassed about my ignorance regarding the Verbena Bonariensis. I've been thinking all along that it was a perennial here in my zone 5 garden. After posting my picture "gallery" on the Verbena and reading Jodi's comment, I looked it up and saw, that it indeed, is only hardy in zones 7-10. . . .
When I moved out of the city I thought that I was out of the grass mowing business forever. However I am belatedly coming to the realization that this is not to be.
Most of our little 8 acre spread is woods and little or no grass grows under this canopy. Even around the house itself [...]
reBlogged
to lawn
on Feb 4, 2008, 9:11PM
Posted by Bill Reblogged by Old Roses to lawn on 2008-02-06, 07:01:45
I'm certainly no Picasso, Da Vinci or Rembrandt but I do recognise their talent. And I'm no Richard Avedon when it comes to photography. But what I lack in ability I make up in appreciation. . .
reBlogged
to gardens whimsy
on Feb 4, 2008, 4:22PM
The house mouse today grabbing some birdseed.I was stood outside today and he still ran backwards and forwards. Under the Stone paver three smooth grooves showed his favourite routes onto the border. He is a Yorkshire mining mouse emerging from clay soil under the slabs. . . .
reBlogged
to flowers pests
Posted by snappy Reblogged by Old Roses to flowers, pests on 2008-02-06, 06:56:52
As Lloyd Grossman said "who would live in a house like this?". This was inspired from Kylee's post about someones household items that signify they are a gardener. http://ourlittleacre.blogspot.com/2008/01/can-you-tell-im-gardener.html I had a quick look around at what signs of Gardening madness there was in the house. Mine are much more obvious than pictures, ornaments, and garden hats. I do have a hat though, a sheepskin flat cap, very Yorkshire or Del Boy. . . .
reBlogged
to gardeners tools
Posted by snappy Reblogged by Old Roses to gardeners, tools on 2008-02-06, 06:56:23
Ever the optimist, not even the darkest days of Winter, which brings its mixed bag of rain, hail, sleet and snow, can ever dampen my spirits as long as I can be part of the silence and observe the wonderful array of birdlife which visits the Barleycorn garden. . . .
I love the drama of these roses -- all gold and satin. They are pinkish when in bid, and white when blown. This bush is about four years old, on 'Fortuniana' rootstock. It blooms most of the year, but most dramatically in spring.
On January 21, I posted about the wheat grass I had seen growing at a local nursery. After finally finding the Soil Moist granules, I was able to do this little project myself. . . .
Do you like cutsie plant names? On the Garden Writers list-serve I belong to there's been a lively exchange about Pink Winky, the new hydrangea (shown left) that's being promoted heavily this season.
Pink Winky is a Pee Gee cultivar with big two-toned, white and pink flowers. According to Proven Winners, the plant has "strong upright red stems that hold the large, 12-16 inch blooms up so you never get the drooping Pee Gee Hydrangea look. The flower heads continue to grow throughout the season and as the older flowers turn dark pink the new flowers continue to emerge white. The effect is stunning.". . .
One of the interesting aspects of gardening in a woodland is that a number of wild flowers were here when I started the garden, and all of them have at least persisted, and most have thrived... in fact some have made themselves quite comfortable by trying to take over one or another garden bed. One of these pioneers that has rambled about here and there, but has not been obnoxious about it, is the woodland phlox, P. divaricata. Here it is growing at the foot of my statue of Pan that I showed a few days ago, snuggling in between a heuchera and a variegated euonymous. Something I've come to appreciate is that this little phlox never looks out of place... which is a good thing, since it's popping up in quite a few spots.
reBlogged
to wildflowers
Posted by IBOY Reblogged by Old Roses to wildflowers on 2008-02-06, 06:39:51
Despite this morning's brief snow flurry, Spring is nearly upon us. That means that the 1,000 Daffodils and 400 Crocus which dozens of neighborhood volunteers planted along Cortelyou Road last fall will soon bloom. The crocuses are already up and...
A rose by any other name, sure it would smell as sweet, but it would also have thorns that prick and jab mercilessly and make me think pruning is going to be one of my least favorite gardening chores. Ouch, those suckers hurt!. . .
reBlogged
to pruning
Posted by Christa Reblogged by Old Roses to pruning on 2008-02-06, 06:35:05
Sometimes that’s not a bad thing. (I’m not talking about Superbowl Sunday chili binges and consolation snacks for sad Patriots’ fans.) Deliciously spring-like temperatures and the weekend’s warming sun have started plumping up the buds - some fit to burst.
This willow in the nursery (labeled Salix ‘Mt. Aso’) couldn’t wait another moment to bust out its fiberoptic glow plugs and thewitch hazel (Hamemelis x intermedia ‘Diane’) has begun uncreaking its crimps like an arthritic yogi. . . .
reBlogged
to shrubs
on Feb 4, 2008, 4:16PM
Posted by Kris Reblogged by Old Roses to shrubs on 2008-02-06, 06:34:42
I love it when functional garden structures do double duty like this bold, red, raised vegetable planter. Placed at an angle in the corner of this yard, the five-foot tall attached lattice obscures an ugly view of the nieghbors garage. The main function of the lattice is to hold up ...
reBlogged
to containers
Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to containers on 2008-02-06, 06:25:18
The Orchid collection at Planting Fields was beautiful and bountiful. There were some that I hadn’t seen before and some common ones. These two Calanthe Orchids were really out in force and I couldn’t help snapping a few photos as I strolled by. The first two pictures are Calanthe ‘William Murray’. I didn’t find much reference material on this cultivar but did find out that the genus Calanthe has about 200 species, most of which are native to Asia. The 200 species includes both evergreen and deciduous plants. That is a new one on me, as I didn’t know there were any deciduous Orchids. . . .
Here in New Orleans, we are in the midst of Mardi Gras partying that all stops at midnight tomorrow, Fat Tuesday, the day before Lent.
This time of year, our temperatures begin to warm and birds begin their migrations north. This swamp bird has all the water he needs in which to bathe and they do like their daily baths. If you are not near water, try to provide water for your birds to drink and bathe in. . . .
reBlogged
to birds
Posted by Jan Goldfield Reblogged by Old Roses to birds on 2008-02-06, 06:23:46
If I told you that you could grow a plant named both after an eagle as well as a dove, would you be interested?
I would hope so because it is an easily grown perennial that will self-sow and delight you for years by popping up here and there throughout the garden. Aquilegia is the name of this delightful plant – aquilegia comes from the Latin word aquila meaning ‘eagle’ and if you look at the individual petals, you can see the resemblance to an eagle. Well, OK, you have to use your imagination but I can see one. Columbine is the other name for this plant and this comes to us because the upside-down flowers resemble a circle of drinking doves. . . .
reBlogged
to columbine
on Feb 4, 2008, 11:42AM
Posted by Doug Reblogged by Old Roses to columbine on 2008-02-06, 06:22:44
I found this in the mailbox the other day. This is from a shop that sells stuff for the garden and pets, so that's a double whammy as far as I'm concerned. I started leafing through it, to see what they got on offer as they sometimes have very good deals on plants and other stuff for the garden. And they got some nice stuff for pets too which is of the utmost interest to the Bliss team. . . .
via The Balcony Garden on 1969-12-31, 19:00:00
