Forecast for the coming weeks: Roses!

We had a beautiful weekend and I spent almost all of it working on getting the containers planted. I didn't realize we had so many! I finally took a break and started looking around and noticed that the roses are really starting to take center stage. It is good to stop and smell the roses but is there really time to do that this time of year? I did manage to drag my weary self out late Sunday and take some photos.

The first photo is the scene toward the pergola. The rose on the left is "Buff Beauty" and the roses you see on the pergola are "Rambling Rector" and "Reve D'Or".



Another shot of "Buff Beauty" - I would put this in the top 5 of my all-time favorite roses.



As you walk through the pergola, this is the view ahead -



This isn't a rose but I had to throw this in. This is one of my favorite flowering shrubs - Beautybush (Kolkwitzia amabilis). I don't know why more people don't grow this and I never see it in nurseries.



One of my favorite views of the garden, with the Beautybush on the left, "Buff Beauty" in the center and the variegated dogwood "Wolf's Eyes" on the right.



Next to the pergola, a grouping of beared iris and Siberian Iris grow next to the rose "Gruss an Aachen".



Rugosa roses normally don't perform well in the south but "Hansa" is an exception.



Another favorite musk rose is "Moonlight" -



The pink rose on the left is "La Marne" and you see "Moonlight" again on the right.



The climbing musk rose "Prosperity" with Beautybush in the background.



If you like yellow roses, "Reve D'Or" is hard to beat -



And if you like purple, "Russell's Cottage Rose" is outstanding -



Back up near the patio, "Lamarque" graces the archway -



This pink rose is "Carefree Wonder" growing with Iris "Gay Paree" and Spirea "Goldmound"



"Sally Holmes" on another archway -



"Nearly Wild" surrounds our fountain inside the circular hedge -



And, as you can see from this photo, the roses are much fuller on the opposite side -



Stay tuned for more roses in the weeks ahead!

Forecast for the coming weeks: Roses!

Birmingham Open Gardens Tour - part 2

Here are some photos of the other three gardens that I toured on Saturday. The first was a wildflower garden in Gardendale, a suburb in north Birmingham. Most of the azaleas were past their prime but there was still plenty to see and lots of interesting wildflowers.







The second garden was very small and quite beautiful, belonging to garden designer Troy Rhone. Love those statues!




A window box on the front of the house with ivy growing in a swag design.



The last garden was spectacular with beautiful patios and seating areas surrounded by English-type gardens full of colorful flowers and charm.

A long winding driveway was bordered with oakleaf hydrangeas and autumn ferns -



Have you ever seen grass this green?



Near the front entrance, a small garden with flowers in purple and lavender -



A patio on the side of the house -







Around to the other side of the residence -



Isn't this pathway wonderful?



A small garden on the side of the house leading to the pool area. This was filled with colorful flowers like foxglove, allium and snapdragon.







Lots of dog statues -



Back toward the drive, the walls were covered with "Old Blush" roses -



A stream at the border of the property



I hope you enjoyed the photos. There will be another tour on June 13 in Birmingham. This tour will again feature the Rhone garden and 3 new gardens as well. I'm hoping to attend this one too!

Birmingham Open Gardens Tour - part 2

Birmingham Open Gardens Tour

On Saturday, I had the pleasure of taking the Birmingham Open Gardens Tour (sponsored by The Garden Conservancy). Four beautiful gardens were open to the public. It was a perfect day for garden viewing - overcast with temperatures in the low 70s.

I'm going to divide this into two separate posts because I have lots of photos to share. I want to begin with my favorite garden on the tour. The garden owner and designer is June Mays and this garden has just about everything! Situated on a steep hillside, it is divided into garden rooms and terraces that flow beautifully and offers surprises around every corner.

Next to the front entry was this beautiful parterre made of lettuces and boxwood -



As you step into the back garden, beautiful rocks frame the terraces -









This allee divides the garden -



Walking toward the top and looking back -



And at the top of the hill, one of many seating areas throughout the garden -



On both sides of the garden, beautiful pathways invite the visitor to explore -





At the top of the hill, there are beautiful views of the garden -



A seating area with a firepit -



Descending toward the patio -



And looking back up - I love this view -





Next to the patio, a touch of whimsy - a watermelon patch!



Down from the patio is yet another smaller patio which has to be a beautiful view from inside the house -



Bordering the patio is this gorgeous water feature -



On the opposite side, heading down toward the front garden is another bench backed by Viburnum Macrocephalum -



And we come to another room, one of my favorites. This one featured herbs and various other plants -





This pyramid is covered with various sedums -



Heading on down and looking back up -







Stay tuned for photos of the other gardens on the tour later this week!

Birmingham Open Gardens Tour