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Anise 'Woodland Red' ( Illicium floridanum ) A few weeks ago, I thought spring would never arrive, but now the change is astonishing. The nights are still cold (40s and sometimes even 30s) so planting tender annuals and vegetables is unwise although I have already succumbed, but covering and uncovering things gets old quickly. Someone made a wise comment last week and I must agree with them - "Don't plant anything tender until after May 1". Several plants are blooming like never before. One is the Anise shrub (above and below). I don't know if the recent tree pruning, which is allowing more sun into the woodland path, is affecting it or perhaps it is just age, but I've never seen so many blooms. Michael refers to this as "the stinky fish shrub" and I have to admit to smell of the flowers is quite unpleasant. It is so beautiful that I can overlook that. The old pink dogwood tree, which was already here, shades our woodland path and it too is prett
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Late summer roses



Roses are one of the most drought resistant plants available but when the summer temps get really hot, the flowers are minimal. In late summer and early fall, however, they usually bounce back with blooms that hang on until the first frost. This is especially true for the older roses. The above is "Weeping China Doll", a polyantha rose that is very easy to grow. I grow it as a stand-alone shrub but I've seen it grown as a climber.

To get more fall blooms, trim back roses in mid-summer and continue fertilizing through August. As fall approaches, stop giving roses fertilizer because this will prompt them to put out growth that will be nipped by frost.

"Weeping China Doll" is a very dense, twiggy rose. For a rose like this, I cut it back with hedge shears or the electric trimmer. It sounds brutal but it won't hurt the rose.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. Tallulah's Antique ClosetSeptember 11, 2010 at 9:58 PM

    That is a pretty rose indeed! I luv growing roses they can take a lot and always come back looking their best. Thank's for sharing...."J"

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  2. LesSeptember 12, 2010 at 3:58 AM

    I like your blog's new format. I hope you have not had it long, otherwise I didn't notice until this morning.

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  3. Phillip OliverSeptember 12, 2010 at 6:05 AM

    Les, I just changed the background and format - Blogger now has a template that makes it really easy.

    ReplyDelete
  4. CarolSeptember 12, 2010 at 6:57 AM

    Great tips about the roses Phillip! Looks like you are having a lovely day there! Here my fingers are freezing. ;>)

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  5. AnnelieSeptember 12, 2010 at 10:13 AM

    I've just noticed exactly what you are saying. After the hottest summer since 1855 here in MA, an old rose shrub + 2 new ones are about the only flowers still going strong (after a midsummer pause).
    Was just yesterday contemplating a purchase of some knock out roses, but didn't get them.

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  6. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)September 12, 2010 at 11:00 AM

    Phillip, Dirt Therapy and roses are synonymous as far as I'm concerned.

    You're garden continues to shine.

    I know there was a pruning experiment done a while back where identical roses were pruned both conventionally and with hedge trimmers, the result being no difference, both performed equally well.

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  7. The Redneck RosarianSeptember 12, 2010 at 6:19 PM

    Phillip,
    Great post. A very pretty rose! I like the new blog format.

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  8. MissySeptember 13, 2010 at 6:37 AM

    Roses are awesome. I need to post pictures of mine on my blog.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Mr. McGregor's DaughterSeptember 13, 2010 at 7:55 AM

    Roses really do seem to do their best in fall, and yours is a beauty. I was thrilled at how my rose blooms rebounded after the departure of the Japanese beetles, but then the stupid spotted potato beetles started attacking them. It seems like everybody likes to eat roses.

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