Skip to main content

Featured

The Garden Awakens

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

Roses already!

"Buff Beauty" (left) and "Rambling Rector" (on pergola)

The roses are a month ahead this year. I'm in the process of doing an inventory of all our roses and I plan to share photos of all of them during the next month (if I can get them photographed!). At one time, we had around 130 - 150 roses but I don't think there are as many today. There is much more shade in the garden now and that takes a toll on the roses as well as other sun lovers. 

I am not liking this early season. I haven't even had a chance to get the weeding done before the roses bloomed. Maybe the temperatures will stay in the normal range and we will at least have a long blooming period.


A hybrid musk rose named "Moonlight"




Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. Good grief! That's a lot of roses...I can barely keep the few I have thriving.

    ReplyDelete
  2. They look stunning Phillip! A month ahead of time, too. Incredible isn't it! What's going to be in bloom all summer! gail

    ReplyDelete
  3. The rose over the arch is fabulous. I just read on someone elses blog they bought Buff Beauty. If theirs grows like yours they will certainly be pleased. I can't wait to see the parade of roses in your garden. Bring em on.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Early thought they be, they are very, very beautiful. Looks like you'll be busy cataloging them all!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sooo many roses. The amount of shade has reduced our roses too. I'd love to see what your have.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What abundance! Question: are there any roses that can thrive in part sun? I live just north of Atlanta and we have two wooded acres which means NO full sun anywhere on the property. We do have one front bed with part sun and I would love to try roses somewhere!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm looking forward to pictures of your roses. These are gorgeous. Wish I had room for more roses.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your garden is always so impressive!

    ReplyDelete
  9. One one and only rose bush given as a gift when I had to put my last dog to sleep is in full bloom.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Marjorie, to answer your question, YES, you can grow many roses with part shade. The best ones for me are the hybrid musks which can do fine with 4-6 hours sun. Here are the ones that I have - http://www.phillipoliver.net/sghmroses.html

    ReplyDelete
  11. I got 'Moonlight' several years ago after seeing it on your other website and she has never let me down.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh, these are beautiful! I do hope you have a long blooming period. My roses are flushing all at different times. It's been an odd weather year everywhere this year.

    ReplyDelete
  13. So beautiful. I love visiting your blog.Your roses are an inspiration..I ordered many hybrid musk's this year and just planted Buff Beauty, Belinda and Moonlight all around my garden thanks to some of your blog posts. Looking forward to more photos.

    ReplyDelete
  14. So beautiful! I am looking forward to seeing all of your roses. Today is quite chilly here in my part of Alabama. I hope you are able to enjoy the refreshing air!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Your garden is spectacular! Such a profusion of blooms. I am looking forward to your inventory posts.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Every year I am so impressed by your Buff Beauty and Rambling Rector.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts