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
Excellent advise. I have rarely transplanted roses, mainly because I usually kill them. I do have three roses now. I have one that is a rambler that is so old I don't know for sure what it is. I have the climber White Dawn. It is a tough plant. I moved it in the heat of the summer but it lived. It was doing great then winter before last the rabbits ate it to the ground. The poor thing has struggled since. Then I have another climber named Golden Showers. It has been doing pretty good. I don't wish to move another though. I hope your rose thrives in it's new location.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, Phillip, my head was nodding "Yes!" right from the start as it all resonated with me. And when you mentioned the best buds facing inward instead of outward, I thought that had clinched the deal. But I don't think I've ever had a root ball stay intact, so I'll give you 10 out of 10 on this post.
ReplyDeleteYou make it look so easy! I know it isn't. You do a good job.
ReplyDeleteDigging out a rose is my very least favorite gardening activity. There always seems to be one root that goes straight down and is impossible to get at. Here, too, the light soil and lack of any winter chill means crown/root gall is a terrible problem--many of mine have succumbed. A rose intended to be moved ends up having to be discarded because of gall.
My 'Golden Celebration' is huge. I love it.