Dirt Therapy

'Mutabilis' In previous posts, I've shared the climbing roses and the David Austin roses but have neglected the shrub roses. One of my favorites is "Coral Cove". This is a rose from the "Easy Elegance" series that was introduced by Bailey Nurseries. I have found this rose to be very disease resistant and I love the glossy green leaves. Not to mention the color of the blooms! 'Coral Cove' "Coral Cove" has gotten much larger than I anticipated but I have found this to be the norm when reading rose labels. Ours is easily 5 ft. tall but it is advertised to get only 2.5 - 3 feet. It blooms like a maniac and sometimes the flower branches flop over after rain. Still, there is much to admire about this rose. Another rose in the "Easy Elegance" series is "Champagne Wishes" and I've been impressed with it as well. It got too large for the spot I put it in (in all fairness, the label does say 3-4 ft. tall). I wanted a lo...

Looking up the terraces with a little color saturation and vignette effect. Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

I suppose I am risking my gardening reputation by saying it but yes, I really like Wax-Leaf Privet ( Ligustrum japonicum ). It is the scourge of the Southeast and probably many other places as well. According to the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board, it is not considered invasive here but has a status of "monitored". We do sell it at the nursery where I work. I am not sure exactly which one we have as there are many varieties but I am guessing that it is 'Texanum' which is a more compact variety. In the five years we've lived here, our plant is only 5 feet tall. The fragrant flowers  appear this time of year (early June here in Washington state) and last several weeks. The white flower clusters are followed by berries that birds like to eat.  I probably would not have purchased one intentionally but there was one already on the property when we moved in. I transplanted it to a new spot right under the bedroom window. My favorite thing about privet is one...

A look at some of the David Austin roses in our garden. 'Golden Celebration' was moved from its previous spot where I was growing it as a shrub. There, it was a robust presence but the blooms had a tendency to flop so I am putting it next to an arbor so that it can climb. The clematis 'Chevalier' is growing with it and they make a striking combination. 'Lady Emma Hamilton' is just exquisite and I love the dark red stems. I've noticed that this rose has an unusual tendency to begin blooming from the bottom up. Blackspot has been an issue with it but not bad enough is disown her. The color is just outstanding. 'Lady Emma Hamilton' 'Lady Emma Hamilton' 'Lady of Shallot' is an early bloomer. These photos were taken about a month ago. This is one of the largest roses in the garden. It stands about 6 feet tall and 8 feet wide. 'Lady of Shallot' The reviews drew me in for 'Olivia Rose' and it is a nice, delicate, light pink c...

Climbing Rose 'Dublin Bay' and Clematis 'Jackmanii Superba' I was just looking at my rose spreadsheet and I counted 50 names. This includes all of them, including a miniature in a pot. Of course, that number is probably incorrect as I am always finding plants that I forgot to put on the inventory list. A large number of these roses are climbing types. I have always loved climbing roses, spilling over walls and arbors, and intermingling with vines and other plants. Many of the roses are the same ones I grew in Alabama and some are completely new ones for me. One of these is 'Dublin Bay' which is on the gate/arbor entry in front. This is a modern rose, introduced in 1974, and has 'Altissimo' and 'Bantry Bay' as parentage. I've seen it described as a "climbing floribunda" and it actually grows in the habit of a floribunda before achieving a more vertical status. According to my notes, I planted this on March 4, 2016 so this is its four...

It is time again for Bloom Day, when garden bloggers share photos of blooms in their gardens. Head over to May Dreams Gardens for links to other blogs who are participating. There is so much going on here in our garden. We've had a lot of rain at a time when it is usually dry. This is the wettest June we have experienced since living here. We like it, the garden loves it and it is nice having a low water bill.  So, without further ado, here are a few (but not all!) blooms from the garden - Dogwood ( Cornus kousa 'Wolf Eyes') with Rose 'Essex' and Hydrangea 'Bloomstruck' underneath An unknown Callistemon (Bottlebrush) that was a gift from a fellow gardener Cuphea 'Honeybells' Elderberry ( Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace') Hydrangea quercifolia 'Ruby Slippers' Jerusalem Sage ( Phlomis fruiticosa ) Roses 'Buff Beauty' and 'Michelangelo' and 'Mary Rose' underneath the Parrotia tree Peony 'Doreen' Thyme Gerani...