The Western New England Iris Society is having its annual Iris show at the Community House in Shelburne on Sunday, July 5 from 1-4 pm. This is an opportunity to see a variety of beautiful Japanese irises and learn about their needs and culture. Japanese irises have a flatter more horizontal flower and bloom slightly later than Siberian and bearded irises. I always thought they required a wet site to thrive, but Kathy Puckett told me this…
Kathy Puckett is a collector. She has hundreds of orchids and hundreds of daylilies. She has lilies and roses and peonies. But right now she is celebrating her Siberian irises. Blue, purple, yellow and white. Great clumps of healthy gorgeous plants. When I asked if she had a favorite flower family (it was obvious she could never choose a favorite individual flower) she hesitated. “I love them all for different reasons. Sometimes I love the flower, or…
A little Madness in the Spring Is wholesome even for the King, But God be with the Clown-- Who ponders this tremendous scene-- This whole Experiment in Green-- As if it were his own! Emily Dickinson We had our moment of madness at Sunday's Rose Viewing, and I am not fool - or clown - enough to believe the roses are all my own. With the help of my friend and Dickinson scholar, Martha Ackmann, I…
There was so much sun at the Annual Rose Viewing that many Viewers were happy to come into the Cottage Ornee for lemonade, cookies and cool conversation. Of course, at this point in the afternoon you will notice that the cookie plate is empty. My daughter Diane who came to enjoy the roses was hard put to keep the punchbowl and cookie plate filled. Not to mention the strawberry bowl. Fortunately, Cheryl, far right, brought one of her…
Passionate Nymph's Thigh has been delighting gardeners, and possibly lovers, ever since the 15th century. Possibly longer. The color made the French think of a passionate nymph's thigh and called it Cuisse de Nymphe, but the English found that excessive and vulgar. Maiden's Blush was their reading. This is a perfect alba rose, blushing pink, a delicious perfume and slightly blue grey leaves. She has amazing vigor and stamina, having survived under the roof line of our New England…
Applejack was one of Dr. Griffith Buck's first successes at hybridizing hardy roses at Iowa State University. By the time he retired at 70 in 1986 he had created about 90 hybrids, many of which are still available. I planted my Applejack in 1981. Other Buck hybrids I planted did die, but I think it was probably improper planting on my part. Last year I planted Carefree Beauty and it has just bloomed. At first I…
Pam Oakes assures me that neither her house, nor the lush surrounding gardens existed in 1976. When she and her husband Gordon first walked this piece of land by a pond once used for harvesting ice, they could not even imagine where to place a house until a friend bulldozed a stand of sumac and said “Build here!” They did and she said it is a perfect site. The gardens grew and continue to grow. Oakes said…
My friend BJ asked me how the roses were doing when she visited this afternoon. And I said, "I'll show you!" and shoved her across the lawn. "This is what one rose is doing, and I'm not going to take it anymore!" Of course, I'll have to wait until after the Rose Viewing. Maybe someone will know who this imposter rose is. Do you? If you want the story about making this, my first video, you'll have to…
As I prepare for this year's Annual Rose Viewing, I thought I'd re-run a tale of preparation in 2006, another wet spring. I have been working all week to prepare the garden for the Annual Rose Viewing which we hold the last Sunday in June from 1-4 pm. In between rainstorms my husband has mowed lawns and trimmed, moved potted plants and been at the ready to weed and prune. As I’ve worked, trimming the grass around the…
'It's raining, raining, raining. I hear the raindrops fall.' The lawn is sodden, the Sunken Garden is a swamp and the vegetable garden is sulking as morning temperatures are still in the 50s. And yet, and yet, the rains have mostly been gentle and the roses have drunk their fill. Applejack, at the head of the drive is all grace, and the rugosas are blooming fragrantly. Rose buds are swelling on every bush. I think this will be…