Just about everyone knows that I am a reader. Therefore there is nothing (well, almost nothing) I like better as a gift than a book. When I had regular paid employment I always prayed that the day after Christmas would be on a weekend so I could devote that day to reading my Christmas book. And I’ll confess, I often bought myself a book – for just in case, but I never needed to worry. Here are some…
Nan of Letters from a Hill Farm, up there in Maine, is the winner of Right Rose Right Place and 2 dozen CowPots. Nan is a voracious reader as well as enthusiastic gardener so I know both will be put to good use. Congratulations Nan. Happy reading and planting. Thank you all who have visited and helped me celebrate my second anniversary as a blogger. These two years have brought me gifts I could never have imagined, so…
And the wind is blowing. I barely made it out to the hen house and back. This is a day for staying home, browsing through Right Rose Right Place by Peter Schneider and considering what roses I want to add to The Rose Walk in the spring. My daughter Kate in Texas suggested I build a wish list on the Antique Rose Emporium website. So I did. I hope someone looks. You all have a chance to win that…
All those who think roses are finicky plants that require fussing and lots of chemical sprays for disease and bugs will be surprised when they visit the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) in the Bronx with its more than 3000 healthy roses. I visited the garden last week and spent an afternoon with the Curator, Peter Kukielski, the man who has supervised the renovation of the garden over the past…
This red Austin rose is climbing the fence at the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden at the New York Botanical Garden. It is just one of the more than 3000 roses growing in the newly designed garden with the goal of showing all visitors what roses can be grown in that climate without a lot of fuss. I got to spend the afternoon with Peter Kukielski, the Curator of the Rose Garden, who arrived in New York from Atlanta…
My friend Peter and I drove into Manhattan for a day of wandering and listening to the symphony of the city, so it was appropriate and easy to park under Lincoln Center. I got to see all the changes and new construction. Then we were off to the subway and downtown. We saw lots of flowers . . . flowers on clothes, flowers on silk brocades (lots of flowers at Pearl River), flowers on pillows, and flowers on china. As…
The week of rain and wind have blown all the trees nearly bare, but the rain was much needed, and mild weather in between allowed the garden clean up to continue. Now that so much is bare I can notice and admire details. The few leaves left on my weeping birch can be seen individually, the color and form better admired. I also have to wonder about the brain of this birch. Surely it has a brain, or why else would…
The Monday Record was intended to show what I had accomplished in the preceeding week, possibly including Monday itself. However, this week I spent a lot of time looking out the window at rain, and wind, and even snow muttering that if I were a Real Gardener I wouldn't let poor weather stop me from attending to all the chores that needed attending to! After five days of below freezing tempeatures, the low temperature today was 27 degrees. After the…
Katarina at Roses and Stuff invites us all to share what is in bloom on Blooming Fridays. How many more will there be before the cold shuts down the outdoor show? I'm sure I have the name of this dahlia somewhere. The cosmos are from Renee's Garden seeds. Foxy Lady has already made her way into bouquets. Patty Cake has just begun blooming. This nameless hydrangea has been blooming for over a month. I love Red! Especially scarlet…
I just learned about a wonderful rose site, Roger Phillip's Rose Reference, which has photos of thousands of roses and information about where you can get them, as well as lots of general rose information. I am also excited to learn from them about a rose nursery in California, AND it is having a sale! Today, the 31st is the last day for a super sale. I am going right back to the Vintage Gardens Antique Roses site.