It occurred to me as I was shoveling manure compost that I have left a gravely wrong impression here. My garden and I are the exception not the norm. Ninety-five roses is far, far from average and so is the work involved. This number of roses and level of effort is my choice, at least for now, but growing beautiful, enjoyable roses need not be so demanding. Divided by ten or twenty, your roses can be just as fulfilling as mine, produce equally thrilling blooms and be the same handsome healthy landscape shrub. Let's keep dividing by ten or twenty. A bag of composted cow manure from Lowe's is all that's needed for each bush. For about $1.50 per bush in the spring along with a bag of Rose-Tone or Holly-Tone and a bag of Milorganite for a feeding while on an evening stroll through your yard every six weeks or so means your effort will also be divided by ten or twenty.
As with everything, hobbies and hobbyists come in all degrees of devotion and intensity. If you want no part of my garden, and if my gardening scares the daylights out of you, I say fear not. Most likely this is not your cup of tea, but a taste of gardening-lite may be right up your alley. After all, azaleas need pruning in the spring, feeding after their bloom is finished, and supplemental feedings throughout the year if they're to stay healthy in our Florida conditions. I don't hear folks talk about how demanding azaleas are. If you have four or five sunny spots in your yard, you could have four or five Souvenir de la Malmaisons covered repeatedly with incredibly elegant blush pink flowers which I daresay will make your yard elegantly different from your neighbors whether or not they grow roses.
If you're desperate for some variety and beauty in your landscape, by all means investigate these Old Garden Roses (there are many to choose from) that truly do thrive here. Amazingly, our early spring is producing delightful results with my roses, results not to be found on a ligustrum, an Indian Hawthorne or even on a Knock-Out rose. Variety spices up our lives and our landscapes. I know positively that Florida homeowners take pride in their landscape and even put a lot of work in it. Is this something you'd be willing to put that work into? For 5% or 10% of my work you can have 100% of my roses' grace and beauty. Now that's math-made-easy, don't you agree?
As with everything, hobbies and hobbyists come in all degrees of devotion and intensity. If you want no part of my garden, and if my gardening scares the daylights out of you, I say fear not. Most likely this is not your cup of tea, but a taste of gardening-lite may be right up your alley. After all, azaleas need pruning in the spring, feeding after their bloom is finished, and supplemental feedings throughout the year if they're to stay healthy in our Florida conditions. I don't hear folks talk about how demanding azaleas are. If you have four or five sunny spots in your yard, you could have four or five Souvenir de la Malmaisons covered repeatedly with incredibly elegant blush pink flowers which I daresay will make your yard elegantly different from your neighbors whether or not they grow roses.
If you're desperate for some variety and beauty in your landscape, by all means investigate these Old Garden Roses (there are many to choose from) that truly do thrive here. Amazingly, our early spring is producing delightful results with my roses, results not to be found on a ligustrum, an Indian Hawthorne or even on a Knock-Out rose. Variety spices up our lives and our landscapes. I know positively that Florida homeowners take pride in their landscape and even put a lot of work in it. Is this something you'd be willing to put that work into? For 5% or 10% of my work you can have 100% of my roses' grace and beauty. Now that's math-made-easy, don't you agree?
I like your math. And, I love that rose! As the proud owner of 4 roses: Louis Philippe, Red Cascade (both OG) and Belinda's Dream and White Out (both easy care) I can say that they are truly easy care and gorgeous. I could easily multiply my roses but I just don't have enough sun in my garden for more.
ReplyDeleteDitto Nana!
ReplyDeleteI feed my OGRs rabbit food (alfalfa), worm tea and horse manure, but I also grow them in pots because I have rock a few inches below the topsoil.
And I think the Souv. d l Malmaison is the most beautiful rose in the world!
-- Penny
I like your math! I managed to find a spot to plant another old-timey rose. Can you recommend a good bloomer in yellow or an orangey-pink? I've got a Souv de la Malmaison...and it is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSomething strange just happened to a big,long comment I thought I published. It's not here. Ack.
ReplyDeleteYour roses are very pretty. It looks like you've got it figured out. I am one that doesn't do anything to my azaleas. The organic matter from living under the oak trees must be sufficient for them. Sometimes I wish I had more sunshine for more varieties of OGR's.
Meems
NanaK, great roses you've got there.
ReplyDeletePenny, I use alfalfa pellets (horse feed), too, but wasn't sure about referring folks to a feed store. We have one in town, so it's easy for me; 50 lbs is about $14.
Susan, I recently acquired an 1899 polyantha, Leonie Lamesch, which is in the color range you're looking for. Mine is blooming now with russet red outer petals and a mixture of yellows in the center. In hotter weather I think she's not as red, more orangey and quite bright. She's very healthy, too. Perle d'Or is very pretty and peachy. The tea rose, Rosette Delizy has red outer petals and a yellow center, being less red in the heat. Souv de Victor Hugo is almost the reverse. (Rose Petals has them.) Comtessa du Cayla is a China and is colored in orangey salmons and pink. Clementina Carbonieri, a tea, might be something you'd like. You can go to HelpMeFind (http://www.helpmefind.com/rose/plants.php) to see photos and find vendors that have the last two. Any mail-order rose nurseries on HMF are very reputable. I've bought from almost all of them.
Meems, I'm sorry there was a glitch. Your azaleas are lucky. Mine have to live in neutral soil, and I amend with sulfur regularly and still they're not always happy. Shade is wonderful until one discovers roses.
Sherry, you make growing roses look so easy that I'm sure you'll have everyone who comes by your blog growing at least 95!
ReplyDeleteMy garden is pretty high-maintenance too, not only because of the roses. I think once you come to view yourself as a gardener you want to take care of your garden, and so it becomes more and more work, but more joy and beauty too.
ReplyDeleteWow, first time visitor here - your header photo is simply lovely!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Heather. It seems like forever since I've seen it look that way, but the garden definitely thinks spring has sprung. Roses are getting flower buds on them and lots of leaves. So early, but I'm happy about it!
ReplyDeleteI'm probably not very good about fertilizing my roses. I've never tried composted manure around them before. I think I will try that this year and see how they do.
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