I have 19 rose bushes now. 10 were planted in 2015 and I have purchased 8 in 2016 (so far). The 10 planted last year were fertilized today- 1/2 strength Bayer 3 in 1 (food, bugs, fungus).
From 2015:
2 New Dawn climbers - own root from Heirloom Roses
2 Hybrid Teas from Tractor Supply - grafted/potted
1 Zephirine Drouhin - own root from ebay
4 Knockout Roses - all rescues from end of season dying bargains (Tractor Supply and Lowes) - correction: 2 of these are drift roses.
1 Betty Prior - also a rescue bargain from Lowes
2016:
All are bare root grafted bagged roses from Walmart purchased and planted in March.
Climbing Roses:
Blaze -red
Don Juan -red
Pinata - multi (orange, red, pink)
Golden Showers - yellow
Hybrid Teas:
New Day - yellow
Mister Lincoln - red
Proud Land -red
Arizona - orange/apricot
Heirloom - lavender
Note for me: On 4/22/2016 I gave all of the new rosebushes 1/2 strength Bayer 3-1. I started to fertilize the older bushes with full strength solution, but ran out of solution. The rose bushes that still need treatment include: the two farthest knockouts bushes near the rooster coop, Betty Prior in front, and Zephirine Drouhin.
Tent Caterpillars are eating my rosebush leaves! I think the Bayer slows it down. The Pinata plant was eaten badly while I was out of town for a few days.
5/28/2016
I finished feeding the other roses a few days later (ref above post).
Today, I decided to use the Bayer again. Two of my hybrid tea roses (the two from last year) aren't blooming like they should. They are covered in buds, but as they open the edges seem a little burned and as the flowers open, the look sort of rotten. Reading about this, I thought I might have thrips which also might be why a couple of the newer bushes are wilting. So, I was about a week or two early, as I had planned, but all of the roses are fed again. Most of them got a full strength dose. I ran low, so had to ration on a few, but not much.
7/3/2016
One bottle of the Bayer is just barely enough to feed all of the current rose bushes. If I get anymore roses, I will need two bottles per feeding. Today all of them had Bayer 3-1 though the last bushes were shorted just a tad. I gave the New Dawn's a little extra because of their size.
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Gardening in 2016
I have been obsessed with gardening! I think it is because I am in love and the happiness in my heart is overflowing into flower obsession. Thankfully my dear husband happily allows me to indulge in my hobby.
I think the first bulbs planted after the wedding (8/23/2014) were Virginia Bluebells, early spring of 2015. This is what really began my new flower garden hobby, although the flowers and sunshine of spring have always made me happy. The Bluebells didn't bloom in 2015, but they are poking out now. My love for native plants remains. I just bought two Oakleaf Hydrangea starts from Tractor Supply. They are in pots waiting for an autumn transplant.
In the fall of 2015 I planted many bulbs: crocus, daffodils, tulips, iris, peonies, and many lilies. A few weeks ago, Walmart received a shipment of bare root, grafted, rosebushes. I have since purchased 8 new rosebushes over several different visits, all are planted. They were only beginning to come out of dormancy, along with the several rosebushes planted last summer.
I'm happy to say I'm really getting the how to/when to idea of planting and hardiness guides with all of my gardening. The lily bulbs from ebay went straight into the ground (March 2016) as soon as I received them as did the Crocosmia, Hot Pokers, Daylilies and Hostas from Walmart. The begonia bulbs are in pots, along with the Elephant Ears, blackberries, Cannas, and Hydrangeas. I'll plant the blackberries in the garden in a few weeks. I'm not sure about the others except the hydrangeas. I have so many vegetable and flower seedlings growing under my new grow light setups too.
New rosebushes: Blaze (my replacement of the first ever rosebush I bought, never saw a bloom), Don Juan, Pinata (the 3 climbers). Hybrid Teas: Mister Lincoln, Proud Land, New Day, Arizona, and Heirloom.
I will be using Bayer 3-1 systemic rose and flower care this year, the first feeding after the quick and light cold snap we are expecting the next couple of days. The treatment takes care of feed, bugs, and fungus. Last year's roses are growing green very quickly, new growth from 2-5+ inches already thanks to our mild winter and early spring weather! I am going to give the first feeding at 1/2 strength. I've read that young bushes are sometimes burned from the treatment, so I'll be cautious. I am also purchasing Grub Guard (beneficial nematodes will dig in the soil and eat the grubs) to stop the breeding of Japanese Beetles. I just know I will have beautiful roses this year!
Even most of my late in the 2015 season rose bush "rescues" are doing great. I only lost 2 of 7. The other 5 are growing beautifully: Betty Prior and 4 knockout roses of various types.
Here are some pictures of my new flower beds starting to come to life.
I think the first bulbs planted after the wedding (8/23/2014) were Virginia Bluebells, early spring of 2015. This is what really began my new flower garden hobby, although the flowers and sunshine of spring have always made me happy. The Bluebells didn't bloom in 2015, but they are poking out now. My love for native plants remains. I just bought two Oakleaf Hydrangea starts from Tractor Supply. They are in pots waiting for an autumn transplant.
In the fall of 2015 I planted many bulbs: crocus, daffodils, tulips, iris, peonies, and many lilies. A few weeks ago, Walmart received a shipment of bare root, grafted, rosebushes. I have since purchased 8 new rosebushes over several different visits, all are planted. They were only beginning to come out of dormancy, along with the several rosebushes planted last summer.
I'm happy to say I'm really getting the how to/when to idea of planting and hardiness guides with all of my gardening. The lily bulbs from ebay went straight into the ground (March 2016) as soon as I received them as did the Crocosmia, Hot Pokers, Daylilies and Hostas from Walmart. The begonia bulbs are in pots, along with the Elephant Ears, blackberries, Cannas, and Hydrangeas. I'll plant the blackberries in the garden in a few weeks. I'm not sure about the others except the hydrangeas. I have so many vegetable and flower seedlings growing under my new grow light setups too.
New rosebushes: Blaze (my replacement of the first ever rosebush I bought, never saw a bloom), Don Juan, Pinata (the 3 climbers). Hybrid Teas: Mister Lincoln, Proud Land, New Day, Arizona, and Heirloom.
I will be using Bayer 3-1 systemic rose and flower care this year, the first feeding after the quick and light cold snap we are expecting the next couple of days. The treatment takes care of feed, bugs, and fungus. Last year's roses are growing green very quickly, new growth from 2-5+ inches already thanks to our mild winter and early spring weather! I am going to give the first feeding at 1/2 strength. I've read that young bushes are sometimes burned from the treatment, so I'll be cautious. I am also purchasing Grub Guard (beneficial nematodes will dig in the soil and eat the grubs) to stop the breeding of Japanese Beetles. I just know I will have beautiful roses this year!
Even most of my late in the 2015 season rose bush "rescues" are doing great. I only lost 2 of 7. The other 5 are growing beautifully: Betty Prior and 4 knockout roses of various types.
Here are some pictures of my new flower beds starting to come to life.
 |
| Va Bluebell early March. I planted 20 tubers in April 2015. I have found about 18 sprouts this Spring |
 |
| Fall planted peony. March sprout. |
 |
| Dwarf Iris. I had about 20 of these blooms in early March. They are about finished this year. |
 |
| The daffodils and tulips are expected to naturalize. I ordered tulips specially designed to do that.The volunteer Crab Apple (???) tree is in the top left corner. I can't wait to see those flowers! |
 |
| Asiatic Lily sprouts, March 19 - double pink. |
 |
| Va Bluebell flower buds, March 19, 2016 |
Volunteer Tree
I love this determined tree. It bloomed beautifully this spring, along with the hyacinths, tulips, daffodils, and Virginia Bluebells growing underneath and around. These photos were taken the end of March, early April 2017.
3/23/2016 Its starting to bloom and most definitely some sort of cherry tree! I love it.
Edited to add: I think my husband is right, a cherry tree - check the bark. Yay. How wonderful is that?
This tree was determined to live in this spot. For the last 3 or 4 years, thinking it was a weed, I have been cutting it down. It usually has many suckers and sprouts at the bottom and very fast growing. Realizing last year it is a tree and not a weed, I decided to let it grow after cutting the bottom branches because it was sprawling so much, so quickly.
As my interest and fondness for the tree grew over the summer, luck would have it that the neighbor's fence (behind the tree) would collapse and lay on top of and supported by the tree for weeks (if not months). The tree remained. It grew at a slant, and I waited for my neighbor to fix the fence. He did, only to have it collapse once more. The tree was growing at about a 50 degree angle, strong as ever.
In the summer of 2015, my husband and I decided it was probably some sort of elm tree based on the leaves.
To my delight, even bringing tears of joy to my eyes, I observed the tree yesterday morning and found it covered in pink buds. I have lived in this area for 12 years, and each year, the spring display of the many red buds take my breath away. I had never noticed them prior to moving to this area and have always planned to plant one in my yard. My husband, also only in the area for 14 years, also only noticed and loved the red bud display when he moved to the area. My first thought was I have a volunteer red bud!
After further study and conversation with Alvin, I decided it was not a red bud, but I was and still am determined to find out the type of tree set its heart on gracing my yard. I am now leaning towards crab apple, a type weeping crab apple and am anxiously awaiting the flowers. My husband thinks it is a cherry tree because of the bark.
3/23/2016 Its starting to bloom and most definitely some sort of cherry tree! I love it.
Edited to add: I think my husband is right, a cherry tree - check the bark. Yay. How wonderful is that?
This tree was determined to live in this spot. For the last 3 or 4 years, thinking it was a weed, I have been cutting it down. It usually has many suckers and sprouts at the bottom and very fast growing. Realizing last year it is a tree and not a weed, I decided to let it grow after cutting the bottom branches because it was sprawling so much, so quickly.
As my interest and fondness for the tree grew over the summer, luck would have it that the neighbor's fence (behind the tree) would collapse and lay on top of and supported by the tree for weeks (if not months). The tree remained. It grew at a slant, and I waited for my neighbor to fix the fence. He did, only to have it collapse once more. The tree was growing at about a 50 degree angle, strong as ever.
In the summer of 2015, my husband and I decided it was probably some sort of elm tree based on the leaves.
To my delight, even bringing tears of joy to my eyes, I observed the tree yesterday morning and found it covered in pink buds. I have lived in this area for 12 years, and each year, the spring display of the many red buds take my breath away. I had never noticed them prior to moving to this area and have always planned to plant one in my yard. My husband, also only in the area for 14 years, also only noticed and loved the red bud display when he moved to the area. My first thought was I have a volunteer red bud!
After further study and conversation with Alvin, I decided it was not a red bud, but I was and still am determined to find out the type of tree set its heart on gracing my yard. I am now leaning towards crab apple, a type weeping crab apple and am anxiously awaiting the flowers. My husband thinks it is a cherry tree because of the bark.
 |
| Its trying to straighten up! |
Friday, November 13, 2015
Wildflowers in Virginia
May 2016
Its kind of fun watching what will grow on its own if you let it! I think the white flowers are some sort of aster. I'm not sure about the purple flowers. My husband believes it is a type of clover. Both types of plants are close to 3 feet tall.
March 2016: Here is a pretty ground cover wildflower that grows around my yard each year in late winter/early spring.
I will do better next year taking pictures of all the beautiful plants that pop up around my Virginia mountain home. The flowers below only represent a few of the many flowers I saw this past spring and summer. If anyone knows the names of the flowers, please let me know!
Its kind of fun watching what will grow on its own if you let it! I think the white flowers are some sort of aster. I'm not sure about the purple flowers. My husband believes it is a type of clover. Both types of plants are close to 3 feet tall.
March 2016: Here is a pretty ground cover wildflower that grows around my yard each year in late winter/early spring.
I will do better next year taking pictures of all the beautiful plants that pop up around my Virginia mountain home. The flowers below only represent a few of the many flowers I saw this past spring and summer. If anyone knows the names of the flowers, please let me know!
 |
| This must be "Common Evening Primrose" according to the USDA |
New England Asters 1st year
May 2018: I didn't have any asters last summer and I do not see sprouts this year either. I have a lot of vegetation probably out competing them.
I ordered some seedlings (4) from ebay in spring 2015. They did great (zone 7)! I'm anticipating the plants to expand bloom beautifully each fall from now on. These are native to the area. The flowers are a light lavender.
June 2015
I pinched inside the centers of the stems to encourage more branching out. This may have made the flowers smaller, but I'm not sure. I'll experiment next year.
Preparing to bloom, mid to late summer.
Closeup, getting ready for full bloom. The branches are numerous because of pinching.
Starting its bloom. The 'bush' is about 2.5x3. The zinnias had been blooming for a bit. This is probably early to mid August. I was beginning to wonder if my asters would ever bloom!
The asters bloomed! Wow. The plants were covered in flowers even in October.
I ordered some seedlings (4) from ebay in spring 2015. They did great (zone 7)! I'm anticipating the plants to expand bloom beautifully each fall from now on. These are native to the area. The flowers are a light lavender.
 |
| Add caption |
The flowers were very popular with these little butterflies. The flowers and butterflies were only about 1 inch in size.
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)