Finally, finally, finally got the email from DA that my order(s) are being packaged and will go out this month! Most of my roses are already leafed out and setting buds with some about to bloom already but at least here in Seattle it‘s pretty easy to baby them through the summer even if they start out a bit behind.

I’ll have to pot them up anyway since we decided to start construction on our new deck and I don't dare plant anything in the area until that is done.

Hi, Kristine, Why did you almost shovel prune Ashley? She’s a beauty! I accidentally have 2 Ashley. GRF sent me 2 sm Ashleys in one pot. Hmmmm, what will I do with 2? 4 Rose of Sharon is nice! I think I have 7: 2 Chiffons: 2 tree ROS, a bush, & others. (As usual too many.) They are good for hedges/privacy! That I would like.

Ha, ha ha, ha! chuckling….. rolling on floor-Your labradoodles! It’s the lab/poodles mix! Lol! Sooooo sweet! Darling little ones!

Super fun coming up for you & Azalea at the Grange! Swwet! She has her iwn bed! She will love her gsrden! You are hoing to have a plethora of beautities to bring home! For me…. no more buting for awhile except ai plan to add some Vanillar Strawberry Hydrangeas to front of home porch.

Diane - I neeeeed you to get Ashley. lol I didn't know there was an earlier Body Snatcher movie. That's cool that you saw the original slasher movie first.

Jim - yes, so right. They hardly ever get it wrong....even with climate change.

Kitty - My roses have been out (earlier) for quite a while and they still haven't changed. But, yeah, they will. :) I did cut off a whole lot of garage growth because they were getting brownish from not enough light. I can't believe that we're zone 4 now. I could try to grow lavender if I can find some. I've had 3 standard poodles...and man are they smart...and my female was the smartest...like you said...just like a human...males less so. Yeah, Mars was a really good movie. I'm glad you got some rain...and not too much. :) Kitty, Kristine didn't shovel prune an Ashley...she almost bought one but decided against it. :)

Gabriel Oak (before the downy mildew)

Kristine - you almost got an Ashley yesterday!! I would have loved for you to get one. :) :) If only it had fragrance, I'd have one in a heartbeat from Palatine. Four Rose of Sharons...wonderful! Have fun with Azalea picking our plants for her own bed. :) :) What fun you'll have!! Idiot 1 sure is cute!! lol

We had more snow...about another 3 inches, so I went shopping on-line. So there, snow!!! I bought Penstemons Coral Baby and Prairie Jewel (not as pretty as Diane's Penstemons, but what the heck) and Verbena Stricta - Hoary Vervain. All thee of them are supposed to be good with drier soil. So I have a good spot for them. Can't buy anything else, my small garden will be full.

Temp is -3C/27F feels like -10C/14F Blech.

Is this wild onion? I think I have 3 types of volunteer-blown in ”wild onion.” This is new!

Wild onion spreads quickly! Must dig up!

And movie UPDATE: It was called, ”The Martian,” not Mars. Cool movie! Prime! Watching, again, w/ Matt Damon. ! Funny!

Where’s the pop corn & real butter! And a rootbeer!

I don’t have enough to do (LOL! 🤪😇, so I ordered anemone corms, ”Adeline’s Mix corms, Eden Bro. .” May grow over summer in a bedroom/air conditioned/grow lamps, experiment. They may bloom inside about Aug-Sept. Then save corms to plant again in January-so bloom in April approx.) They look good w/ ranunculus!

Adeline’s Mix, Anemone, Eden Bro. photo

And from K Van Bourgondien photos…

Pink Saphite, 3 Tuberose

The Pearl, 5 Tuberose

I guess I will lift a few tubers out end of summer. Fun trying new bulbs!

I know everyone's seen these already. But I really enjoy the beautiful pastel colors of this rose. The blooms last a good while on the bush (a week or longer), the fade to cream is gradual for me in afternoon dappled shade and I don't think they ever attain a yucky color like creams sometimes can. Light fragrance that is pleasant. So far, as a 1st year plant, the fall flush was far superior to the spring flush. This might not be the case in gardens with more moderate temperatures, but our spring got a long, early heatwave that I think affected it. This rose doesn't seem to like it too hot. It gets hit directly with an overhead sprinkler 3x a week and yet never shows any unhealthy foliage. In spring especially, the new foliage has a very attractive orange/auburn cast to it.

Fading to cream...

Apricot, pink and cream...

Sometimes all apricot...

I agree, one of the very best new roses. Beautiful pearlescent colors that almost look translucent, and it blooms a ton and repeats fast! MiP and Scentuous are both European bred roses introduced by Certified, I hope they give us more like these. When I visited their headquaters in Tyler, they said all their suppliers wanted more of this variety.

Myermike - those are good points...we have cool summers too.

Carol

I tried to make the gritty mix years ago, but the problem is I couldn't find the pine bark in the right size. It turned out TERRIBLE.

MyerMike - I found that a lot of my roses that weren't thriving (pre 5-1-1), had rotted roots/very small amount of roots. So I think your problems with Miracle Grow soil would probably be my problems too. I'm hoping the 5-1-1 works really well. :) Interesting about the root development in containers. You have some great information here! Thank you! I overpot too. How often do you change you 5-1-1 mixture? My pots are 22" diameter by 20"tall with a volume of 25 gallons. I'm hoping I can get maybe 4 or 5 years without changing the soil/repotting. Do you think that's too long to go without repotting/resoiling? Should I just play it by ear? Thanks...if this is too complicated with too many variables...you can just ignore my question. :) Thanks so much, Mike.

I'm lucky to have a place that mixes it for me and delivers it. So easy-peasy.

Carol

Looking great! I also got Desiree thanks to your recommendation. Very pretty coloring and Mystic Beauty is a huge favorite of mine. Souvenir de la Malmaison had to go on the other side of the fence as it needed more sun but Mystic Beauty does just fine with some shade.

Can’t wait to see the rest of your garden this year

Wow I love them. I am adding Desiree to my list now because those colors are incredible.

I like threads like this one because I can scroll and see your garden and also learn the name of the roses instead of having to click on 20 different threads.