If it's any consolation.. at this time I have over 70 roses coming in the next few weeks...yikes.

Robert

Yes that is consolation. Now when my family makes comments, I can tell them to hush, it could be much much worse lol, and then use you as an example. Works for me :)

I know another Virginian...in Fredericksburg who has even more than that to plant this year...I'm very fortunate that I don't have anyone who criticizes my passion.

Robert

Weeeell, they probably wouldn't critisize so much if I actually got them planted the same year I ordered them. Unfortunately, my roses ususally spend at least 1 winter in the pot ghetto in the garage. Hey, they are mostly bands, so they need the growing time in the pots. That's my excuse and I'm sticking with it.

Okay . . . that would be me.

I make no secret of the fact that I have attacked rose gardening at this new place in the biggest possible way. This spring is going to be a very busy time around here. Bed prep and planting, and construction of a greenhouse and rose structures. Check out the rose list on my member page -- 3/4 of those roses listed there are either waiting in pots or due to arrive from various sources in the next few weeks . . . and I haven't even listed my rooted cuttings or seedlings yet.

Like Robert, I am blessed to have someone who supports my dreams and hobbies, and doesn't complain about the number of roses I have bought. DH has watched me nurture my roses in pots for the past few years, and order loads and loads of new ones this past year, knowing that they make me happy.

It helps you that the roses that come from Sequoia and some of the other vendors arrive in little pots. This gives people a false sense of scale when you tell them that you have 30+ roses coming in the mail. (It feels like Christmas when that big box arrives, doesn't it.)

Congrats on your new roses. We'll want to see photos, of course, as your gardens come together.

Connie

Hi Connie. When I saw your list the other day, I said something about it to my mom. If I had that many to plant, I would be torn between swooning with delight and crying in despair lol. Our soil here is very rocky, takes forever to plant. Mike decided to help me last year. Have you ever tried to fill in a trench 2' wide, 2' deep and 45' long? All the soil had to be amended for it. It took forever! What I said I wanted was 2'x 2' holes every 3'. He decided it would be better to dig a trench. HAH. The time it took me to fill that sucker back in, I could have planted 10 other roses. Oh well, he was trying to help, so I had to be nice about it. I told him this year we are renting an auger and he said ok. My mom just looks at the boxes that come in, shakes her head, and says "oh Carrie" in this real mournful voice lol. Mom is really good about it though. She puts up with my excitement whenever new roses arrive, admiring the babies and if they are blooming, it's all the better. Mike just says every spring, no new roses until you get the ones planted you already have. I just don't think so Mike. Telling me what to do hasn't worked at any other time, don't know why he'd think it will work regarding this.

Forget pics of my garden, I can't wait to see yours! Please take pics of the before, during and after. I love pics that take us thru the whole process. Especially since I'm a plopper, I love to see how other people plan and plant their roses. Are you going to do companion planting at the same time, or just concentrate on the roses this year?

Carrie, you hit the nail squarely on the head -- some days the enormity of planting my roses can get to me. Most days, though, I'm really excited about setting them free from their pot prisons.

Our property has been farm land for its entire history, so our soil is not the usual rocky Virginia clay that I'm used to. In most places, I can easily sink a shovel its entire depth, and the soil that comes up is varying shades of brown. My pH is a little low, but I'll be able to work with that.

Since you asked, here are a couple of 'before' photos of the area by the barn that I see as becoming a killer rose garden. The soil there is even better than I've seen anywhere else -- I guess it was all those cows and stuff milling around for so many years that did the trick.

Under this mound of honeysuckle is an old cattle chute. During the first day of barn renovation a few weeks ago, I had the equipment operator clear out all the rotten fencing and overgrowth while he was waiting to work on the building.
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Here's the equipment doing its thing:
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The south side of the barn, after the cattle chute was removed. We've owned this place for 5 years (though we've only lived here for 5 months) and I had never seen this view because of all the overgrowth.
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I left the gate that had been at the end of the cattle chute because I liked it and I thought I could use it in the garden. I see it with smallish climbers at each corner.
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Here's the barn progress as of a few days ago. I think it will be a wonderful backdrop to a country rose garden.
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BTW, it IS all Robert's fault. Without his example, I would probably have gone about all of this in a much more controlled manner. Seeing what he has created in his garden gives me the encouragement to do roses on a much broader scale, and the courage to try things without the fear of making mistakes. Thank you, my friend.

Connie

Connie, that looks so cool. It's going to be beautiful when you are done. Can't wait to see the during pics next. Thanks for sharing them. Carrie

Oh my...

Robert

Connie, will your barn house animals again? I love that barn! It would make a cool house. What a paradise you will have when everything is completed.

Carol

Connie,

With all your new climbers, you'll need some more clematis to go with them...Mine I got from Jerome last November are coming up beautifully...so I ordered 25 more this morning. They are only $6...and, they came last year with great root balls.

Robert

Connie--this is so exciting-----Please keep us posted with pictures of your progress.

Oh to be young again !!!!!

I love to read about all the wonderful gardens all of you are planting.

Florence

Hop over to the Rose Gallery for the continuation of the barn garden construction and more photos.

I'm so excited!

Connie