Sherry, thanks for the visual..I was thinking about Florida..and what your day looked like and smelled like. I SO get your bliss. To me, there is something Godly in the garden..making things grow. In a way, I feel such a sense of pride..bordering on arrogance..when I look at my neighbors yards..and I have beautiful flowers..LOL. I know that's not nice..but I often think when I am out digging weeds in the early AM, and the neighbors are sleeping I think how much better my yard looks and the wonderful flowers. I feel so proud of myself..What I really love alot is working the soil..more than the flowers truly. To me if the soil is healthy then the roses are healthy. I am proud of you Sherry. Ya got the bug..the gardening bug

Those pruners are truly petite and so cute. In the first photo they struck me as looking like a bird with a beak and a big round eye. I also have small hands but had always wanted to have Felco pruners and my husband got me the smallest size for Christmas.

You're so right about learning pruning by doing. I was inspired by Paul Zimmerman's post about pruning and watching his videos. His techniques very much resonated with me, and I felt a kind of freedom to just let the roses speak to me in their different ways. I can't wait to see the results when the roses have their clothes on again.

Ingrid

I agree with you, Sherry: it's working on and close to my roses that I get to know them. I was down in the bottom of the garden yesterday pruning some of my once-bloomers, and it was like being with friends. I like the leisurely pace (I'm slow), the investigation of plants, mulch, and soil, and how much tidier everything looks afterward.
Nice to hear you're having such pleasant weather. We got half a day of sun yesterday and now it's gray and chilly again. I certainly am looking forward to spring.
Melissa

It's really nice to hear about you enjoying your pruning. You are so right about getting in there to understand your roses better. I feel like it's the one time of year that each rose gets my undivided attention and I learn alot from it as you have. I had such a different day. I did enjoy it but it was more satisfying than pleasent. I was clearing deadwood out of some gigantic ramblers and working up on a ladder in my pergola. It was cold and cloudy. I like your pruners.

Sherry, in reading much of what you post, one can tell you are very savvy in your gardening ways. You are a quick learner and one of the most witty people on this forum.

I'm glad you had a peaceful day in the garden doing your chores with the roses. Those are some of the most memorable days one can have in the garden, when you and the garden are one. Kind of Zen, I guess. I remember one day last June, when I was in the garden and all I could hear was the breeze while I tended the roses. A hummingbird played games with me all day and I could feel how big the universe was and yet intimate at the same time. Ok, I'm getting kinda airy-fairy on you, but you know what I mean.

Back to more practical matters, I'm glad you got your pruning done. I've got most of mine done, except for those big climbers. It's so hard to get to the higher parts of the plant without falling into it. And hey, those pruners look awesome! I may be ordering one for myself. Thank you, Sherry.

Juliet

Sherry and Ingrid:

I don't have small hands, but they are weak, so I got the Felco #6. They are much easier for me to use than the pruners I had been working with. It meant Big Money, but I feel it was worth it. I think I'll try the Harbor Freight ones, though... If I lost my Felcos, it might be a little hard to fit another pair into the budget.

Have yet to prune any of my own roses, as they are still so young, but I volunteer in the Historic Rose Garden at the old city cemetery in Sacramento, and we have been pruning (pretty much done now). I still feel great trepidation at actually cutting those wonderful roses, but I'm gaining some confidence. I'm better at deadheading - not so unforgiving!

Laura

zyperiris, you wouldn't be proud of me if you walked up to my front yard. That's the bad part of gardening in the front yard - compost piles in the driveway, excavation in progress, potted plants, front porch looking like a staging area, etc, etc. Really bad, but I'm glad I left you with a lovely picture in your mind.

Ingrid, the neat thing about the pruners besides the size is the great spring in them that let's you squeeze and let go and that's all. Truly a breeze that fits the span of my hand perfectly. Re the actual pruning, I watched Paul's videos, and they were excellent, but when it's time to set the blade to the plant - well, I basically tried to cut at a joint and only in the middle of a cane when I had to. I don't like the look of cuts when I trim other shrubs, rather choosing to "hide" them so the bush looks the same when I'm done - just smaller. These Chinas and teas, I think, tend to sprout umbrella growth at those places. I don't know if that's 100% of the time, but I noticed it quite a bit even after deadheading. Maybe it's normal, but that's another reason I tried not to cut in the middle of a cane plus I've read about dieback. We'll see.

Melissa, at least you had a nice day to do some pruning. I guess in many places it's still early for it - and in some places they're done. The world is different every place you look. It really was enjoyable to be "in the middle of the bush". Except for the ones with thorns - hooked ones are the worst. Today I got my tetanus shot finally, so tomorrow I'm expecting a sore arm.

Pam, by the time I got to the climbers it was the end of the day, and I didn't pull out the ladder so they're fully "ugly-leafed' on top. Man, I was not prepared for how bad I felt when done. Standing all day was fine until the very end when it hit me like a ton of bricks. It made scary thoughts linger in my mind about how long I can continue this rose stuff.

Juliet, "very savvy in your gardening ways" - I kind of don't know what that means, but I guess it's good. I just try to find answers, and with the internet at my fingertips, that's fairly easy if you're willing to stay at it long enough. I guess I like digging and research. At work they've given me the job of "shopper" to find the best item and the best deal - a normal thing for me (and my DH) that has rubbed off on some of my co-workers - but I've still got the job unfortunately. Quick learning is relative - it ain't as quick as it used to be!!! When those two invisible birds were playing dueling banjos, it was really fun. That's why I don't care for wind chimes. I'd rather hear the natural noises. We rarely hear racing car engines and that sort of thing, but there is a railroad track and regular train traffic very nearby. It adds to the ambience. These pruners are the 4th or 5th pair I've had. Never bought Felcos due to the price, but I have a $30 pair which are just not small enough - and I think I may have ruined them by cutting the wrong things with them.

Laura, hope your Felcos last forever. I think I'm going to use these (or a 2nd pair) to deadhead, too. If anybody sews, you know those little nippers used for trimming threads at the sewing machine and other little trimming. These pruners act just like those nippers. So easy and quick.

Sherry

Sherry -

You might be interested in Gregg Lowery's (of Vintage Gardens) blog. He has been pruning his 4,000 (I think) roses "in 80 days" and is keeping a running commentary, as well as giving sage advice about pruning - including Chinas and Teas. Climbers, too. His thinking on pruning (or not!) is very interesting, and also on other things like deadheading and insect control. I know he is in California, like me, and you are in Florida, facing a lot of problems that we don't out here, but it's all food for thought. If this intrigues you, the blog is http://nakedintheroses.blogspot.com

Laura
P.S. If you read it and want to know more about his take on these things, I know I read some things that went into pruning and insect control in more depth, I THINK in a back issue of our Cemetery Rose newsletter. Anyway, I can look it up if you are interested.

Thank you, Laura, I'm sure that will be a most interesting blog to follow. I didn't know he had a blog. Boy, 80 days to do 4,000 roses. I definitely think it would be good to read it since I've been feeling really overwhelmed, especially since buying the 12 new ones. What was I thinking??? Hopefully, I'll get a better, more optimistic perspective.

Sherry

Also, no amount of teaching can adequately prepare you for doing, and doing is the best teacher.

It's always like that, isn't it? :)

Do please familiarize yourself with Paul Zimmerman's YouTube rose training/pruning modules if you have not yet done so. They really will help if you haven't yet watched them.

Having said that, yes, there really is no teaching like doing it for yourself!

Sherry, I love watching your garden develop. I planted a front yard garden shortly after you planted yours. I also have 100 degree heat, although completely dry heat, so I watch how you're handling the size of your roses to keep them from overwhelming everything else.

This year was the first year that my roses were large enough to need to prune. I watched all Paul Z's videos, grabbed the pruners and went out there. The climbers were my biggest fear but I don't think I ruined anything. We have to learn by doing.

The great advantage of gardening in the front yard is the time I get to spend with my neighbors. They all come over to discuss things, ask questions and share stories. A few also garden, so we wander back and forth across the street. I've gotten one into roses. I taught her how to prune her hybrid teas last winter and saw her confidently out there this winter doing her pruning. They look great -- old mature bushes that came with her house.

Front yard gardening has it's challenges but it certainly has it's rewards too. I'll post pictures this spring when it's having it's flush.

Debbie

Sherry, I had the exact same pruners last year! I loved the size of them also, just do not put to much pressure on them or they will snap in half and the pressure is likely to leave the thumb part of your hand black and blue!

Hi Sherry - Have you, or anybody here, tried rooting the cuttings ? I read where this is the time to do it, when the roses are putting on the Spring flush.... on the Rose Propagating Forum they talk abt. this and I wonder how it turns out ?? thanks, sally