New Rose Garden -One Year Later

13 years ago

Last year I posted here, all excited about starting an Old Rose garden. As you warned me, I had planted too many roses for the space...the voles thinned them out:(.

I think opinion was divided about my keeping the old dogwood trunk...I'm so glad I did. No surprise, I have expanded the garden, and I likely will again. as soon as the tree limb that shades the back of the shed is cut...The shade here was the one live limb of the dogwood which was cut.

Here is my garden site last year:

Here it is this year:

I love this rose Reine des Violettes:

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And that old tree is perfect for a clematis:

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The new area is here - it gets seven hours of sun a day, mainly morning sun.

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There is a five foot spacing on the roses on the outside (Austins). The inside row is smaller roses, but still spaced well, and the row next to the shed is the largest spacing for a tea and a Noisette. There will be a substantial trellis across the back for Sombreuil. I mainly bought roses you have written about here. Souvenir de la Malmaison, Sombreuil, Mrs. BR Cant, Lemon Spice, Some Austins, and I bought Quatre Saisons Blanc Mousseuse because I adore the bloom. I am really enjoying this garden. I have some hybrid teas, and a monstrous New Dawn, but these are special, and I thank you very much for all the information on this site.

kay

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Comments (10)

ogrose_tx
13 years ago
That is gorgeous, give it another couple of years, and it will be full of beautiful roses. And, if they are too close, just move some!

I am so envious of you that don't have to use edging, we absolutely HAVE to in Dallas/Ft Worth area, or the St Augustine grass will take over in a minute.
organic_kitten
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you so much ogrose...I am going to have to give in and put in edging...either that or I will be digging out the stinking nut grass that has roots forever. It is not grass it is a noxious weed.

I have had beautiful bloom from these roses. Reine de la Violettes and Lilac Dawn, Louie Phillipe and Abe Darby and the little perpetual Echo from Hartwood have all been absolute blooming machines. I love these roses.

kay
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Love those rocks ! Of course it depends on the size of the rocks ... lol. I garden in glacier debris/subsoil. The slope where my house is located was created by glacier debris ... rock and clay. The house pad was cut out of the slope ... subsoil. The soil on the house pad level where my primary rose garden is located, consists of clay and dense rocks that are mostly no larger than a large marble. This soil goes down far more than two feet and cannot be dug with a shovel. I have found that the small rocks in the soil create wonderful drainage in clay soil. I have no standing water and the clay holds the moisture longer than sandy soil. I've actually added rocks to clay soil where I have had to backfill to create a more raised bed because in pure clay soil, I have lousy drainage. I stopped complaining about my rocky soil at that point. The key to a good "planting hole" is good drainage. I perk tested each rose hole I dug to determine whether or not I had good drainage for the rose. Fill your planting area with water and see how long it takes to drain. If it doesn't drain at least over night ... not "perfect" drainage, but good enough, you need to improve the drainage in your planting area before you go forward. You may end up building raised beds. I really don't know, but drainage issues always dictate the next step. Smiles, Lyn
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ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
13 years ago
I think you've done a wonderful job, and I especially like your harmonious color scheme. I agree that in a few years it will be gorgeous. I love the lavender companion plants (foxgloves). Please keep us updated with pictures as time goes on.

Ingrid
organic_kitten
Original Author
13 years ago
Ingrid, Thank you so much...I am due to retire in five months, and I am so looking forward to having uninterrupted time in my garden...I am an RN and I work nights, which is a bit hard on the old carcass now. I plan to put clematis and foxgloves in the new area along with alyssom which is growing in the original area, but not very large yet.

My biggest problem is wanting too many roses for my area size. I'm trying to hold it down...but know I will just add more area as I need it. The front is untouched!
kay
sherryocala
13 years ago
Oh, Kay, I wish I could see more photos (there's never enough). You have lovely, growing roses, and your companion plants are great. I also like your colors, but the most important thing is that you like it! It sounds like you're aware that it's an evolving thing. Next year your photos will be even more different than last year's. How wonderful that you get to retire to your gardening. That's the most beautiful part. You've gotten a huge amount done in a year. Congratulations!

Do you mind saying approximately where you are?

Sherry

Here is a link that might be useful: If only sweat were irrigation...
ogrose_tx
13 years ago
Organic Kitten, I retired just a couple of months ago and can't tell you how much I love it! Seems like the weeks just fly by, and this gives me so much more time to spend in the garden.

My husband has terminal cancer (prostate cancer that spread to his bones), and feel so much better being here for him. He sleeps a lot of the time, which I use to be in the garden, but am close to check on him. He has great doctors which has extended his life unbelievably.

Enjoy your retirement!!
organicgardendreams
13 years ago
organic kitten, you have done a wonderful job with your garden. I share your love for Reine des Violettes. This is just one very special rose, that deserves more attention in my opinion. I hope yours will become a wonderful specimen!
Christina

Here is a link that might be useful: Organic Garden Dreams
organic_kitten
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you all so much for looking at my garden.
Sherry, I love to look at photos too, and enjoy reading the posts on the forums, so I have seen your posts here many times and your photos as well. My garden will always evolve. I live in Alabama, Not too far from Birmingham.

Sherry, If you like photos, I have 3 very large iris beds, Maybe you would like to see acouple of them:
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I am very fond of reds and purples.

ogrose, That is a hard thing to live with, I am so sorry your husband is so ill, but I am also very glad that he is comfortable and that you have your garden.

Christina, Reine des Violettes has bloomed remarkably for me. I love the configuration of the bloom, the color, and the fragrance. I will never be without this rose in my garden. Thank you for your good wishes.
kay
imagardener2
12 years ago
organic kitten

what a lovely garden and I so envy your dead tree. My neighbor has one right next to my yard and I would love to sneak in and plant a climbing rose. It would be so perfect...for me to look at from my yard lol.

LOVE those iris colors too. Makes me think of Monet.

Denise
oath5
12 years ago
Beautiful Iris! German Iris are so enticing. I like the orange and yellow next to all those shades of purple and blue, even though they're opposites on the color wheel it seems people are dead afraid of planting orange and blue-purples together.

Do you grow Japanese Iris as well? I saw some wonderful iris gardens in Japan during a class ICA trip and Japanese Iris are very lovely and definitely extend the iris season into summer. Sort of underrated here in the US I think.

New Rose Garden -One Year Later

Comments (10)

ogrose_tx

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New Rose Garden -One Year Later

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ogrose_tx

organic_kittenOriginal Author

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ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9

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organic_kitten
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