My compliments, Gean: it's beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
Melissa

Your garden is absolutely beautiful. Is it difficult to keep up with, or do you have a good system of mulch that helps with the weeds?

Thank you for sharing.

Sammy

What a cute idea! The roses are gorgeous, and I,also love the chicken.

What a fine job you have done! I wish all the people who think rose gardens are lines of HTs could see this. You have combined colors and shapes in such a pleasing way. I love all the cute stuff on the wall too.

Creative and lovely. And I like the "wild" feel (though I know a great deal of planning went into that wild effect).

Kate

Wow, everything is so beautiful!!! You did a fantastic job!

Gean, my congratulations to you. You are an artist, painting pictures with flowers. Lovely.

Diane

My favorite kind of garden. Great work!

Randy

I have to agree with Dianne, you are an artist. I wish I had your talent. i've become a good rose gardener, but so far I haven't taken the step to add other flowers to my gardens for that complete look. I'm in awe of yours, thanks for sharing.

The roses and companions are beautiful, Gean. I like the rock wall and blue watering can.

The kitty in the window is fun!

Looks great! The blue flowered shrub in picture 2 & 3: Ceanothus?

This is just beautiful. Love seeing whole garden shots.

Thank you, everyone. That's one of the great thing about polyanthas - the bloom forms are very compatible so it is easy to mix them together. I have them planted pretty closely together in the workshop garden and I have really been amazed at how disease resistant they are.

Sammy, I do have to weed, but I use as much mulch as I can to cover up open ground. Up here, oxalis, wild violets and myosotis grow rampantly. I like them so rather than try to pull them up incessantly, I let them act as a mulch of sorts in that workshop garden. I figure that if you have uncovered ground, something is going to grow there, so I just let grow what I like. I put mulch in other places.

We bought a used chipper shredder awhile ago which we use to grind up the garden leavings. Grass, leaves, branches we either throw in the compost pile or run through the chipper. I try to re use everything that comes out and put it back into use.

mzstitch, thank you. If you want to add companion plants, just look to see what grows well where you are and try planting some things you like. I try to let my heart be my guide - what do I love? It helps me to think in combinations - what roses will look good together, what colors of plants or foliage or blooms complement each other. It's all an experiment to see what happens.
I don't plant anything exotic; what I am looking for are color combinations that I like and plants that will thrive in the conditions I garden in. I am trying to use a lot of seeds I germinate myself. It is all a learning adventure and I have killed so many things. There are a number of books that have helped me, too.

Hoovb, yes, that's ceanothus. I do love that shrub!

Thank you again for all of your kind words, I do appreciate your looking at my garden. Sorry I can't give you a glass of iced tea and some cookies!

Gean

Gean -- thank you! That's not a garden I could have here -- so the more pleasure in seeing it.

Jeri

Gean, your garden is simply enchanting. I'm so impressed with what you've achieved; your garden is both beautiful and very creative.

Would you mind naming some of the polyanthas? I think I recognize Blue Mist, but there are so many other pretty ones.

Ingrid

Thanks, Jeri. It gives me a lot of pleasure to see gardens in all different areas of the country or world here, too.

Ingrid, thank you very much for your kind words. I'll be glad to tell you what I grow -

The polys in the top picture are Blue Mist with Gartendirektor Otto Linne, Baptiste la Faye, and Petite Francoise. Lauren and Little Butterfly are further on the right side, along with a mystery pink poly and White Pet, which aren't visible. Excellenz von Schubert is in the woodsy garden. In other areas Marie Pavie, Schneewitchen01 and Mrs. William G. Koning grow.

In the terraced area are Verdun, Sweet Pea, Sibelius and Pookah, with Violet Hood on the end. Polys do well here and my garden areas are all small, so it's a good match for me. They are usually multiflora blends as well, so are a good match for my acid soil, and the blooms never ball from the humidity.

I think you grow some of these same ones - how do they do for you in your conditions? I think you like Blue Mist?

Gean, I'm just now seeing your photos but I wanted to tell you how beautiful your garden is! I love the color combinations. Inspirational.
Susan

Gean simply lovely and so peaceful looking. You are truly an artist. It is difficult to realizee how young your garden is when it appears so much more mature.

I've not planted many polyantha's as I'm always trying to cover space. I just checked some of yours on Help me find. They are exquisite.
Thank you for sharing.
Jeannie

Gean, the best adjectives have already been applied in previous comments so I'll agree with artistic, enchanting and fantastic. I guess inspiring would be my top comment. My favorite kind of garden too.

Mary

Lovely color combinations, Gean! So many decorative details and individual spaces. I love the pink roses and blue companions--Ceanothus, Geranium, Scabiosa--mixed with Alchemilla mollis. 'Indigo' is one of my favorite roses!

Carol

Again, all beautiful-but I feel stupid because all this time I thought you were a 'he', hahaha

Thanks for all the compliments, everyone. It means a lot to me that you would take the time to look at the picture and comment on them. I love my garden, and like everyone else, I love having others see the beauty in it that I do and have worked so hard at.

Alida, I am a she; sometimes I list my name as 'GeanAnn' because my name spelling is a little odd and I don't like being taken for a boy. I've thought about changing my name to Penelope or Priscilla or PattyLou!

This post was edited by harborrose on Wed, Jun 19, 13 at 1:19

I can really identify with your name gender, Gean. I am also a "she"j. However, my name is short for Elizabeth. I have always gone by Sammy, and sometimes online I am surprised that I am thought of as a man.

Sammy

Gean---I'm amazed at what you have accomplished in such a short time--it only seems like yesterday when you made the move --I love all the raised beds and especially your chicken and babies--About your name it so happens I grew up with a girl named Gean-but you and she are the only two I know----------I can't remember your GW name before you moved----I've been trying and trying to remember it

Florence

Gean, thanks so much for the names. Overall I think polys, for the most part, do better for you than me. I had Violet Hood in the past and it was so insignificant and drab, with tiny flowers. Now I have Blue Mist, as you know, and its little leaves have dried up lately. I love the rose but I don't think it likes the heat as it doesn't bloom much after the first blush.

I also have Baptiste la Faye (two plants), White Pet and Marie Pavie, and they seem so far to do fine here. During the greatest heat I'm sure they'll more or less shut down. Aunt Margy's Rose is also a polyantha, but it's difficult for me to think of it as such since it's over 6 feet tall, and against house wall it looks more like a climber.

I enjoyed looking at your pictures again today. Your garden is magical.

Ingrid

I can identify, Sammy. The internet world is strange because no one can see your face or see your expression or even tell if you're a boy or girl. After awhile or years of reading what people think and seeing their gardens, it does seem like you get to know them, though. If it's any comfort, I've always known you are a girl. Whenever there are storms in Oklahoma/Texas I think about you and hope you are well.

hi, Florence, this is my fourth spring here. Time has gone by so quickly. I loved the tea rose, Duchesse du Brabant, in the south, and I posted here under duchesse_nalabama, the duchesse for that rose. I still love those tea roses but I wish they loved me now! I've been looking at pictures of your beautiful Zeffy, New Dawn and Paul's Himalayan Musk for years now and loving them every time. I loved seeing your paintings, too.

The garden looks mature because it's planted in polyanthas. They grow so well here and have filled in quickly. I'm still waiting for the own root gallicas and others to catch up. But soon, now, I hope.

Ingrid, your Aunt Margy's Rose sure got some ooh's and ahh's at that polyantha thing I did. The polys seem to like acid soil and water, but I am thrilled that some of them do well for you. I would love to send you some of this rain we get.

Since you were so kind as to come and look again, I'm posting some more pictures; at the risk of feeling like I'm boring people or showing off ... remember that conversation? Gardening here is a lot easier than some other places, but each spot has its challenges. Good gardeners just deal with what they have to, and you are a good gardener, Ingrid. Thanks for the comments, also.

Tuscany
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Souvenir du Dr. Jamain

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Belle de Crecy
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I love Aptos

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Clearing out forest with pick, shovel and pruning knife

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The edge of the garden

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r. gymnocarpa has not seen this much sun for a long time, I don't think. I cleared all of the underbrush in front of it and it bloomed a little this year.

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Thanks for looking, Priscilla PollyLou

Gean, in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th pictures up at the top of the post, there's a bush of something with purple/lavender columnar blooms. What is it, please??

Melinda

It's just beautiful! I have Belle de Crecy, too..that's such a nice little rose and it changes color :)

Have you tried Veilchenblau, for the wood garden? I have two planted under the plum trees and they're doing very well. If they do well here, hopefully they would do even better for you! I know Carol @ Northland Rosarium has some nice ones, but I'm sure they're available over there, too.

Melinda, that is ceanothus, 'Victoria'. There was a very interesting thread here a while back on growing ceanothus with roses, which is linked below. I love ceanothus.

Here is a link that might be useful: ceanothus and roses

Lavender Lass,
I've been interested in ordering from Northland Rosarium, thanks to your mentioning it. I hope to get to Spokane this summer and plan to stop there. 'Veilchenblau' is a beautiful rambler! I am growing 'Purple Skyliner' as a mounding purple shrub in that woodsy area because it reblooms, but if it doesn't do well, I am going to go back to 'Veilchenblau'. Thanks for reminding me of it! 'Belle de Crecy' is a beautiful gallica, isn't it? Do you have many gallicas? They are becoming a favorite class of roses.

WOW---I can't believe it has been 4 years----You have worked miracles---thanks for reminding me of your other name--
Just stopped in for another peek---your roses are beautiful

Florence

Gean

I realize your name is spelled differently, but whenever I read one of your posts, this tune plays in my head: "Jean, Jean, roses are red. All the leaves have gone green. And the clouds are so low you can touch them and so...come out to the meadow, Jean, Jean, Jean." Ever see that British film from 1969? The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie?

The song mentions red roses (which I love), but I think you and I share a love of deep mauve to plum and purple roses, don't we? Your 'Souvenir du Dr. Jamain' photo reminds me that I absolutely positively must get him back in my life! Thank goodness RVR is still in business. My new rose wish list: 'The Rook,' 'Souvenir du Dr Jamian,' 'Munstead Wood,' 'La Ville de Bruxelles,' and 'R. moschata). Yep, I'm seeing a definite purple-leaning trend in that list. The pink and white ones are supporting cast. Now, if I can just scrounge up a few pieces of blue decor, I'll have it made! Your garden is..well...how can I put this? Absolutely fabulous!!

Carol

This post was edited by PortlandMysteryRose on Fri, Jun 21, 13 at 17:42

Wow Gean, that entire garden looks amazing. Our property has a really big/steep hill to work with above the house and then it levels out somewhat. Well if by seven/eight degree slope you mean leveling out. The steeper part with have a mix of flowering plants combined with trees that either do not grow tall or grow slowly.

I am holding my breath for the day when the deer realize that there is something a lot tastier on this side of the road than what used to be here. The roses are still in pots as I work to get rid of a maze of Ivy plus salal and thimble berry which is a wild local relative of raspberries.

Wow Gean, that entire garden looks amazing. Our property has a really big/steep hill to work with above the house and then it levels out somewhat. Well if by seven/eight degree slope you mean leveling out. The steeper part with have a mix of flowering plants combined with trees that either do not grow tall or grow slowly.

I am holding my breath for the day when the deer realize that there is something a lot tastier on this side of the road than what used to be here. The roses are still in pots as I work to get rid of a maze of Ivy plus salal and thimble berry which is a wild local relative of raspberries.