Your renovation is breathtakingly inspiring! I know you will enjoy your new garden for many years to come. It's a feast to the eyes. You ooze talent. Your rose choices show a deep knowledge of roses. What do you do for an encore? I'm as happy for you as I can be.

Thank you Moses. We'll see. You know what they say about the best laid plans! But, even so, I'm very excited and hopeful that they are all going be happy in their new home.

Thank you so much Jackie! Fantastic information! I am continually impressed and grateful for the knowledge of this group. :)

Jeri recommended Sombreuil and I fell in love with the photos. Yours is absolutely spectacular!!!! I can only hope that mine grows as well and I have the "problem" of cutting it back. ;)

The new ones I have from ARE came looking very robust for new plants. And super thorny. I can see I will be needing to tie her so she doesn't poke anyone's eye out!

I want to share this. The home is where my husband grew up so he has memories here. Demolition in the back was hard for him, but it had to be done. The one thing I saved from the back yard was my hubby's mother's favorite rose bush. A 50ish year old Chrysler Imperial (I think that's what it is).

I didn't think it would make it, but it was worth a try. I cut it back to 4 feet (it was over 6), cut almost all the growth off of it, dug it up and transplanted it to the front yard about 2 months ago... in the middle of summer. It was so hard. I had to soak the ground to get it up. I was covered in mud. I mean COVERED. And scrapes. I wasn't sure about it at first... but over the last month it has flourished. All the growth you see is new! I'm so proud of this!

So glad you were able to save it! I've been following your progress with much admiration (and envy). It's going to be amazing. I'm looking forward to seeing more. Lisa

Thank you Lisa. For the 50 year old Chrysler Imperial.... I used rooting hormone powder, then watered it with liquid vitamin B1 transplant solution pretty regularly. I really soaked it often since I had to break off, thick, established roots in order to get it out of the ground. Once I started seeing new growth I watered it a few times with Eleanor's VF11. And look at it now! I'm so pleased.

Me too! I'm glad you could save your mother in laws "old friend". I know that's hard work, digging out an old rose bush. Lisa

Fantastic! When it blooms next Spring, keep an eye out for any of the new canes which are NOT coming from old canes, but are coming directly up from the soil, and have blooms or leaves which look different from the ones growing from the old canes.

Just a thought, as it is so old the original plant was probably already established on its own roots. However, if you see what I describe above, post pictures on here and get some opinions. Not a crisis, you can wait to see - no rush to do anything. However, it is possible that you may see some rootstock coming up from the soil, as it was probably budded onto another roses' roots when your DH's mother planted it, and the rootstock may have survived.

Congratulations on saving it, and I look forward to see pictures of the entire bush blooming next Spring!

Jackie

I had a few people asking... so I created a front yard "project" with as many before photos as I could find. It's not roses, mostly azaleas because of the shade. There's carpet roses for the drought tolerance. It's been a patient project over the past 3 years. I don't have any photos of when the front yard was all weeds/turf... but I got pretty close. The "after" photos are actually "during" photos because the front yard is pretty beat up now from staging everything for the backyard remodel. We also had the 60 year old concrete replaced with pavers, are having a flagstone pathway laid, and the driveway replaced... so it's still in process.

Before this BIG remodel... I had done everything slowly by hand. All the landscaping. Digging the dry creek. Shoveling in the gravel. The drip irrigation. All me.

We got a steal on cobblestone someone needed to get rid of and paid just delivery. I tried to move it once delivered... but quickly gave up. That I did get help with. We didn't do the pavers or flagstone ourselves... but everything else was all me. My hubby isn't into gardening... but he helped me dig holes every now and then. ;)

Front Yard Slow and Patient Remodel: http://www.houzz.com/projects/2088719

Enjoy seeing my labor of love. :)

Great job and photos Cori Ann! The front is looking gorgeous too.

So... with all the help of these forums (and all the tempting, enabling, encouraging, whatever you call it! :) ... I found a few more spots for roses. Now I'm done buying though.... until spring. :) I am going to keep telling myself that. "I'm DONE buying. I'm DONE buying. I'm DONE buying!"

So... adding to the list above, I found more space in the actual rose garden and then also decided to plant a few along the fence line (which I was previously going to wait on). I just couldn't resist after looking at everyone's photos on these forums. You all have such lovely rose gardens!!!

In the rose garden I'm making rows of color combos. For roses, I love red and pinks. I love mixing different shades of reds and pinks together. I know some think it clashes or it is garish, but I love it. I usually don't do purple roses and add in purples by adding in other plants like nepeta, lavender and creeping thyme, but decided to add a little bit of purple in the roses too. Here's the plan...

Rose Garden with 4 rows

Garden Arches to enter covered in Iceberg and Crested Sweetheart.

Purple and Pink/Red Row:

• Paradise - Hybrid Tea
• Gentle Giant - Hybrid Tea
• Barbara Streisand - Hybrid Tea

Pink/Apricot Row:

• Peach Swirl - Hybrid Tea
• Princess Charlene de Monaco - Hybrid Tea
• Dames de Chenonceau - Floribunda

Red/Pink Row:

• Falstaff English Rose
• Munstead Wood - English Rose
• Yves Piaget - Hybrid Tea
• At the end also a homemade rebar "tree" obelisk style trellis with Don Juan (large flowered climber) winding around it in the front and Henri Martin (moss) winding around the back

Another Red/Pink Row:

• Young Lycidas - English Rose
• White Pearl in Red Dragon's Mouth - China
• At the end of the row another rebar tree with the same roses, Don Juan and Henri Martin

On the Fence Behind the Rose Garden (I'm going to try espalier after all):

• Nahema - Large Flowered Climber
• Raspberry Cream Twirl - Large Flowered Climber
• And Sombreuil is still planned on the large arbor of the fence that connects the rose garden to the driveway

On the Fence Behind the Potager garden (I'm training them over arbors and I'm going to try espalier along this long fence too)

• Felicite et Perpetue - Hybrid Sempervirens
• Nahema - (again) - Large Flowered Climber
• Souvenir du Docteur Jamain - Hybrid Perpetual (It's shadier here on this fence)
• Centifolia Variegata - Centifolia (I think it's the coldest microclimate in the yard on this part of the fence because it's the lowest point in the yard and northern exposure --- taking a chance on it --- I hope it works out!)

I'm still planning the same roses in the raised beds near the main patio (Falstaff, Chrysler Imperial, ArchDuke Charles, Winchester Cathedral and Iceberg). I was going to try to fit more in, but decided against it because I don't want them to be crowded. Would rather have them spaced far apart for ventilation.

I have a few roses that I don't know where to put yet.... 2 more Dames de Chenonceau, 2 Mini Eden and 2 Little Artist. I have them potted up and will just continue to watch them to see where they might flourish.

Phew. That's the plan. I have them all potted up now in temporary spots so I can make sure they like their new home. I plan to move them in the pots to their planned spots to make sure they like the exposure before I put them in the actual ground. I can't wait for spring and to upload pics!

I am so thankful for everyone's help on these forums! You all are so knowledgeable, helpful and positive! I ended up buying WAY more roses than I would have on my own... but it is going to be so wonderful and it is going to make me so happy every time I step outside. Thank you thank you thank you for your help and encouragement. :)

How super fun Cori Ann! I can hardly wait for more photos. That is great they are potted now so you don't have it kill yourself getting them all in immediately.

You've done a great job, Cori Ann. And ditto what Sheila said! Trish

Wow!! You have accomplished so much! It is already looking good, but next Spring, it should be so pretty... I like all the green and lush looking trees in your surroundings....

Wow, have you ever done a fabulous job!!!! Really great changes that I would never have thought of doing. And great job of moving/saving the CI!! That must have been quite the job and you needed a lot of skill to do it! Great job on all counts!

Carol

You weren't kidding! This is massive!!! It looks like you could host weddings in your backyard by the time you're finished, lol. Keep us posted.

We just may be doing that Kublakan. We have 3 young adult kids. :)

It definitely crossed my mind!

A good days work. All me. :)

Flagstones placed in little paths down the rows of roses. Roses all in the ground (except the babies that are going elsewhere - you can see them in the propagation beds). Tied around or weaving through obelisks and arbors. Sand around the flagstone. Alyssum planted around the flagstone edges too. And a new layer of mulch. Phew. That was a lot of work today! But it's so pretty!!!! It's really almost done!

***

Left row: Gentle Giant, Barbara Streisand, Paradise.

Right row: Climbing Iceberg, 3 Dames de Chenonceau(s), Winchester Cathedral.

Raised propagation beds at the end still need to be set up properly... so ignore them all for now. I'm basically using them as storage!

***

Dames de Chenonceau(s) to the left.

Right row: Climbing Iceberg, Tess of the D'Ubervilles, Munstead Wood, Heathcliff. At the end, this rebar tree of Don Juan and Henri Martin still needs to be completed. And remember what I said about ignoring the raised bed!

***

Right row: Climbing Iceberg, Falstaff, Young Lycidas, White Pearl in Red Dragons Mouth, then the completed rebar tree with Don Juan and Henri Martin.

I did this area all myself! I'm so thrilled and feel a real sense of accomplishment today!

Good for you, Cori Ann! What a terrific effort. So great you got it in now so it can settle in over the winter. Can't wait for Spring photos!

What Sheila said! Trish

Oh wow!!! You are talented and have quite the flair for designing!! I can't wait to see it next year too!!! Well cone!!

Carol

Carol, you've been eating too much icecream!

Cori Ann, It reminds me of a beautiful public garden. When can we come over for the tour? Just kidding of course, but I am looking forward to the photographic updates.

Jasmine I wish I truly could invite you all over! You all have been so helpful, supportive and encouraging. Before I found this forum I was doing everything all on my own. Now I do the work, but I have all of you to help me think things through, ask advice and bounce idea off of. I really wish I could have you all over to say thank you.

Too much icecream??? There is never too much as long as there is carmel sauce!! :)

Carol

Lighting is all complete! The whole project is almost done! I will be able to upload some pretty cool photos by this weekend. :)

I found these low voltage bollard lights online at VOLT. They're on sale if you're looking! Here's a link to the shorter ones (they're still pretty tall and make a wonderful statement - I got a mixture of tall and "short" ones)

http://m.landscapelightingworld.com/bollard-scroll-tower-bronze-low-voltage-p/vpl-1017-26-4-abz.htm

Also... The Christmas lights in the back on the arches are solar powered and work great so far! :)

What a dream! I noted those lights when you posted yesterday? and meant to ask about them. Thanks for the link. I have a feeling you'll be living out here. Now that I see you're setting this up for night time viewing, I thought I'd share how beautiful my New Dawn roses look. They always glow at night. Since I'm always out on the veranda, especially after dark I made sure to add some pale roses when I filled out the beds this year. I bet your Iceberg look stunning in the dark. Now I'm thinking I need some fairy lights, as well.

Oh my!!! Your yard is unreal!!! Those lights are gorgeous - and the shadows exquisite!!! Unbelievably lovely!!

Carol

your work is really paying off it looks fabulous I love all of your Hardscape and all of your sectioned-off areas. We're going to the same thing but an older home the yard was a mess and it takes a ton of work

The whole summer shoveling soil digging holes trying to get planting beds prepared it's a lot of work but it's worth it and yours definitely shines

I cannot wait for next Spring to see pictures of your roses blooming! Even though they are still small babies, you will have a nice bloom from most of them, and they all should grow well over our very mild winter. Congratulations on all of your work - you are amazing.

Jackie

Thanks so much for the encouragement everyone. I was planning only 10 roses in the backyard before I found this forum. Lol. Now I have I think around 70 in the back yard.

But on my own, I had already planted about 60 azaleas in the front yard and maybe 30-40 roses throughout the past 3 years (although a lot are just carpet roses for drought tolerance)... and that was before I found this forum, so obviously I had the pre-existing propensity for this. ;)

I didn't really need a lot of arm twisting or convincing to go for more!

Everyone here has helped me so much. Please if you're in the Bay Area of northern CA, direct message me and maybe I can invite you over! :)

Oh vaporvac here's the link to the solar fairy Christmas lights I bought. Sale of $20 for 2 currently. They're on copper wire so really easy to place. Where I'm at, the power from the sun is still keeping them in all night until I wake up around 4-5am (in November). Probabaly different in other areas... but still pretty darn good.

Amir Solar Powered String Lights, 100 LED Starry String Lights, Indoor/Outdoor Copper Wire Lights Ambiance Lighting for Gardens, Patios, Homes, Parties (Warm White) - Pack of 2 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GHI7KX8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_GNFiyb42NBCR9

Super cute lights. Thanks for the link

Cori Ann, since alfalfa pellets didn't work out for you, because of your dogs, are you still going to try out alfalfa tea?

I wish... but no. My dogs just find it too irresistible. Here's one of them this morning licking his chops after I scolded him for getting up in my citrus trees to get the alfalfa. :/

Before this... they weren't getting up in the raised beds but now I have to break them of the habit.

I wish I could... but it just doesn't make sense to do it since my dogs will only end up eating whatever the alfalfa is on (l think they will eat the bark mulch even if I use tea form). They love it.

Im just going I feed the pellets to them!