Thanks Pat! We must have crossed in cyber space. The raised beds and dogs keep the bunnies out most of the time here ... the gopher wire underneath everything keep out the real culprits around here. Gophers, moles, voles.... they're everywhere. I had gopher wire put in under almost everything. Now if the gophers try they will either get a concussion on the stone or a chipped tooth trying to bite through metal. Hopefully it lasts!

What State are you, Pat? That sounds very tough re your weather.

Thank goodness we don't have gophers here. My two rescues (border collie & shepherd who are now seniors) and a young, crazy Golden are not good hunters and do more damage than good trying to catch the bunnies, armadillos, moles & voles here. My cats were very good at that, but have gone to college with my daughter now. All my fall veggies have been eaten by the critters except the caged late tomatoes and turnip/mustard/collard greens...evidently bunnies aren't into superfoods :)

Shelia, I'm in Alabama where our average annual rainfall is around 60 inches...so our version of a drought is very different from California's, but a couple of months of no rain here is shocking to vegetation that is used to so much.

Diane, thank you for enriching my post greatly with your beautiful roses. I can't pick a favorite but I'm intrigued by the beautiful play of colors on Augusta Luise that I see in your picture and others of this rose.

curdle, I know the feeling; there are some Australian roses that I would love to see here. I should say that, since Aunt Margy's Rose is a polyantha, the blooms are quite small, less than two inches across, but it's a rose that's disease-free for me and almost never out of bloom. With the small blooms and leaves it has some of the feeling of a wild rose, and I love that look to break up the many larger-bloomed roses I have. I'll look forward to seeing your roses in the gallery.

As always, many thanks for your kind words, everyone.

Pat, I read a story in an online news on the Alabama drought and it did sound horrible. With hurricane news in the southeast, this comes as a disturbing surprise. We all feel for you.

I cannot believe how many posts and pictures I missed while I was writing mine. cori ann, you have an intriguing mix of plants, herbs and vegetables. I love that kind of creative thinking. I'd love to grow vegetables, or at least tomatoes, but they'd have to be in a concrete bunker to escape the predation of flying, crawling and walking predators. Even the coyotes enjoy fruits and vegetables.

pat, I had to smile at how two months without rain has been called a severe drought in your area, as compared to five years here, but it's all relative when the vegetation is acclimated to a certain amount of rain. I'm afraid many areas in the world will have to learn to grow things they've never grown before and discard beloved plants that will now have a hard time surviving. It's a different world now.

We have coyotes and mountain lions, but they tend to stay to themselves in the hills (basically across the street). I think they're happy eating rabbits, gophers and turkeys. If they came into my yard to check out my plants I would be terrified! I don't blame you for not growing edibles if they're coming down to check out your garden!

It's funny ... I don't consider my mix all that intriguing or creative, but I think that's because I grew up on a ranch where it was normal to mix plantings like that. We always bordered the beds with herbs like thyme. Thyme is great for borders in this area because they are so drought tolerant and add some green, a little purple and a scent I personally find pleasing. Lemon thyme and creeping thyme are my favorite. I found lemon purple carpet creeping thyme at Richters and thought I was in heaven! I posted the strawberry/sage combo on the companion planting forum a few weeks ago and got the comment from someone that it wasn't a good mix and was too strange. I was surprised! Maybe it's not for some, but there is a lot of documentation that show sage and strawberries planted together enhances the taste of each. My family just always did it growing up and I hust have done it since, with great results. Needless to say.... I just don't post on that forum anymore.

The potager garden is new to me though and I'm so excited to mix veggies like little lettuces and roses to see what happens!

It seems to me the CA drought has been going on so long it is the norm now. Pat those are handling it beautifully.

Your drought is new to you, so learning how to adapt is probabaly challenging.

Some of the things I have done is totally get rid of the lawn (years ago). Over the years I have added more mulch and rocks (dry creek bed to redirect rain water across the yard). Pitchers by every faucet to catch the water while it's warming up. We got rid of the pool. Drip irrigation. Let's see... what else.... well drought tolerant plants of course. Oh and hand washing dishes then saving the dish rinse water in a dishpan (Jeri's genius idea) for the plants. That's a new one but it's working great so far. We have rain barrels recently connected to 2 downspouts. I think that's about it! Trying some of those strategies may help you get through your drought if you're not doing them already. :)

The last of my roses as my son decided to "help me" by disbuding windemere. Also pomponella, princess Alexandra of kent, jubilee celebration and one other maybe lion's fairy tale?

Ingrid, it's so good to see things doing well for you again. I know it's nothing like you had before your drought, but your garden is obviously benefiting from the drip system. Lovely photo of your entrance way, with the iris, and Aunt Margy's rose looks very desirable. SdLM looks wonderful too.

Cori Ann, that's so interesting about the sage and strawberries. I'd be tempted to try it, but what with the birds, and now, my dog, Rosie, I never see a strawberry. And growing up on a ranch! My friend and I used to watch 'Little House on the Prairie' at her house every Saturday afternoon. This was after afternoon tea, which was wheeled into their living room on a 3 tier trolley. Her mother and grandmother were both bakers.

Nothing much happening in the rose department in my garden that you haven't already seen, and it's so hard to get photos now, with the strong light. And I kept getting in the light trying to take a shot!

Anyway, some from this morning,

G Nabbonand. I can never get a good shot of the whole shrub, which is frustrating as in reality it is a lovely, graceful plant.

Mrs Dudley Cross. Blooms all hanging down at the moment.

Etoile de Lion

Rosie, reminding me it's breakfast time!

Trigger, ditto!

Trish

Amazing photos Trish! The spider carrying the bee is just phenomenal!!

Speaking of Maggie, I had no intentions of growing this rose but decided to add it to my order for shipping efficiency at the last minute. It has been a delightful rose and adds such contrast to the woodsy background of the back yard. Only its first year and I can't wait to see how it does in our New England garden.

So many gorgeous pictures, what a treat. Trish, what I saw of your garden is spectacular, especially the pond and hardscape around it, not to mention the doggies. DrumRoll, I love the pictures of Maggie since I also have one, but it's young and your flower looks more purple, which I love. Kelly, that tray of rose blooms is simply gorgeous. Lots of eye candy here; I'm so glad you all contributed.

Amazing pictures.

pat_bamaz, I've been wanting Mary Washington. Where did you get yours?

bellegallica, My Mary Washington came as a band from RVR spring of 2014. Three growing seasons later, she's maybe 3 x 3. A very good bloomer here, but not a self cleaner. Will blackspot some in our high humidity, but doesn't defoliate from it. Here's a full bush shot from this spring:

Thanks for starting this Ingrid. I'm enjoying everyone's pictures. Mary Washington is beautiful! There isn't much left in the garden to photograph, but here are a few of the last blooms.

Perle D'or always has a great fall flush:

Lots of hips on Lyda:

Persimmons almost ready to harvest:

Thanks, pat! It's gorgeous! RVR is out. I will have to try for one in the spring.

I somehow missed some posts. Beautiful blooms, Kelly! Trisha, your dogs are adorable and love your "moat". Drumroll, your raised beds are lovely. Chris, I had no idea Lyda set such wonderful hips...I need to quit deadheading mine!

Bellegallica, I'm terrible at rooting cuttings, so don't attempt to anymore. If you are unable to find mary and are a better "rooter" than I, let me know and I'll gladly send you some cuttings to try.

pat and Chris, thanks for the additional wonderful pictures. This post has turned out to be such a joy. Would love to see more beauties.

Pat, I see that Reverence for Roses carries it, too, so I'm sure one of them will have it in the spring. If not, I'll take you up on your generous offer then.

This is a wonderful, fun thread Ingrid. Thank you so much for starting it. Besides the expert advice and community, the photos are the best part of gardenweb! :) A couple more...

Nothing really spectacular about climbing iceberg, but isn't that pretty? Those redwoods will have to come down someday but today I'm enjoying them.

Paradise

Dew covered Tess of the D'Ubervilles.

My obelisk tangle of Falstaff and Iceberg. Lots of buds still.

Falstaff looking quite interesting. It's darker red in person, but those purple color change stripes are really there. It's not shadowing.

I thought you might like to see that Falstaff purple color-banded bloom when it was first opening about a week ago, last Saturday. See the purple bands? Pretty cool isn't it?

I never realized what a beautiful rose Falstaff is. The blooms are a beautiful old-rose type and the purple bands give it added charm. I'm glad some of these old Austin roses are still grown and loved because they have a charm all their own that I don't always see in the newer ones. If I ever lost Potter and Moore, which has lots of buds right now, I would feel very bereft.

Others have said it is not a great bloomer, but I have experienced it very differently. In the shade here it does make more buds though and become a richer color. I have 3, 2 I put in the shade and 1 I left in the sun. The one I had in the sun was stingier so I just moved him to the shade too. I do feed them with Eleanor's VF11 but not often. Maybe one time every 2 weeks? I love the foliage. It's a verrrrry darrrrrk green just like the blooms are dark. It's just a dark, richly colored plant and it adds a nice contrast to others.

Before I had the time to mulch the Iceberg got powdery mildew and Falstaff didn't. Nice surprise!

I highly recommend it in the shade in areas like inland California.

I second the compliments for Falstaff. I can't wait for spring, although he's still putting on height, but no blooms any more. Yours look wonderful Cori Ann. Thank for the fertilizer tip.

It is interesting to see which roses are still wanting to bloom even after a colder spell. Munstead Wood is putting on growth, but no blooms currently while Viking Queen and Sugar Moon continue to do both along with Darcey Bussell and my polys. I'm enjoying all my petunias... their strident colours are such a surprise at this time of year, but I still like them. Please excuse the chipped planter.. I'd like to say it's meant to look old, but I can't find this style anymore. It kind of goes with everything else around here.

vaporvac, as soon as I saw that planter I knew it was you posting. It's gorgeous, and goes beautifully with your stone balustrades. I'm thinking of painting my broken down white ones stone after seeing yours. Though I may go for something more colourful. I've just had the house painted, and am about to paint the old 2 storey studio cum garage. I was going to do it in the same colour, but suddenly thought about a book I've got on Portmeirion village, where everything is different colours and it looks wonderful.

Yes, it's definitely possible to love a rose. Did you know the fragrance releases the same hormones? as eating chocolate and sex! I drink up Mme Isaac Pereire.

I'm so looking forward to more photos of your garden.

Trish

I love seeing everyone's photos! Vaporvac is your carnation fragrant? There are perpetual carnations available sometimes at Annie's Annuals and Perennials in this area that are very fragrant. They're wonderful! Here's a few more because I'm so happy I finished getting 18 roses in the ground yesterday. :)

A few of buds are forming on Young Lycidas.

I put him in a pretty little cage I found at Orchard Supply.

Tess looks like she's going to be quite healthy and quite a bloomer. Super pliable.

This Falstaff was in the sun as an experiment, but now he's in the ground in partial shade and winding around a little obelisk. I think he will be happier here. Only 3 buds right now. My others in the shade have at least double that.

Here's a plump bud from one of my Falstaffs in the shade. It looks so good and smells so good I want to eat it!

Dames de Chenonceau from Roses Unlimited have the most beautiful, healthy foliage.

Pretty Lady Rose is truly, truly pretty. Fragrance is lovely too.

50+ year old Chrysler Imperial that I dug up and moved in the heat of summer (I was forced to) survived and is thriving. 12 buds currently. :)

Beautiful photos, everyone! Ingrid, your garden is so lovely. Thank you for starting this thread. I can't post photos at this time but am enjoying viewing yours and all the others. Carol

Ingrid's garden is always beautiful, even when she thinks it isn't...

..and it's always nice to see new roses from everyone...

My garden needs some attention, but the Teas, Chinas, and Polyanthas keep blooming regardless. Tonight I'm having dinner with friends, so I made a
bouquet of old Teas, with some 'Marie Pavie' (Polyantha) thrown in for
perfume.

Teas in the bouquet:

Alexander Hill Gray (1909)
Bermuda Spice (possibly the ancient 'Hume's Blush')
Devoniensis (1838)
Etoile de Lyon (1876)
Homere (1858)
Perle des Jardins (1874)
Rosette Delizy (1922)

and the non-Tea

Marie Pavie (1888)

Not every rose mentioned has an open bloom. And the two huge soft-yellow blooms belong to 'Alexander Hill Gray'. Of all, only "Bermuda Spice" and 'Marie Pavie' are planted in the ground. The rest are pot-pets, and will be going into my enclosed back porch in a month or so -- just before the first predicted nighttime low dips below 25F.

:-)

~Christopher

So beautiful and graceful, Christopher! The Alexander Hill Gray is amazing.

Aquaeyes, how romantic! I think your and rosecanadian's pics are convincing me to grow a few of these lovely tender roses in pots and just over-winter them in my coal cellar. There is something so special about them.

Cori Ann, my peach carnation is fragrant. I go it in a pot with a plum and red one for $! at Lowe's, which made it a whopping 30 cents! I also have many smaller dianthus and Sweet William which I adore. They're not only fragrant and vigorous, but hardly require any supplemental water between rains. I found they really appreciate some mulch, however.

Christopher, I've been wondering for some weeks whether your garden still had roses since you haven't posted much (to our detriment), but that bouquet is spectacular. I'm glad your Alexander Hill Gray is doing well. Mine had the most gorgeous flowers but would not stop mildewing. I'm so glad you have Spice. I hope to one day have it again.

I somehow missed this pic of the moodier petunia. I generally prefer these shades, but the bright ones do have a summery feel. These will often overwinter for me, so I just keep the same ones going year after year.

Beautiful roses! Great eye candy! Love the bouquet Christopher. Really lovely.

A nice way to end the day. :)

Beautiful roses all! Now that its somewhat cooled off here.. my roses are starting to bloom.

Marilyn Monroe and PAOK

Cori Ann, your back garden is going to look spectacular when it's fully planted. I hope you keep us updated. Someone did a beautiful job on your hardscape.

haku, I love your PAOK, such a rich color. I'm glad to see you also have repeat-blooming irises. In a warm climate they give color and interest among the roses for so many months of the year. I wish I had purchased one that has the color of yours; I seem to have mostly blues and yellows.

Thanks ingrid... I have mostly blues and purple hehe so the white one is a change for me... Im an over waterer when it comes to irises i tend to kill them :( Im trying to with hold the watering can. Next year Im gonna have to do more to fight off the chili thrips they really had a field day with my roses this year... so much for letting nature takes its course... its taking my roses right along with it!

Seconding the admiration for your white iris Haku :) Unfortuately mine is having an off year and hasnt flowered- hmm..does that mean its on its way out? would hate to lose it...

On the good side, my mystery iris that has refused to flower at all for 3 years suddenly spiked up and revealed itself to be a rather nice looking pale on darker blue bicolour.

I have two irises blooming now and another two or three have buds; not bad for this time of the year.

haku, I'm so sorry you have chili thrips. It sounds like a horrible thing to contend with. They haven't reached me yet, but it sounds like just a matter of time.

Just picked up Austin's Mary Rose

haku, that's a lovely rose. I've had it in the past but did not order it again for my present garden because to me it seemed very thorny and, as you can see with your bush, the flowers shatter. However, I still think you're going to love it because it's beautiful and for me was a very good bloomer.

You are correct Ingrid... we got some wind yesterday and Mary Rose shattered... rather fast. hehehe... ingrid do you cut your iris fans (leaves) back in the winter?

I never cut the irises, haku, because it's never occurred to me to do so, and I don't know what the purpose would be other than to protect them in a cold climate. I just yank out the leaves that are browning and separate the clumps when they become too large. I've never even fertilized them although I'm sure that would increase the number of blooms. I'm afraid I have a very laissez faire garden since my wimpy energy level doesn't allow me to do much.

It is a pleasure sewing everyone's flowers

Seeing lol