As always Ingrid your garden is gorgeous as is the views

And now when have you ever heard any of us complain about too many garden pics, Ingrid?:) Specially from you, and your lovely teas! I'm familiar with the snap happies- downloaded what I thought was just my last camera session only to find 89 pics in there..no idea how they all got there...

Must get sea lavender! was just thinking some more blue would be nice and couldn't work out quite what I liked..

You're forgiven... wonderful photos, including the blue conifers which I've mentioned before... we await the next batch with much anticipation... I know the feeling about cameras, mine is always handy... in spite of a neighbour thinking it a vain thing to be doing, but they don't understand the passion...

I love the evergreens and sea lavender. I thought it was heliotrope. It's all lovely.

I love your photos! No need to ever apologize! Your sea lavender is so pretty, who would ever want to get away from it? The colors of Madame Lambard and sea lavender look especially vibrant together. I can't wait to see the spring flush in your garden too!

Love your pics, Ingrid. I can never get enough of them. The rain has been good to us this time, hasn't it? I'm running behind in my yard, was unwell for a while. Still like to get together sometime. Right now my garden looks like I am a hoarder of potted plants. Wait a minute, perhaps I AM a hoarder of potted plants. Your place looks so well planned and clean. I'm always excited to see you've been taking more photos! Lisa

As usual you're wonderfully kind. I'm just glad no one is here to see the deficiencies, with just a few stunted young roses in a large expanse of nothing. Marlorena, I don't even want to think your neighbor said that to your face. Obviously the poor thing has nothing to feel passionate about. It does make me angry on your behalf.

Lisa, I'm sorry you've been unwell and hope you're recovering. There is nothing wrong with being a pot hoarder; to me that means many more roses to look at. Unfortunately my garden has shrunken down to a very few roses, a mere 49, half of which are small, young plants. I'd love to have you visit but am afraid you'll be disappointed. I'll have to tell the little runts to stand up very tall!

Beautiful pics! You've done a wonderful job with the garden.....

I hope NO ONE on this forum ever feels apologies are necessary for garden photos! I live for photos of roses and companions...and various OT images. Your spring garden is beautiful as always, Ingrid! Early spring bulbs and trees are finally in full bloom here in Portland, but for roses, I must still look to your pictures for fulfillment. Gardens: the magic is eternal! Carol

Ingrid, it's all so beautiful! I'm glad you share your pictures, great photography!

You have created such an oasis -- and I know it hasn't all been easy. Like me, you have had to feel your way along, and make mistakes here and there. And we sure learn from those.

Never too many pictures. They're what we have to treasure when things are NOT blooming.

My dear Ingrid, you never have to apologize for sharing pictures of your beautiful garden and roses! MORE, MORE, please!

I admit I became misty-eyed when I read your comments tonight, including the ones I had read before. Nothing could ever make up for your friendship and support, some of you having been my friends and mentors here for years, and the newer additions being equally delightful and passionate about this love of roses that brings us together. We all have challenges and sorrows in our lives, and the daily worries of existence, but this is something we can celebrate, which lifts us up and away from the mundane in life. It's been wonderful to have you all in my life.

Ingrid, you are such a treasure.

Sheila expresses my sentiments exactly! Carol

Mine too. Trish

Ditto. Lisa

Ingrid, Sheila expressed it perfectly for me too. Thanks so much for sharing! I've never seen sea lavender before, very intriguing.

Just keep them coming please Ingrid.

Daisy

Ingrid, your garden is looking good. I've had my eye on Aunt Margie's rose for awhile. She is so lovely in your garden. Your photos make me realize the need for deep blue with my pink roses. I'm not sure that sea lavender would grow as well here as it does for you, though. Please don't ever apologize for your garden photos. I look forward to them!

Elegant as always Ingrid, and I find your yard inspiring for making the whole an integrated and peaceful place. I focus too much on loads of intense colors and packing in as much as I can, but your yard is exemplary in making everything cohesive and fit so well in your landscape. The colors stand out where they are needed for emphasis, but the greenery and forms of the various plants tie everything together in ways I can only dream of. The only thing we'd ever need to forgive you for is NOT showing us these lovely pictures.

Cynthia

Well, Ingrid, I'm sure we can forgive you... if you post more of your delightful photos.

There is a Limonium that is native to the Carolinas, and though it isn't as showy as your Sea Lavender, I sure would like to try growing it here if I could find a source. Whenever I see yours in your garden photos, I'm reminded to look again.

Thanks again for the eye candy,

Virginia

I had one Limonium sprout and it was adorable last summer, but no blooms. Now it appears to have died over winter. I tossed another two seed packets around. I am hoping I get an outlier that could make it here. Temp was down to 11 F degrees last winter, and apparently it couldn't take that. Boo Hoo.

Sheila, I was surprised that zone 8a could get that cold; I'm in 8b, and I can't remember it ever getting below 20F here. So I had a look at the USDA zones, and now I'm wondering if I might be in a 9a micro-climate? Or maybe I'm just exceedingly forgetful?

It seems that the ornamental Limoniums are L. latifolium and L. arborescens. Which did you plant?

I hope you have better luck with them this time around.

Virginia

I tried, and continue to try Limonium Perezii, which I think is the one Ingrid has. Yes, Virginia you might be 9a. We had two previous winters get down to 15 F and 19 F. This last was a winter that also had a foot of snow at one point. All the planted Teas seem to have made it just fine. I'm really hoping the Sea Lavender could eventually make it, so I appreciate the good wishes.

When I drove out to Anza Borrego mid month I thought about your garden and how green the area around you must be. Happy spring. Your roses look beautiful.

Cynthia, I love the way you describe my garden. I'm afraid part of the more green and less color may be that my roses are not such profuse bloomers, but admittedly it's my preference for this place. I've seen pictures of very different gardens with loads of color and often they're very enchanting. This is a somewhat harsh environment and I think my garden reflects that.

I'm afraid Limonium perezii doesn't like a lot of cold, and I've seen it growing best near the ocean, where it's more humid and temperature fluctuations are not as great. My plants are especially happy now with all the rain we've had.

Ingrid, your garden is GORGEOUS!!!!!! Oh my goodness. The colours and textures of the conifers and sea lavender & irises are perfection! What is the Limonium you've planted? Is it just one variety? I love it! I want to try growing it now. I wonder if I can find it...... :)

Thank you, Anna-Lyssa. I have only one type of sea lavender, Limonion perezii. It changes color to some extent when it ages or the weather gets hot. If it does well in your area you should be able to find it in local nurseries. On-line nurseries should also have it. Just look under perennials. If they like your conditions, there will be baby plants scattered around before too long, so you don't need to buy bunches of them.

Thank you Ingrid! It looks fantastic in your garden. Thanks for the tip re baby plants :)

Wow, R. primula and R. gymnocarpa! Tell us more about this nursery. It sounds wonderful.

Hi! It IS wonderful!! It's such a joy! Today all the spinosissimas were in GLORIOUS bloom which is early so it was a pleasant surprise to get to see them.

http://www.mondorose.it/ 

It's the most wonderful nursery just outside of Florence, along the river Sieve, beautiful! Dachshunds are loose, the sun shines, and you can walk amongst the roses unmolested and ask questions and they KNOW roses. Ah! It's so much fun!

Anna-Lyssa, how cool is that! I'm so excited for you. Keeping my fingers crossed the sea lavender will do well for you.

That nursery sounds wonderful. I'm glad it's not near me because I'd be buying roses I have no room for and which would probably fry here with the ever-increasing heat radiation. It would be like being on a strict diet and catching sight of a lavish dessert buffet!

Ha! I know what you mean Ingrid! Fortunately | still have "the Slope" part of the garden which needs populating, and these botanical roses seem just the thing! For the slope I also got some white lunaria and anemone sylvestris....

But I know it's just a matter of time before every inch of the garden is covered in some kind of squished planting..... I am definitely NOT as disciplined as you!

Which is why my garden looks crazy and yours looks elegant! :)

I'm afraid the "elegant" look has been achieved by ripping out plants that did not do well during the 5-year drought and the replacements still being small, Anna-Lyssa, but thank you anyway. Also, in my ever-hotter climate, I don't know how much longer roses will continue to survive and look good, so I'm not buying any more, although in spite of that I still continue to lust after more. I would love to see your "crazy" garden which is guaranteed to be chock-full of interesting plants.