Hope Anew - finding the dream again
I went to the Farmers Branch Earthkind a nd Trial Gardens yesterday with the boy and the pup. We spent about 4 hours walking around, smelling everything, and discussing the history of some of the roses they were growing. Most of the Earthkind trials have finished, and it appears that David Austin is now using the garden space to test their roses (I suspect they may be trying to get an Earthkind status for them to boost sales.)
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But imagine my surprise when I turned a corner, and ran straight into Frederic II de Prusse.
Some of you may remember that this rose is my absolute favorite. I think it's one of the best cultivars for the South, with its love of drought and heat, while being impervious to blackspot and pests. The rose in my profile picture is actually Fred! I used to grab handfuls of bouquets of him and bring them to my late grandmother when she was sick in the hospital. It always brightened her day, and she loved this rose as much as I do. The nurses would always compliment her on the flowers she had, saying that they wished florist roses looked so pretty and had such an incredible fragrance.
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Frederic II de Prusse came to the US only a couple years ago, from the last import of Vintage Gardens, and there were only a few plants of him available. The hubby and I have worked to see it preserved in North America by sending it to multiple people and public gardens so that it can live on and hopefully enter commerce. This hasn't happened yet. Unfortunately, a couple months ago my mother plant caught RRD and had to be ripped out, along with half of my garden. I was absolutely devastated and swore off roses as long as I was still in Texas. I had already lost Pavillon de Pregny, and then I had to watch as the workers systematically cut down and dug out 5 years worth of love, hopes, and dreams. I was absolutely heartbroken, and couldn't see a way forward. It was all gone, and there was no coming back from it unless I wanted to spend a couple thousand dollars to import from France.
Until yesterday. When I saw my rose again. We had been leisurely strolling around the gardens, but when I read the tag I came to a screeching halt and almost fell over. I started yelling for Patrick to come see what I had found. And I would be a bald headed liar if I said I didn't stand there and start crying. Maybe it was the fact that he was still here, maybe it was the symbolism of losing my garden and my grandmother, and yet seeing that there could in fact be a new beginning. But man, I bawled. Bawled in public. Like an absolute idiot. And my poor husband just had to stand there and pretend like he didn't marry an absolute lunatic who was crying over a plant.
It's been a rough year, but this was something that I needed. I'm so glad to see that the dream lives on. It gave me energy to actually step into the garden again and make another Eden, however long it may last. And for the first time in a long time, I'm excited about it.
(( Obligatory pupper tax - Marik, my GSD, absolutely LOVES small humans. He is full of piss and vinegar, doing bitework, tracking, and competitive obedience while still working as a health alert and special needs Service Dog. But as soon as he sees tiny people, he hits the deck like the flattest little pancake of a Yoda dog (I call him that cause of his ears), and he just wants to love them. In the picture below, we ran into a mom and her little one in the gardens, and the little dude fed Marik half a bag of treats while Marik held his down. Marik was so sweet with him, licking his hands and gently taking treats from him ))
Comments (15)
K S
6 years agoRelated Discussions
Pursuing hopes and dreams for my ( your) new roses.
Comments (8)Dreaming.... yes, that's what I do. I'm obviously in a dream world if I think I can find places for nearly 100 roses (about half of which are new this yr or last) sitting in several pot ghettos at the upper side of the yard. I'm "really" maxed out. Oh, I have plenty of ground space in the backyard.... but 90% of it is shady/semi-shady most of the day. Too many trees that I can't afford to have cut down. I was out rearranging the pots on the weekend, and looking where to put at least half of them. I can add on a small section at one of the perimeter beds... but that only takes care of maybe 8 roses. Last yr, I planned to make a bed between some of the pine trees at the upper back area... but I will have to contend with roots. Could make it a raised bed, but then I too would have to haul at least 2 truckloads of rocks back there to edge it. And then when all is said and done... will there be enough sunlight there? I doubt it. So, my dreams are slowing becoming faded mis-laid plans. I'm also getting too old and tired and full of pain to be doing this stuff. I'm afraid I will have to begin getting rid of many of the loose-ends. Will replace the dead ones, or ones I don't particularly like, and squeeze in a few here and there. The rest will have to find homes later on......See MoreI. Want. This. (CL find... I hope!)
Comments (24)walkin you couldn't find it because it was on a thread about my chairs! You could have looked forever! I'l put the original link below. This is Magnaverde's sofa and follow are the instructions he posted at BHG and Picturesworth a million year ago - I still have this saved because someday I'm bound to have a piece to use this technique. Here's the process, as I originally described it on the AOL Decorating Board last year, and where the original post was unearthed from the AOL archives by the lovely and talented HOST HOME DECOR. She's the best. ....................... Forget all that nonsense about teensy bottles of expensive paint medium from the crafts store. You don't need anything more than regular latex semi-gloss paint--and a lot of guts. I found a beautiful Baker Chippendale camelback sofa, with cool curved arms and a fat down cushion, but it was covereed in a hideous glazed chintz in the ugliest colors I ever saw. I found some great yellow wool damask to reupholster with, but it would have cost me $3OOO for the job, so I painted my sofa instead. Everyone freaked out when I told then the plan, but it worked. I was planning on painting my room dark green, so I decided to go with the red leather look. First, I painted the whole thing with bubblegum pink semigloss latex paint, using the widest foam brush I could find, and brushing it on in long strokes front-to-back and up + down. Think of that as the primer coat. I let it dry 2 days, and sanded it super lightly with fine-grade sandpaper to get rid of the burrs--there were a lot. When I couldn't feel any more sharp things, another coat of paint, spread thin. Dried and sanded again. Then spread--with my hands--a thin coat of raspberry red semi-gloss paint I had deadened a little with brown to make it a little less vivid. Because it was a deep color, there wasn't much white filler in the paint, and it was almost like a glaze or stain, instead of paint, which is just what I wanted anyway. I just smoothed it on, like suntan oil, and worked it into the pink paint. I let it build a little thicker at the back, on the inside of the arms and at the back edge of the loose cushion, so that the paler, thinner red took on an air of wear at the high points. I let it dry 2 days, then CAREFULLY sanded the few new sharp things, and touched up those spots with my fingers. I let it dry 2 days, then waxed the whole thing with regular paste wax. After it was dry, I polished with a soft cloth, then dusted with talcum, and vacuumed it all off. It was a little stiff the first few days, but now it not only looks like red leather, it feels like it. This worked great on glazed chintz, and probably would work on any smooth fabric, except that some may have more burrs and therefore require more sanding, but I wouldn't try it on anything with a heavy texture. And no, the paint doesn't come off. And it's not stiff, either. Think about it--it's latex paint, and essentially, that's what's in those little bottles of fabric medium. By the way if anyone finds this topic before he or she finds the picture that shows the finished results, it's over in the PicturesWorth album, probably at the bottom of the pile, in MAGNAVERDE'S SCRAPBOOK. Have fun. Magnaverde." ............. For those who STILL don't think you can do it and who need a little pep talk before you start, go to magnaverde.com and look for the link that says 'consult magnaverde'--and I'll talk you through it. It will cost you a few dollars, but of course, my advice is priceless. And besides, I'm cheaper than a new sofa. You can talk to me and then go out for coffee. Good luck. Here is a link that might be useful: Original Thread...See MoreDream Queen...Dream Weaver....GE ?
Comments (22)My three GE's are alive and were early to emerge. Of my two Dream Queens, one of mine is pretty much a goner. The other one has hope. I just loved seeing them last year. I hope to get a replacement for the one I lost this year. I have a picture of my most mature GE. Today was the first day I brought the pot out from the garage. I am so looking forward to seeing this one grow....See MoreStarting anew in a new country
Comments (6474)Thank you guys :) I flew home on a very small plane and really enjoyed it but not as much as getting back to my own bed! I am finding work keeps me very busy- so much to learn and so much to try and achieve. Disappointingly I am not getting the time I used to have to play on Houzz :) I will be taking a break for a while to focus on work. Thank you all for being such great houzz buddies I wish health and happiness and of course lots of amazing design adventures. I have enjoyed you company on my adventure xx...See More
Plumeria Girl (Florida ,9b)
6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
6 years ago
fig_insanity Z7b E TN
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jerijen
6 years ago
nippstress - zone 5 Nebraska
6 years agoMelissa Northern Italy zone 8
6 years ago
Alana8aSC
6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
Lisa Adams
6 years agojoshtx
6 years agoThank you all so much for your kind words and support!! I’m happy to share that three of the gardens I sent the rose to have reported that he is flourishing. I emailed Pam Smith from the Earthkind trial gardens about Fred, and she was kind enough to offer me cuttings.
I had the chance to see one of the cuttings I had sent out in person, so here’s a picture. He looks great, and it gives me so much hope!
fig_insanity Z7b E TN
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoLisa Adams
6 years agoKes Z 7a E Tn
6 years agoUser
6 years ago
joshtxOriginal Author