How has your Taste Etc. in Roses/Gardening Evolved? Your Journey....

Lynn-in-TX-Z8b- Austin Area/Hill Country

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Most of my gardening experience was in Coastal So. California (prior to the major drought) and Las Vegas which is in a perpetual state of drought. These gardens were in zone 9a and likely 9b/10a. I only maintained a garden in California for a couple of years, but managed to kill plants and roses despite optimal growing conditions. When I moved to Las Vegas, due to the Summer heat, I had to take gardening more seriously. Fortunately, practically any home built after the 1990's came standard with a drip irrigation system and programmable timer clocks in the garage... thank goodness, or I surely would have killed a many of roses!! After attempting to grow stainless steel, I knew that roses needed stronger colors to stand up to the bleaching from the sun. S.S. was a very unattractive weird grayish color, even during the Spring. I gravitated towards reds like that of Veteran's Honor, Altissimo and Crimson Bouquet and yellows similar to Julia Child and Sunsprite. Initially, Austins were a disaster because I had to learn what was required to grow them during inhospitable Summer weather because the rest of the growing year is a breeze. Fast-forward a decade and I was attempting to re-create another garden. That was when i stumbled into this forum, close to 6 years ago. The reds and yellow just did not make my heart sing. My days are lively and when I would return home, my hope was for calm with enough presence for me to take notice. This forum helped to open a new chapter in gardening, while exposing me to a wealth of knowledge from which combined with experience, I believe to have learned more than the previous decade plus. The next garden was created in 2015, and it included all of the colors I love, and was mixed with moderns, Austins, and those marvelous O.G.R.'s. So many of the latter thrive in my desert garden that is now on autopilot ... kind-of... The aesthetic I prefer has definitely moved towards a cool palette of pinks, white, lavender, dark reds etc. My new journey to the inhospitable cold and other things will see the same palette of colors, however... the rest remains to be seen....

How have you evolve as a gardener and what has your journey been like?

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Vaporvac Z6-OhioRiverValley

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

KrisThis is a great topic. I'm the oddball in that my taste has remained fairly constant over the years, I've just never had the wherewithall to realize it in my garden. I used to have extensive perennials, but couldn't keep up with them. That's one reason I decided to go for my dream rose garden. I find it easier to take care of one sort of thing at one time. I've always loved the Austins, OGRs and singles with fragrance in the pinks, deep dark reds and OGR fuschia. I've always loved polyanthas.

Kristine, I'm headed in the opposite direct in subtle ways in that I'm more open to orange coloured roses and even modern HTs so long as they're not in the main beds. I never thought I'd put in Cinco de Mayo in a million years, but it's in my front yard by my brick wall and looks really good with campsis and swathes of warmer coloured flowers. I also used to find some two-toned flowers "gauche", but I'm chill on them now and search them out! I even found space for my Springhill rainbow Ch-Ching and All my Loving in a lower level bed and have to admit, they look really good. I've also warmed to the pale purple roses such as Violet's Pride and am now ordering Quicksilver. Getting the Rainbow of Roses opened my eyes to some things I would have turned up my nose at for some stupid reason. I guess I liked these things in other peoples gardens who had a more modern house and didn't have the imagination to see what cheer they could bring to an old one. Still, The OGRs etc. just speak to me in a different way. I'm the same way with dress and interior design.... so long as it has a style, I'm good with it!, but remain a vintage girl at heart. : ))

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Kristine LeGault 8a pnw
5 years ago
Desert, you are going to have to change your name.

I have moved from the bright oranges to the calmer tones as well

Lots of blush whites, lavender, purple and the dark blackish reds and pale pinks.

I still love a good yellow and a fun strippy but large beds are primarily calmer tones

I am gathering some OGR now and love a loser bloom form and DA s
Lynn-in-TX-Z8b- Austin Area/Hill Country thanked Kristine LeGault 8a pnw
Vaporvac Z6-OhioRiverValley
5 years ago
Oh please don't change your name. I'll never know who you are. Maybe just the zone anda comment such as "now in Pa".
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Has your gardening design/style changed or evolved?
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All things evolve, and often take unexpected paths. Our gardens evolve with us as we grow older, learn new things, suffer through our mistakes, and adjust our lives to follow new priorities. My own garden has gone through several evolutions, the first of which was driven by the purchase of a good power tiller. There was no longer a direct correlation between the size of my garden, and the ache in my back - so it got larger. It was suddenly easy to grow more kinds of vegetables, and multiple varieties. With the luxury of space, I did more trials, and began experimenting to find optimal plant spacing. Somewhere/somewhen after purchasing the tiller, because I really wanted to grow corn & squash in meaningful quantities, it occurred to me that the size of my garden was not restricted to the size of my yard. There is always unused land somewhere, and if you are willing to negotiate, you can often work out an arrangement that is mutually beneficial. I've gardened on OPP (other people's property) for over 25 years... on a military base during my Service days, on a utility easement, behind a former employer, and now on a friend's property. All of those sites had water provided, often with power and/or lights as well. While my gardens were large, they were strictly monoculture. All tomatoes went together in one place, all beans in adjacent rows, etc. I bought new seed each year, and purchased whatever plants were for sale at the local nursery. Had a lot of bad years, especially for insects & disease, and just assumed that was a natural consequence of gardening organically. Then while taking a Master Gardener course, I was introduced to the Seed Savers Exchange, and to the concept (revolutionary to me at the time) of saving my own seed. Embracing that philosophy has had a profound influence on how I garden... not just what I grow, but how, and why. I had to learn a lot more about botany, and learn to think in terms of species. When growing plants for seed, you can't plant different varieties of a species in close proximity; too much risk of crossing. So the tomatoes were spread out, as were the beans and peas; and squashes were limited to one per species. The end result was the dispersal of different species throughout the garden - and the end of monoculture. Even sweet corn was broken up into 2-3 smaller blocks, as opposed to one very large one. I had always allowed a few flowers in the garden, but began using them to fill in places where germination was poor, or where I had removed a plant for disease or signs of crossing. It occurred to me that bees might rather feed on flowers than on bean or tomato blossoms, so I spread them between different varieties to reduce crossing. When I came across Dr. Jeff McCormack's recommendations on the use of barrier crops, I further refined the process. A lot of flowers volunteer in the garden now; I try to make room for them when I can, and let them re-seed within reason. A little chaos - or natural order? - can be a good thing. This elaborate planting scheme had unintended benefits. Insects and disease were not the problem they once were (other than the thrice-cursed SVB). The one drawback: the garden now required planning. :-( When I go out to plant, I need to take the "blueprint" with me. Also unintended was the effect that saving heirloom beans would have on my garden - it forced me to go vertical. So many great heirloom beans are pole varieties, especially for shellies. Once I had found an efficient trellising system, I found that I liked the method... and now trellis anything which will climb. I'll choose pole over bush, and indeterminate over determinate, nearly every time. I found trellises to be good windbreaks, to protect the heat lovers (like okra) in the center of the garden. With over 400 feet of trellis, the garden looks like a maze when everything is full grown. In recent years, as the primary focus of my gardening has shifted to preservation, the garden has undergone one more change. There aren't many commercial varieties left in it, other than a few stand-out favorites like Fortex bean, Green Arrow pea, and King of the Garden lima. Most vegetables are grown on a rotation; I might grow 10 tomatoes each year, just not the same 10. When I retire, I'll probably turn the garden into a farm for a few years, growing seed crops, and introducing heirlooms to the local farmers market. If, that is, I don't find myself growing food out of necessity. 'Night all.
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I guess I am a plunker. I keep buying things that remind me of something when I was a kid or is just pretty then before you know it I have 20 or 30 things in pots and have to make a new bed for them. Then I put in stuff and still don't have room for it all so what do I do? Put it in bigger pots to hold them over til I get another bed made and then go buy more, lol. My patio looks like a jungle. Oh yeah did I mention I need more beds. I am trying to talk my hubby into making me one the entire length of the back of the house and clear out the shrubs on each side. Then I want to yank out all the ugly shrubs across the whole front and make those flower beds too. Poor thing he agreed to buy this house out of all the ones we looked at because he thought he wouldn't have to plant anything since it had mature trees and shrubs already. I just said thats right and let him dream til we actually got it. Now I am slowly filling him in on the real plans I have for it all. I love my trees but hate the shrubs. Especially since he doesn't like to trim them. I would much rather have pretty plants there. This is my first house and I have been waiting a long time to have a place to plant things so I am really enjoying it. I had neck and shoulder surgery recently so I can't do my own digging or I would be done already. Sorry for the rambling post.
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Kristine LeGault 8a pnw
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Excellent idea on the name addition
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw
5 years ago
Vap, for the very first time I am seeing the beauty of Distant Drums. Koko Loko and Hot cocoa.

My front yard is yellows and orange with Soul Sister, lady of Shallot and Easy Does it. So I do love the .orange

As well

But this year. Desdemona. Earth Angel, Bolero all make me so happy

I still want Violets pride and just planted Heirloom .

We can co.compare notes
seil zone 6b MI
5 years ago
I grew up on the beautiful hybrid teas Mom and Grandma had. I thought that was what all roses looked like. When I inherited Mom's roses I went on line to find out how I could take better care of them and found an entirely new world of roses. I now love all the many beautiful forms a rose can have from the simple elegance of a five petaled Dainty Bess to the thousand petaled OGRs. I don't think my color preferences have changed though. I love nearly every color and combination out there. The only one I still really don't care for is red with a yellow reverse like ketchup & Mustard. Just not my cup of tea. And while I can respect the significance of the Green Rose, I've never thought of it as beautiful.
Lynn-in-TX-Z8b- Austin Area/Hill Country thanked seil zone 6b MI
Vaporvac Z6-OhioRiverValley
5 years ago
- Seil, I remember my Mom's roses, also and she set the bar high, but she could grow anything anywhere. I'm with you on K&M, though I laugh thinking back to my visit to PeterShneider's last year. Both my DH and I were strongly drawn to a rose way far away. We traipsed over and what was it?.... you guessed it, Ketchup and Mustard! We laughed our heads off as it's always one I go on about. Especially the name! So I guess for me, it's never say never!
- Kristine, those types of warm colours are the ones that are really captivating me, but I've yet to pull the trigger on any. I'm growing cuttings of Teasing Georgia and Cl. Jackie and thought Gold Blush would be gold, but it's pink. Hopefully, Peggy M will fit the bill and ease me over into that direction! ; )
Lynn-in-TX-Z8b- Austin Area/Hill Country
Original Author
5 years ago
I contemplated a name change but decided against it. Most of my gardening knowledge is regarding growing roses and other plants successfully in the desert. When I start growing roses in PA I will definitely change the zone.

This past year I received a D.A. rose that was supposed to be Falstaff. Well, it has yellow blooms and definitely is not Falstaff! In my last garden of 250+ roses, Golden Celebration and South Africa were the only yellow roses I owned. South Africa was a stellar performer but I could not get past the bright coloring. There is something different about the David Austin yellows. I cannot describe why I view them as different, but one or two will have a place in my future garden... I think.....

I completely agree with you, Seil regarding ketchup and mustard.

Koko Loco remains in my L.V. garden and I really liked it. . I had thought of growing K.L. again, but have read that the overcast skies in Pittsburgh and K.L. coloring can be an visual problem.

I like the idea of now in PA. vaporvac!
Karen R. (9B SF Bay Area)
5 years ago
I have no gardeners in my family, and no history of enamorment with roses. Prior to about 9 years ago now, I never had any inclination toward gardening. Ten years ago I moved to the 10 acre property I'm now on. There were only hints here of any remaining flowers (including two small roses I still have), but the woman who lived here since the 70's was an avid gardener.

After a year here I got a bug to get a few flowers, including two roses. My first two roses were pink (cl. Aloha) and lavender (Blueberry Hill). Fast forward to today, with 135 roses and still growing. Now I'm one of "those" people who, coming home from work in the dark and missing a day out in the roses during the week, go out with the dogs and flashlight, admiring each of the roses, barely able to see them.

I think I've stayed pretty consistent from the beginning. I love roses of every color and love what I call chaos gardening. I don't plan colors or heights - I just find a spot for everything, and drink in the beauty of each individual rose, wherever they are.

I think my biggest change in my taste has been toward increasing petal count. The more petals, the better. Although strangely I'm also now appreciating single roses, which I didn't originally. More than anything, I just think my rose obsession continues to grow over time.
Lynn-in-TX-Z8b- Austin Area/Hill Country thanked Karen R. (9B SF Bay Area)
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw
5 years ago
Chaos gardening lol, love it.

This summer I planted a Teasing Georgia in the corner of the back yard. I felt like the yellow would pop and make that area more of a statement . I had Flamenco Rosita there and it got totally lost

Hopefully the yellow will stand out more.

But , honestly, other than green roses, I love all colors and forms. One of my favorites was Betty Boop. So, singles or packed full of petals , they all have their own beauty

Oh wait, I do dislike the shrub roses that seem to be planted everywhere around town

Teeny ugly red blooblooms, yuk!
Lynn-in-TX-Z8b- Austin Area/Hill Country thanked Kristine LeGault 8a pnw
Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
5 years ago
I have grown roses since I was a child in Minnesota (z4) mail ordering from J&P in Medford, Oregon at that time in the 1960s. I grew HTs to start in bright colors. I then moved to Alaska in 1981 and was more z3 there for 33 years. There, I transitioned to own root roses from Heirloom, High Country Roses and Northland along with Vintage. I veered more in the direction of softer colors, rugosas, and species roses like Spins. I fell in love with naturalistic billowy shapes and wild gardens. When I retired, I specifically moved here to rose growing heaven, in Southern Oregon, which takes me full circle. I've now gone Italian and love the wild, naturalistic, chaos gardening style. I do plan to go to Ninfa in Italy in May 2019. I'm 66 now, so I need to stay in manure carrying shape for the next 30 years hopefully. I just fell in love with Tea roses thanks to Ingrid, and am so glad to see them grow here. I can also grow OGRs and rugosas, so I am in heaven already.
Lynn-in-TX-Z8b- Austin Area/Hill Country thanked Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
oursteelers 8B PNW
5 years ago
I started with hybrid teas at my old house twenty years ago. They did ok but there wasn’t really enough sun for them so my “garden heart” was really in perennials.

Four years ago we moved, only about five miles, but the yard has more sunspots so I’m back to adding roses. I also organic garden so that complicates things too.

This time around I’m focusing on fragrance and disease resistance in all types of roses. Hybrid, Austins, ogr...pretty much whatever catches my eye!
Lynn-in-TX-Z8b- Austin Area/Hill Country thanked oursteelers 8B PNW
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Sheila I love when you post pictures of your roses and make recommendations I feel that if you can grow them well here in Southern Oregon that maybe I will too thank you

How has your Taste Etc. in Roses/Gardening Evolved? Your Journey....

Vaporvac Z6-OhioRiverValley

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Kristine LeGault 8a pnw

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