Tuesday, February 28, 2017

More Roses and a needleworked heart

 

Good afternoon Friends ~ Thank you all for your kind comments about my roses. I am NOT an expert, I garden on a limited budget, I fertilize sporadically, using a water soluable fertilizer. Sometimes they get a dose of Epsom Salts, sometimes bone meal, sometimes alfalfa. I have learned that the old garden varieties are more disease resistant, have wonderful scents, and have also learned that David Austin’s roses have been bred for those qualities also.

I’ll try to remember to go around and count how many I have now. I think at one time I had between 30-40. I was told many years ago before I started growing roses, that roses do not grow in FL. I’m so glad I didn’t listen to that advice. Certain roses are harder to grow here and require a LOT of care, as they do in other areas of the world. I try to stay away from them.

I bought my first two roses at a local flea market, around 1980-82. They were ‘Pink Pet’ and ‘Louis Philippe’, which is also known as the Florida Cracker rose.  ‘Pink Pet’ died some time ago, but I have a grandbaby of my original ‘Louis Philippe’ still growing. It is very hardy. It is in the ground.

I went out with recharged batteries in my camera to take photos I didn’t get yesterday. We had rain starting around 3 a.m., off and on and sometimes it was really heavy and steady. When it was light out, I could see out my bedroom window that I had a rain gutter problem and would have to fix it when the rain let up. I had to redig the little trench again for the French drain as it was filled with debris. Of course, now that I’ve cleaned the gutter areas, and did the Fr. drain, it hasn’t rained again.  More is expected though, and hopefully I fixed the problems.

The first three pictures are of ‘Louis Philippe’.

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The rose below is either Mr. Lincoln, or Chrysler Imperial. It smells heavenly. It is in a large pot.

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This is a ‘drift’ rose. I’m not crazy about the color, but I got a really good deal at a small local nursery because it was in bad shape. I didn’t know what the color was and hoped it would be a different color than it is. But alas. It does brighten the space where it is, also growing in a pot.

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Two more of ‘Granada’.

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I bought the next two roses online, and didn’t mark them when I got them as to name. One is ‘Borderer’ and the other is supposed to be ‘Homere’. Both are small roses. The top one is in a pot, and the other is in the ground.

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This next one is ‘Paul McCartney’. A wonderfully scented rose, bought at a plant sale 2-3 years ago at the local botanical gardens. Their spring plant sale is coming up again and I may go. It’s always fun to see what is there and to mingle with other plant lovers.

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I’m not sure what the next rose is. It is a cutting that I got going a few years back. It might be ‘Prosperity’, but I’m not real sure.

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This one below is ‘Ruths’ Wavy’ that I got in the trade with Connie from Hartwood Roses 2-3 years ago. It has a sweet scent and I love the delicate blooms. Look who was honing in. Smile What a treat to see it in the photo.

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Next is a wedding gift I’ve been working on since the 12th, I finished it today. The couple were married in our small church, Sunday morning before the service began. The ceremony was a surprise to the congregation. It was simple and filled with love and joy. The pictures I took were with my smart phone as I didn’t have my Canon powershot with me. I picked the best photo, a tender moment. I printed it onto iron on fabric and then worked around it. I edited the photo to be in sepia tones. I hope they will like this sweet momento of their wedding celebration.

Seed beads, fresh water pearls, silk ribbon and embroidery floss, and a crocheted edging.

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Ok, that’s it for this post. I’ve had my simple supper, a glass of Merlot, canned beets with butter and orange marmalade, and canned corned beef hash. My dear husband and I would call this type of meal a ‘camping meal’. Out of cans, simple and easy for when I don’t feel like cooking. It hit the spot and I was/am thankful.

Enjoy each day.

FlowerLady

26 comments:

The Charm of Home said...

Your roses are gorgeous! Your did a fantastic job on the ribbon flowers. I tried that one time and it was unrecognizable as a flower! LOL Thanks for stopping by.
Sherry

Terra said...

I like the idea of a camping meal, easy to prepare for sure, and your photos of roses are spirit lifters. That is a darling heart for the wedding couple. I am going to buy the "Undistracted Widow" that you recommend here. I had a red flower star magnolia planted at my house last week, a new tree for me.

Ruth Hiebert said...

Seeing all your roses, makes me want to visit your garden with camera in hand.Oh the beauty I could capture and the fun I would have. Thanks again for sharing these lovely photos.

Jane said...

What a sweet thing to do for the newlyweds, Rainey. That first white rose reminds me of pear blossoms. I like the roses that resemble the wild ones the best. They aren't as showy but there's something sweet and sentimental about them.

Hugs
Jane

Barbee' said...

I've never used the Epsom Salts trick, because I don't know how much or how: used dry or mixed in water? Is a tablespoon of salts too much per bush? How do you use yours? Thank you. B......

Marti said...

You may not be an expert (though I suspect you know much more than many), but you definitely have a green thumb.

Nancy J said...

Beautiful, a heart made and given with love from your heart, you are so talented, thoughtful, generous, and full of surprises too. Lovely roses, even the one you are not so fond of has a delicate colour.

September Violets said...

You have so many beautiful roses! Love the McCartney rose photo from the side. I'm sure they all smell wonderful too. The heart sachet you made for the newly wed couple is just gorgeous. What a special gift you have made to surprise them just as they surprised your congregation. I love all the detail you worked around the heart. They're going to love it!
Enjoy your day!
Wendy

Pani Wiosna said...

Epsom salts?! This must be a treat! Your roses are beautiful!

Stitchy Mc Floss said...

Oh yes, you most certainly can grow roses in FL. I lived there for over 40 years, and we always had roses. Your roses are awesome. I enjoy seeing all the pretty things you grow.

Your heart for the couple at your church is so sweet. What a truly special and wonderful wedding gift. I know they will treasurer it for years to come.

Wishing you a most lovely day. ((hugs))

Tatyana@MySecretGarden said...

Color and aroma of roses - how wonder to have them a year around! Have a nice March, Lorraine!

organicgardendreams said...

Dear Lorraine, how nice to see a rose post from you! I am so glad that you proof the myth wrong that roses can not be grown in Florida. I believe there is a rose for every climate and area, you just have to find the right ones, that like to grow where you are.
Interestingly even though I like Old Garden Roses very much, my experience with them is not that they are more disease resistant in my garden than some of the newer roses. It all depends on the rose itself. Tea Roses are doing well in my climate and I believe that is true for yours as well. Maybe you want to try some more of those?
I think it is incredibly sweet of you that you made this heart for the newlyweds. I am sure they will appreciate it very much since it is made with love!
Warm regards,
Christina

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

Your pictures are so pretty I can almost smell the roses! I learned about epson salt from my neighbor who was a chemist and raised roses. He always dug up his geranium for the winter and nursed them in the basement under grow lights.

Your heart is the most wonderful wedding gift..and heirloom for sure.
xx, Carol

A Joyful Cottage said...

More beautiful roses. The bee is a delight. I'm so impressed with your handiwork, Rainey. The heart is absolutely stunning. You are so talented, my friend. Happy March! xo

Junkchiccottage said...

Good Morning. Your beautiful pics of your roses made me smile. Such beauty. Camping meals sound yummy and fun. Have a great week.
Kris

Kim said...

I'm a camping meal kind of girl myself sometimes! Your roses are beautiful and your handwork is amazing. Truly.

GretchenJoanna said...

I adore Ruth's Wavy! - and so does that bee, evidently. :-)

What a joy, to be able to grow so many roses, against all odds! I am to the point now that I have not one rose on my property. It's kind of sad, but one can't have everything all the time. I'm glad I can share the beauty of everyone else's roses, even yours far away in Florida. Thank you!

Dewena said...

I keep jotting down names of your roses but I know your advice is right, to find out what does well here. Yours above are so pretty with droplets of rain still on them. I'll have to pass on to my sister the Paul McCarney one as she is such a fan, and her husband is an excellent gardner.

I admit to liking canned corned beef hash too! I'll call it a camping meal from now on, and I can see how the beets would go well with it. I like it with eggs cooked on it for breakfast once in a blue moon.

Annie said...

I wish I could share some treasures with you out of my garden. I have about 40 roses and love them all. I love the wedding gift. What a great way to get married...

Debbie - Mountain Mama said...

Your garden must smell like heaven, Lorraine, I adore all your roses! What a charming wedding gift you created, you are truly a talented lady! Hugs to you, it's nearly time for my Sauvignon Blanc and chicken! :)

Cathy @ My 1929 Charmer said...

Your roses are beautiful and I love them in my garden too. Not having a large sun are I use climbers. Love the wedding gift....can't wait to get in my garden.

Sandra @ Thistle Cove Farm said...

OhRainey...how could they not love it; it's fabulous! Be careful with bone meal, it can be nasty stuff. I can't grow roses to save me but other things seem to do all right. Have a wonderful weekend, you're in my thoughts and prayers.

Kit said...

Your heart is lovely! And I can imagine the married couple will just be tickled with their present. You are a nice friend. :) Kit

Rebecca said...

Hope all is well and that the fact you've not posted lately just means you're busy tending those beautiful roses :)

By the way, those canned beets prepared that way sound delicious!

Unknown said...

What an amazing pictures of your so beautiful roses!!!! I just love your gorgeous garden. Thanks for sharing:)
Jessi

Peter/Outlaw said...

So many beautiful roses and what a beautiful wedding gift. You're very talented!