Monday, June 14, 2010

Gardeners are - let's face it - control freaks. Who else would
willingly spend his leisure hours wresting weeds out of the ground,
blithely making life or death decisions about living beings, moving
earth from here to there, changing the course of waterways? The
more one thinks about it, the odder it seems; this compulsion to
remake a little corner of the planet according to some plan or vision.
~ Abby Adams



There is so much to be done in the garden and never enough time. Oriental lilies need staking , sedum must be cut back, more mulch needs to be spread after I top dress with alfalfa. The edging is looking ragged, bearded iris need to be dug and thinned, the trees all need cutting back, and on and on. I doubt I’ll ever get to it all.


Sunday afternoon I stopped worrying about chores and just enjoyed the garden. The roses are blooming. I overlooked the chewed leaves. My roses are never sprayed and they do surprisingly well. They may get some holes in their leaves and a little blackspot, still it seems better than a residue of poison left from spraying for inperfections. The poor gallicas got moved every year for four years and always had mildew. The unsightly white powder bothered me more than it effected the roses. This spring the gallicas did not get dug up and transplanted and they have no mildew.


(Gallica rose Surpasse Tout)



The annuals got planted late this spring and haven’t filled out much--disappointing. On the other hand some plants are performing much better than hoped for. The Jupiter’s beard has been blooming for two months, what a great little plant. The dicentra still have pretty hearts dangling from their stems and phlox pilosa is still covered in pink blooms. Geranium Rozanne is decked in pretty blue flowers. If she does as well as she did last year, she will bloom non stop through September.


I think my Griffith Buck roses deserve a tribute. These are some of my favorites and almost as easy and carefree as Knockout roses. Dr. Buck devoted his life to breeding beautiful roses that were both hardy and healthy.


The pale apricot Golden Unicorn.





Country Dancer with big bunches of blowsy pink blooms.




Different Drummer, the prima donna of the group but with lovely blooms.



One more photo. Sweet William--loved by butterflies. I enjoy the spicy, clove like fragrance. Sweet William seems to bloom for quite a long period and is never bothered by pests or disease.



40 comments:

tina said...

Those gallicas were saying thank you for not moving them. So great they are mildew free. Lovely roses and it is super you can simply enjoy the garden.

Gail said...

Marnie, I added sweet william to the garden this spring and it sure is a trooper! Love your roses and Golden Unicorn is a delightful color. It's really important for us all to stop and enjoy the roses! gail

Naturegirl said...

Marnie the Gallica rose looks so much like a peony with all those frills! How wonderful are all the roses you show!Never have I seen roses and peonies blossoming at the same time!
BTW your previous post with the white peony..STUNNING!!
I am surely in LoVe with peonies!!
Too bad for us that they are so short lived..perhaps that's why I love them so much!

Dee @ Red Dirt Ramblings said...

I didn't realize you are a Dr. Griffith Buck rose fan. I am too. I think I did a whole post on him last year. I have many of his roses and only one, 'Serendipity' has disappointed me. I love 'Country Dancer' and all the others. Have you tried 'Hi Neighbor'? It is very pretty.~~Dee

Lisa at Greenbow said...

I love the quote you used today. I laughed because I think that first sentence is spot on. Control freak is just what we gardeners are. I control until it gets hot then the garden has to fend for itself until it cools down again. That Golden unicorn rose is just gorgeous. I could take a bite out of it.

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

All of your roses are really pretty, but the Gallica is just beautiful. I want to smell the computer screen.
I planted Sweet Williams this year and hope the butterflies will find it soon.

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

Beautiful roses and the butterfly on the sweet william is perfect. I tried seeding some sweet william but it hasn't sprouted well.

Louise said...

Ohhhh, I've been calling Sweet William by the wrong name. I thought it was a Dianthus. Poor thing, between that and the fact that it's growing in the woods because I threw the potting material it was growing in away, it's a wonder it doesn't have a complex.

BeadedTail said...

Your roses are so pretty! The photo of the butterfly on the Sweet William is lovely and reminds me what gardens are all about!

Cheryl said...

Marnie....how true the quote is.
Control freaks indeed.

Your roses are beautiful. I took a deep breath and pretended I could smell their sweet perfume.
If mine look half as good as yours this year, I will be more than happy.

Sweet william is a lovely cottage garden plant.....so very pretty.
The butterfly looks as though she is enjoying the blooms to.

Like you I have so many gardening chores to do, I very much doubt they will be completed. I spent the day cutting hedgerow back (by hand so as not to disturb any birds)

Have a good week....

Darla said...

I guess no matter the type of gardener you 'claim' to be, we all have control issues, lol. Beautiful blooms here, now, where are the long shots of your gardens?

Sherri said...

Marnie your roses are to die for!! They are gorgeous. Sweet William does have a lovely clove-like fragrance doesn't it! Thanks for sharing!

Pat said...

The Golden Unicorn sure caught my eye, pretty flowers.

George said...

I hadn't thought of gardeners being contol freaks, but now I guess there is something to it. I really like the flowers in your garden -- they're very beautiful.
Thanks for stopping by my site.

Dawn said...

Oh my gosh! How beautiful!

Anonymous said...

I don't see any of these flaws you are speaking of Marnie. Your Roses are gorgeous beyond words! There is alot to be done here too, but it's so hot I'm doing what I can early in the morning and after the sun goes down. :)

Lynn said...

Just another OCD gardner!!! How true, How true!!! I can't tell you how many times I have moved things just this year. Always a work in progress I guess... Your flowers look beautiful... Enjoy your summer...

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Marnie, I have been a frustrated gardener this past month ---seeing the weeds take over 'my' garden spots... Poor George is having to do it all--which is too much for one person. He's doing great--but it grieves me not to be able to get out in the yard some... Maybe SOON...

Love your flowers ---all of them...
Hugs,
Betsy

ShySongbird said...

Your roses are so beautiful, Marnie! I tried to choose a favourite but they are all lovely. I have never been able to grow them well, perhaps I tried too hard!

My garden has been rather neglected so far this year but it does seem quite happy without my manipulation :)

I really loved seeing your Sweet William, it brings back so many memories! My Mother grew it as did my Grandmother and whenever I see it I am reminded of my Sunday school Anniversary each year, when the chapel was filled with flowers, in particular Sweet William which we children would give as a contribution from our gardens...such happy memories!

I also loved the last post with the Paeonies and the really lovely William Bliss Carman piece.

Sandy said...

Hi Marnie, OH my! what beautiful roses, and the first one the gallicas really caught my eye. I have never seen nor heard of them. The first thing I thought of is that they must have a lovely fragrance! Please tell me they do.
They sure are pretty and almost look a little bit like camelia's.
What a lovely enchanting garden you have! Everything is so very beautiful ♥

Loved the quote!


it's 11 pm and we have a heat index of 96 *whew* be thankful of the Midwest !

Kathleen said...

Love the opening ~ I am definitely a control freak!! Wish my garden would understand that & cooperate...

Your Gallica rose is stunning. I'm a sucker for those full blown, packed petal, roses. Interesting how leaving them alone has given you better results. I don't do anything to mine either except water them with alfalfa tea. I'm of the same mindset about the poison on their leaves.
My annuals aren't doing much either but we haven't had as much heat as you have. Usually it takes them until July to get going.
Glad you took some time away from your chores to enjoy the garden ~ the chores will always be there, won't they? and the roses won't!

ps Wonder why Clematis 'multi blue would give such a different performance? Sorry you haven't had a good experience with her. I forgot to mention above how much I enjoyed the photo with the clematis in the background ~ it's the right color as multi-blue but didn't look like it???

Rose said...

Marnie, I hear you. The list of gardening chores goes on and on, and this year I seem to notice more that needs attention than I have in the past. But we do need to stop every once and awhile to enjoy the garden for what it is. I've never heard of Dr. Buck's roses, but they're beautiful! And I'm making a note to self to plant some Sweet William next year.

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

Marnie, I've been feeling so overwhelmed by all that needs to be done in my garden I don't do anything -- which is very atypical for me. I love the stamens of your Golden Unicorn, very similar to my Golden Wings, which even as a on-rose person, I'm very much enjoying! :)

Judy said...

Your roses look wonderful!!!

Cordwood Cabin said...

Ever so true ... but the flowers are ever so beautiful. We, too, have roses suffering from the dreaded Black Spot (which we treat in vain with a variety of organic solutions). But if one avoids looking at the leaves and only at the lovely flowers when in bloom, what does it matter?

oldcrow61 said...

Your roses are gorgeous. I too have never used pesticides nor fertlizer for that matter and my plants do amazing well. I'm anxious to see if my roses do as well this year as last. I was well pleased when walking by certain areas of the garden the beautiful smell of the roses would greet me. I know what you mean about not being able to get everything done. It is unending.

walk2write said...

I was going to ask if the G. Buck roses do well in the heat, and I guess Dee answered that question. Maybe I'll go out on a limb next year and order some. I used to see them in the Wayside and Park catalogs, and I think even J&P carries them. Do you buy yours at a local nursery?

The Pleasures of Homemaking said...

There's always more to do in the garden, especially when you live in a temperate climate and can garden almost year round!

Your roses are just gorgeous! I don't spray mine either. The Country Dancer is so beautiful (and I love that name)!

Manuela

Vetsy said...

Hello Marnie, Thank you for stopping by my blog.

Your flowers are so beautiful. Yes I agree, the Griffith Buck rose is fabulous and does deserve a tribute, I must make a note of it, Easy care and Beautiful what a plus!

P.S I also Like the photo's of the Cardinals and other birds you have posted... Very, Very, Nice!

~ Vetsy

Tammy said...

I love your roses. They are gorgeous!I couldnt dare choose a favorite.

Anonymous said...

There's an old farmer who lives alone nearby, and he has the most amazing display of Sweet William that comes up around his house each spring. I look forward to it every year. They fade away, and are then replaced by Black Eyed Susans. I can't figure out how to let him know that I appreciate the display!

joey said...

As always, a delight to visit your garden via your lovely photos/stories, Marnie. I'm catchin' my breath after being away but centering down here with you. Love your Abby Adams quote ... so me, so you :)

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

It is so true! We get so caught up in creating the garden, we sometimes forget to stop and smell the roses. I so enjoyed your roses--especially Golden Unicorn. Sweet William reminds me of my grandmother. Gorgeous

donna said...

I enjoy making new friends via blogs...your roses are beautiful..superb...gorgeous.

I added more sweet william this year...waiting for results....

garden girl said...

What lovely roses Marnie! Interesting perspective - gardeners as control freaks. I'll have to think about that one a bit!

Randy said...

Manie,
I share your frustration, there just never seems to be enough time. There is so much I should be doing right now, but I miss reading everyones blogs so much I had to sit down and read a few of my favorites!-- Randy

troutbirder said...

That quote is perfect. Of late, I've been working so hard to get out from under that control freak spell.... No No that doesn't make sense either.

fromsophiesview said...

Your roses are perfection...spring this year has been unusally friendly to us in the Maritime climate...our roses are doing so very well along with pretty much everything else. So enjoy reading your blog!

beckie said...

Marnie, glorious roses! I'm so glad you took the time to 'stop and smell' them. :) Surpasse Tout is wonderful. There seems to be never ending chores, but I think we secretly love that about gardening. Abby Adams knows us well.

Corner Gardener Sue said...

I like that quote. Yes, there is so much to do. Like you, I've decided I need to enjoy whatever it is I'm doing and not worry about the rest. I have some mildew on my agastache plants, but they are blooming and looking OK other than the white on the leaves. I've thought about cutting them back, but hate to lose the blooms. The monarda in the same flower bed does not have mildew so far.