Garden Party

I've been invited by Cielo, at The House in the Roses, to join her garden party. Please come in and have a look around (I'll be back later to write more ~ I'm late to feed the ferals!). Please visit Cielo and her friends at http://www.houseinroses.blogspot.com/ for a journey through some beautiful spaces.

This is a David Austin, English rose. The name escapes me right now, but it is AMAZING! It's a shrub rose that looks beautiful all the time, it is an insane cut flower (even opens from a bud) and lasts in a vase for well over a week. And no, that little beauty isn't even planted. I plopped it there after buying it and there she sits. Yes, I'm an imperfect gardener. I'm sure there are many of you just like me. She's adjusted and set down roots. We'll have to fix that and give her a bit of respect.

Eureka. I have her in bush and standard form (this is the standard). She never disappoints. Never. I think she's a Jackson Perkins rose. Hardy as hell.

Ahhhhhhhhhhh. Don't even get me started on hydrangeas. They make me weak at the knees. Why? I don't. I just love them. That's one bush by the way, and I didn't even capture the whole thing! It's the one called "Endless Summer." It's an insane bloomer and every year just gets more and more beautiful. I have a whole bunch of them and can't believe my good fortune. They're expensive. About $15 a pop at Home Depot or Lowe's, but worth every penny. Hydrangeas are so easy to propagate, so if you buy just one, you can have something like a gazillion in 3 years! And a successful business in no less than 4!

Isn't that pretty. I bought it with money my neighbor's gave me for babysitting their gold fish pond and kitty. I got a whopping $50 bucks for enjoying myself. I didn't expect a dime, but while they were away had to buy a whole lot of umbrellas to cover the pond because it was about 115 and the fishies were struggling. So my dear friends felt compelled to compensate me. The back yard looked like an art installation! That was compensation enough!!! Very colorful! This is the climbing rose that commemorates 911. I think it's called Stars and Stripes. It's a Jackson Perkins rose. It cost me almost $30 with tax at the most expensive nursery in town (no, I usually don't shop there) and worth every penny because it wasn't my money. She's a keeper. Always beautiful, great in a vase, and inspiring. Yup, she's still in her container, but has set down roots. I know, I have a lot of work to do!

I have a thing about English Geraniums. A BIG thing. No, they aren't like American geraniums. Big difference. Huge difference. They're a perennial, all lacy and pretty, hardy and easy. That would be the purple glob! Then I have an Eastern Redbud tree I planted over 3 years ago. It's only grown that big. Huge disappointment, but what a looker. This year the cheap climbing rose I bought at Long's Drug Store for around $3 on sale, in an effort to save it's life, decided to climb it. I love the combination.

Lost the tag, but think it's called Bridal Pink. I love this rose. It has so many pedals you couldn't ask for more.

A Jackson Perkins shrub rose called Our Lady of Guadalupe. It is an AMAZING rose bush. AMAZING!!! Best shrub rose. Best cut flower. Easiest bush to navigate. Not a single problem. Hardy, beautiful, amazing. Oh, forgot to mention...I love her!!!

My David Austin rose with I think a rose called "Bridal Pink" in the background. Yes the grass needs to be mowed and the edges trimmed. Did you notice our new fence?!

Looking out the living room window. Clematis climbing over a Nandina.

Looking out the breakfast room window in spring. Forsythia coming into bloom. Nope the three candle holders didn't make it, nor did the blue and white planter. Ohno killed them all. That cat is a menace. Oh, and the crystals? Well, those who know him, know he knocked the crap out of those too! That cat has no respect for anything is this house! Yummy hydrangeas.

Spanish lavender and that really cheap climbing rose I saved from the garbage at Long's Drugs.

Relaxation.

A favorite combo...roses and hydrangeas.

A beautiful memory of our lost tree.

Lots of hydrangeas. Most are all Endless Summer.

Heritage and Gertrude Jykell roses (English/David Austin roses). Oh the scent!

Another David Austin rose outside our living room window. Can't think of the name off hand, but if you want it, I can easily come up with it.

The following photos and this one are all of the roses this past May. As most of you know I didn't have time to prune, so everything was about 8-9 feet high. Too funny. When you see photos looking up, that's accurate! I'm almost 5'2", so as you can tell, I was well below the canopy. What an amazing sight! I will never forget this year. It was a lesson in what not to do in the future. I'll let the photos speak for themselves. And yes...I have weeds!

Jackson Perkins shrub rose, Heaven on Earth, and it is. One of the best roses of all time. Best vase rose, bar none.

My dear friend Gertrude!

Heaven on Earth.

Apricot Nector and I think, Perfume Delight.

I can identify two things. The "New" compost pile and weeds. I have a climber in there and a great deep pink rose. I'll get you the names if you need or want them. And in the background, a native California Oak.

Is that Perfume Delight or that other deep pink rose? I don't know?

Lots of roses!

Iceberg (white), Perfume Delight, and my Crab Apple tree!

One of my standards. Baby's Blanket. Can you believe that little stem supports that huge canopy? Nope, me either. But she and I work together.

Azaleas. Oh God, don't even get me started. I love them too.

Thanks for stopping by!!!

XO