Month: May 2013

Growing my Roses—Up, Up and Away ….

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Climbing rose ‘Don Juan’

 

 

For many years in my garden, I have been dealing with the challenge of growing roses with the forces of nature in its ‘animal‘ form. The deer, rabbits, voles, moles and those rascal squirrels, have caused a lot of frustration to this gardener. It was very disheartening to have lovely blooms or fresh new growth on my rose bush one day only to have it completely devoured by the next day.  Sometimes, I could hardly believe my eyes– one day my rose garden was full of colorful blooms and the next it becomes just a bunch of lifeless sticks!

Thankfully, due to those first hand formative years, I’ve learned how to control some of these ‘hungry rascals’.  One way is by faithfully applying deer repellant (Plantskydd is a good organic one) to all my roses. This can become costly and very time consuming but it does seem to work.

Another way, which I did often in my previous gardens, was to venture into the world of vertical gardening. Roses are especially at their most dramatic when they are growing up and spilling over a vertical support. It evokes a feeling of romance and antiquity to my garden and keeps them out of harms way from my ‘rose eating predators’.

So, I’ve slowing started investing in vertical structures to add to my garden. Mostly arbors, trellises, and obelisks. Many of my trellises and obelisks were purchased online and a few of the wrought iron arbors I had custom made as to add to the architectural flair of my home and garden.  Presently, I’ve got four arbor structures, four obelisks and several trellises, as well as, eye hooks and fishing line for my three ‘Don Juan’ climbing roses. I’m sure I’ll add more over the years, but for now my climbing roses are safe…that is until the Japanese beetles arrive!

Here’s a few photos of my roses climbing these vertical structures in all their splendor and glory this beautiful month of May….

 

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 Beautiful climbing rose Eden graces my wrought iron arch once you enter into my backyard. Eden climbs on one side while a newly planted Lady Ashe is being trained up the other.

 

Climbing rose 'Eden'
Climbing rose ‘Eden’

 

Climbing rose 'Lady Ashe'
Climbing rose ‘Lady Ashe’

 

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Hybrid Musk rose 'Buff Beauty' gracing one of my three obelisks.
Hybrid Musk rose ‘Buff Beauty’ gracing one of my four obelisks.

 

 

Climbing here on another wrought iron arch is Kordes climbing rose ‘Laguna’.  These photos do her no justice. She is a beauty!

Kordes climbing rose 'Laguna'
Kordes climbing rose ‘Laguna’

 

 I’ve planted purple clematis ‘Gyspy Queen’ to accompany her…

 

Kordes climbing rose ‘Laguna’ and clematis ‘Gypsy Queen’

 

This arch was attached on the stone pillars of my upper deck area.

 This arch was attached to the stone pillars of my upper deck area. ‘Laguna’ is being grown on both sides in large containers.

 

 

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 ‘Don Juan’ climbing up my front entrance archway. Eye hooks and fishing line were used to attach the canes.

Climbing rose 'Don Juan'
Climbing rose ‘Don Juan’

 

Making a spectacular display each spring is my lovely climbing rose ‘New Dawn’.  Her romantic presence will always be welcome in my garden….

'New Dawn'
‘New Dawn’

Free standing trellises were installed by my husband and I for her to climb upon. Later, eye hooks and fishing line are put in place to keep her in bounds….

 

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Double arch planted with climbing roses Rev d'Or and Kordes 'Golden Gate and 'Moonlight'.
Double arch planted with climbing roses: ‘Rev d’Or’ and Kordes ‘Golden Gate and ‘Moonlight’.

You would never guess that I purchased this double arch only two years ago. The climbing roses were only 3 feet tall when I planted them but with the faithful application of HavenBrand Manure and Alfalfa tea these climbing roses grew by leaps and bounds!

 

Rev d'Or
Rev d’Or

 

Climbing rose 'Moonlight' (Kordes)
Climbing rose ‘Moonlight’ (Kordes)

 

Climbing rose 'Golden Gate' (Kordes)
Climbing rose ‘Golden Gate’ (Kordes)

 

Double arch, New Dawn and 'Laguna in background.
Double arch, ‘ New Dawn’ and ‘Laguna in background.

 

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Red climber growing up a trellis and spilling over my stone wall.

 

 

Climbing 'Iceburg' growing against a trellis.
Climbing ‘Iceburg’ growing against a trellis.

 

Thanks to vertical gardening I can enjoy my roses for years to come.

Sorry my furry friends, but I’ve outsmarted you this time….

_arch

 

 

May GBBD is Coming Up Roses…in my Garden

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‘Lady Ashe’ climbing Hybrid Tea

 

 

David Austin 'Benjamin Britten' shrub rose
David Austin ‘Benjamin Britten’ shrub rose

 

 

'Iceburg'
‘Iceburg’

 

Miniature rose 'Diamond Eyes'
Miniature rose ‘Diamond Eyes’

 

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Climbing rose ‘Eden’
Climbing rose 'Eden'
Climbing rose ‘Eden’

 

'Distant Drums' shrub rose
‘Distant Drums’ shrub rose

 

Climbing rose 'Moonlight' (Kordes)
Climbing rose ‘Moonlight’ (Kordes)

 

 

Kordes Climbing rose 'Laguna'
Kordes Climbing rose ‘Laguna’
Climbing rose 'Golden Gate' (Kordes)
Climbing rose ‘Golden Gate’ (Kordes)

 

 

Floribunda rose 'Love Song'
Floribunda rose ‘Love Song’

 

Climbing Noisette rose 'Rev'd'Or'
Climbing Noisette rose ‘Rev’d’Or’

 

David Austin 'Evelyn'
David Austin ‘Evelyn’

 

'Compassion' climbing rose in full bloom
‘Compassion’ climbing rose in full bloom

 

'Marie Pavie' Polyantha rose
‘Marie Pavie’ Polyantha rose

 

 

Hybrid Tea 'Moonstone'
Hybrid Tea ‘Moonstone’

 

 

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Many thanks to Carol at May Dream Gardens for

hosting Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day

Carol at May Dreams Gardens

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flirting in my Garden….my Fringe Tree

Nobody likes a show-off but in this case I’ll make an exception. All week my Fringe trees have been grabbing everybody’s attention with their showy creamy white blossoms flirting in the breeze- even glowing in the evening under the moonlight…

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 ~Fringe tree~

Size: 8-20 feet tall, 8-10 feet wide

It is found in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9.

Bloom time: Flowers from April to May with masses of beautiful drooping white flowers

Exposure:  Full sun to partial shade; seems to perform well with some afternoon shade in my Zone 7b garden.

Excellent in a woodland garden

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A new addition to my garden this spring is Chionanthus retusus  ‘Tokyo Tower’  Chinese Fringe tree. Perfect for smaller gardens or tight spaces. I have mine planted at the edge of my ‘moonlight’ garden surrounded by my Annabelle and Snowflake hydrangeas, white camellia, Casa Blanca lilies and other white flowering shrubs and flowers.

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