"Cottaging" in California

That's weird that you had such strong wind up there--here we barely had a breeze (although usually it's a wind tunnel here, half my shrubs are leaning all in one direction from the strong wind we get almost every afternoon)

>>I think this calls for a trip to Annies to cure what ails me.<<

Hmm, maybe a trip to Annie's could be a sovereign remedy for all gardening ills, LOL! Here's a shot of my favorite Annie's plant - the ladybird poppy. I'm just starting to pick blooms now.

This message was edited May 16, 2008 7:37 AM

So sorry baitwench. That's incredibly disappointing at this time of year.

We didn't have any wind either. Weather sure was humid though with that cloud cover. And did you catch the beautiful sunset?

My Sally Holmes rose in the background.

I love the way that Sally Holmes blooms in clusters. Each one is a bouquet by itself.

I love the 'bouquet' look in roses, they are my favorite for impact in the garden. This is Eureka that is fast becoming my favorite, mine is still small but this one was en mass at the San Jose Municipal Rose Gardens, it made my Mom swoon and not many roses do that to her she said. LOL

Sue, I see you have some of your roses in pots. I have a baby Abraham Darby in a pot now, and I've been wondering if I should plant it in the ground or just leave it there since it's looking so happy...what's your experience?

Abraham gets big and really should go eventually go in the ground, anything size listing from the Austin roses should really be considered way too small as they tend to grow much bigger on Calif. If it's still a small plant, you can keep it there until it really starts filling it's pot. I have a couple that are in large pots and now the roots have already gone through into the ground.
I start many out in pots just because I have so many pots available plus I really want to see how I will like a rose before committing ground to it. Many of the roses I have now I also chose because they were are smaller and several were listed as good for containers like many miniatures and some smaller floribundas.

Makes sense...that exactly why I potted mine up! I wasn't sure where I wanted it and also where it would be happy...It came bare-root to me in a tiny 3" band in December, and now its in a 8gal pot, doing really well and ready to bloom! Do your roses get stressed when you transplant them? I also worry b/c Abraham is a climber and I'm affraid to hurt it when transplanting!

I try to keep the root ball intact as much as possible and also transplant in cooler weather. Then lots of watering.

got it, thanks! : ) I can't wait to see the blooms, there are I think at least 5 or 6!

One more perennial (I believe Kell also has one of these) that lives only in zones 8-11 - Lavatera olba 'Aureum'. Here it is in bloom, with a heuchera 'Roseda' in front of it. The big hibiscus-like lavender flowers, borne on 12"-18" spikes, really show up against the yellow-chartreuse leaves. This is an amazingly drought-resistant plant, once established. The flowers only come once a year but also make an interesting addition to the vase.

Very pretty jkom... Nice that it's drought resistant!