What's cookin in your rose beds Caro?

Here's the jpg version of the pics you sent Caro.

This one is so cute, I wanted to post it.

Here's what Caro said about it ...
"It is such a happy looking bloom. It has the same effect on me as looking at a happy little pansy's face."

And the Abraham Darby Caro sent -


Me thinks the bloom is one of my favorites, altho my fav bush is 'Belinda's Dream' for its flower form and amazing performance.
The camera seldom catches the glow of that apricot glow in the A Darby that your pic shows - it is absolutely mystical!

I'm getting ready to prepare my new rose bed. Boy am I keeping busy this spring So I've come to ask the experienced - what should I add to the soil? and will I need to fertilize as they grow? Of course I have lots of natural humusy compost from the farm that I always add to the new beds. And our soil is acidic to begin with, so most times I add a bit of lime with the compost, but I didn't know what the roses would like.

It's great to have friends that KNOW how to grow roses!

I know Maggie will ask - I'm planting a John Franklin and The Fairy. I ordered these from Rose Fire. I wanted bare root plants, and I also wanted plants that are grown on their own roots, not grafted. That way if they die back to the ground in the winter I hope I will have a chance of them coming back. I also hope to have a start rooted from my mom's climber. Yes it has thorns, but only the dogs really pass along the path that will have the arbor. I hope to have one of my clematis grow on the arbor also.

Why not get your soil tested for all the basics MK? Your county extension office might offer the service free as they do in Texas, since they are partially national gov funded as well as local.

Sounds like you certainly will have good nitrogen and humus content! One thing would be good to look at is the salt levels and phosphate content. They should be able to advise you very specifically as to what your exact needs are, but it sounds to me that you've got good dirt-stuff to build on! That and the desire and passion to tend the gardens well are the best ingredients and since they don't call you "Mama" Kane for nutin you can't fail!!! oxoxox

Found some more rose pics. Here is the single 'Dortmund' that I was going on about on another thread



and esp for Cathie Reed and Barbara Finholt ...
our fav 'Belinda's Dream'

I like the pine and rose together! Now I just have to plant a pine tree for my climing rose. I also like the purple blooms in with the pink rose. What is the purple bloom?

It's sunny here today. So I'm out to play in the dirt again Or maybe mow the grass - I have to spend way too much summer time mowing

The purple is a verbena, growing on top of the retaining wall. It scrambles down into the rose bush that is planted below the wall. I was really pleased with the bouquet effect it made!