English Rose for a New Trellis

We recently had some work done on a section of the yard that was in bad shape. The area is about eight feet by twenty feet. It borders a patio under our deck, the driveway, an iron fence, and a ditch between our property and the neighbor's wood fence. Prior owners of this house had spread mulch all over the area and used it for a playground. The mulch had deteriorated and the area had become really weedy. Add in a poorly placed walkway and poor drainage, and we had an area that was a real mess.

While I was home on maternity leave, I called in some landscapers to come redirect the walkway, lay zoysia sod, and put in a bed along the iron fence. They planted white knockout roses in the middle of the long fence and sweet olives on either end.

I also had them build a wooden trellis to hide the utility boxes and meters on the side of the house. They were the first thing I saw every day when I drove into the carport, and I wanted them hidden. I gave them this photo as my inspiration:

The one they built for me is really similar. Because my house is a 1975 modern style split-level home, the landscapers gave it a cleaner shape. What I want to do with this trellis is plant climbing roses on either side with clematis, too. The spot only gets about 3 or 4 hours of midday sun. In the morning I have full shade from the house, and in the mid-afternoon dappled shade through the large trees all around our property. I have whittled down my list of English roses to these nine climbers that are supposedly good for shady positions and hot, humid areas of the US:

A Shropshire Lad - image from the Kew Gardens website

Abraham Darby - image from the Antique Rose Emporium

Benjamin Britten - image from David Austin Roses

Crown Princess Margareta - image from Roses UK

Golden Celebration - image from The Gardening Website UK

Graham Thomas - image from Rose Gardening World

James Galway - image from Brooke's Rose Garden

Teasing Georgia - image from Dave's Garden

The Generous Gardener - image from the Garden Web Forums

So, help me decide! I've created a poll at the top of the blog. Let me know which one you like best for the area. Remember, these are the parameters: my modern style home (although I am a cottage garden lover), existing plantings of sweet olive and white knockouts close by. 

I'll try to post a photo of the area soon! 

English Rose Bouquet

Lovely English Roses

I love English roses. I can't even begin to describe how pretty the blooms are - pillowy and delicate with such lovely color. When I left for Oxford last week, I had shrubs that were covered in buds and a few blooms just opening up. When I got home on Saturday evening, the shrubs were covered in pretty yellow, peach, apricot, and blush pink blooms.

Golden Celebration buds on April 4th. Molineux just opening up, Monday, April 4th. Covered in buds on April 4th. On the left is Tamora. Molineux is in the center. Golden Celebration is on the right. Yesterday I grabbed some shots before heading to Sakura Bana for sushi. Here they are in full spring bloom on April 10th. In the back and right is Tamora. On the left is Molineaux. In the front and right is Golden Celebration. These are definitely the best blooms I've ever gotten from these shrubs. I transplanted Tamora all the way from Oxford. In January 2009 I moved Molineux and Golden Celebration just a few feet from their original spot to their new spot. The "before" photo from 2009 is telling - check out my Rose Victory post from May 2009. The fragrance on Tamora is amazing, very intense. This morning I cut some and brought them into the house, so I should have some pretty arrangement photos later in the week. Ambridge Rose is holding on. She's still very tiny, but she did produce two or three blooms this year. I really hope she takes off this year!

Capturing Spring

Can you believe I almost have roses? This bud is on my David Austin "Golden Celebration" rose. My Austins are covered in buds. I think by the end of the week next week I'll have many beautiful blooms to show off.
"Homestead Purple" verbena is blooming its little heart out under the irises.

And do you spot those iris buds? I should have iris blooms by next weekend!
But that's next week. Spiraea "Van Houtte" is enjoying the spotlight this week. It is covered in pretty blooms.
The bees love it.


Pansies are a staple in my spring garden.
I just love these with their purple, white, butter yellow, and lemon yellow blooms.
And then a pot of orange pansies to complement the new house color. The knockouts will be blooming soon as well. I like to sit here with a book and a cup of tea or glass of wine. Livin' the good life.
Thank you all for your comments about the house color. I am so glad that so many of you like it. I think it might grow on me. Maybe I am just shocked because it is so different compared to the old color. But, you know, I like it darn it. I can't wait to see what it looks like with lantana and knockouts in bloom.

Spring Buds on Mardi Gras

Last year we had a really late spring. All the spring flowers seemed to bloom at once - irises, carolina jessamine, azaleas, phlox. This year many of the early bloomers are putting on buds and will flush into bloom much earlier than last year.

There are tiny, furry buds on the 'Purple Formosa' azaleas.

The clematis vines are budding, too. See all the pretty new leaves and hairy little buds?
The 'Van Houtte' spiraea is covered in tiny buds, too.
I pruned roses two weekends in a row - February 19th and 26th. Now they are budding out and are healthy looking. I hope to keep them looking healthy all year this year.

One thing missing from the garden this year is the pink creeping phlox. Photo below is from Green Gate Farms on the web...I just can't keep this stuff alive! I don't know what I am doing wrong. My guess is that the perennial bed where it is planted gets too much sun and too little water in August. I've bought and planted the pretty groundcover two years in a row because I really want it in my garden. Boo-hoo.

It is a rainy, stormy day here. The forecast has us in a flash flood watch with a possibility of severe weather. I guess I am getting my cool, wet spring after all.

Happy Mardi Gras everyone!

Easter Morning

My little garden in suburban Mississippi is coming to life. We've had a late spring. The azaleas, phlox, spirea, and confederate jasmine are just now blooming. I took a walk around my garden this morning and took photos of the flowers and foliage waking up to spring. Happy Easter!

Corner bed filled with perennials. Because we had such a hard freeze this winter, the verbena did not come back. I am missing their pretty cascading blooms.

Gladiolus (gladioli?) popping up. These are passalongs from Grandma. I received even more this spring.

Phlox

First iris buds.

Hydrangea, hostas, Autumn ferns, and cast-iron plant begin to grow in this shady spot under my mimosa tree.

Bridal Wreath Spirea blooms and frames the front porch steps. My mom top-pruned it a little too hard, so it lost some of its cascading shape. Ooops!She was just trying to be helpful.

Indian Hawthorne buds out.

Bridal Wreath Spirea blooms, in detail.

In the rose garden: Lambs' ears, shasta daisy, all-purple Mexican bush sage, and russian sage. Along with my yellow and peach roses: Ambridge Rose, Tamora, Molineux, and Golden Celebration.

Raised beds for veggies.

The new plum tree ain't lookin' so hot.

Isn't the color on these azaleas divine?

Azalea "Purple Formosa"

Carolina jessamine