A butterfly in the catmint is busy about her business.
But it’s not.
They are the stars of the May beauty parade though with their big, beautiful blooms, and their as of now, mostly clean foliage. Like all good Divas, who could blame them for wanting all of the spotlight for themselves.
Rosa 'Valentine'
At the OHS meeting with Mike Shoup, a woman behind me said I should absolutely own ‘Valentine.’ I think she was right. I ordered one this year, and of the three new roses, I bought, ‘Valentine’ is doing the best. You can see just the smallest amount of blackspot at the bottom of her leaves, but well, that’s life.
Coral bells and variegated Hostas surround Mary
I think this is one of the prettiest parts of the garden. The Heucheras and hostas were already there, but this year I added the black mondo grass to the mix. I like the way the blooms of the Coral bells echo off of the black of the grass. This area gets morning sun. I hope it won’t be too hot for everything I’ve planted.
Oh, here come the roses again. My blooms aren’t as good as last year. I believe this is due to the cooler temperatures we’ve had. The roses just don’t want to open yet. They think it’s April at best.
Rosa 'Carefree Delight' backs up 'Basye's Blueberry'
However, this is the best year ‘Basye’s Blueberry’ ever had. It’s been stupendous loaded with blooms. Perhaps, it likes cold weather.
Rosa 'Baronne Prevost'
The good Baronne is one of the oldest roses growing in my garden, both in the historical sense (1842) and length of time planted here. He dates from a time when every good Lord or Lady was supporting a hybridizer and having a rose named after them. The scent is somewhere between old roses and strawberries. I kid you not.
Below, is another rose from the same time in history. I don’t know who the Marchessa was, but this rose is very pretty and smells divine. Like ‘Valentine’, this is her first year in the garden.
Rosa 'Marchessa Boccella' with my shadow over her
Although it is a beautiful shrub, I don’t think Sambucus nigra ‘Eva’, a/k/a Black Lace™ takes a good photo, but I wanted you to see that she has grown tremendously and now surrounds the ‘Miss Kim’ lilac planted next to her. This amazes me because she almost died three times. I believe it was because the soil was too rich. I moved her until I found this spot of unamended, sandy soil where she is very happy.
This bed is just below the one with the black mondo grass, and the two play nicely off of each other. Her flowers are the softest shade of pink, and new growth is green, swiftly turning to dark purple.
Black Lace Elderberry
I’ll leave you with this photo. It shows one of the four lower beds in the English garden that is my Rosehaven. I planted this with native and prairie flowers, and on the right you can see one of my tomato support structures. In the center, is an orange Penstemon I bought last year from Bustani Plant Farm. Steve had a purple/blue one this year, and it is planted nearby, but you can’t really see it yet. The pink mystery rose is on the fence, and poppies seeded themselves. Also in front is a purple Penstemon ‘Violet Dusk’ I bought last year. The bees think it’s the best thing ever. Penstemons are wonderful for attracting all kinds of pollinators. I have several blooming now in the garden, but I think this is all your browsers can handle for one day.
UPDATE: I was in such a hurry to get this post up later that I forgot to mention that Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day was created by Carol of May Dreams Gardens. Head on over to her place to see who else is participating. Mea Culpa, Carol.
A view of the lower garden with the dock and lake behind it
I am just getting around to all the blogs after being out of town. Your roses are just gorgeous and I love the black mondo grass. Ihave it in a couple of places. It adds a dramatic look to any setting.
Every time I see a picture of Valentine in bloom, I wish I’d bought that instead of Dame du Coeur. Dame has long since gone to the great rose garden in the sky … Valentine sounds like she’d be tough enough to survive my corner of Katy!
Cindy, MCOK´s last blog post..Through the Garden Gate: Monday, May 18th
The Mary Grotto does look beautiful, Dee, as do all your garden areas. Maybe I will print that photo and take it outside to show my black mondo grasses what they _should_ look like.
The roses’ names are so pretty – ever buy any just because you liked the sound of the name?
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Annie in Austin´s last blog post..Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, May 2009
Thanks Annie. Your comment about your black mondo grass made me laugh. I have
bought roses based on names before, but not so much now. That was when I was more into the romance of roses than the practicality of trying to grow them. However, I do still want an ‘Our Lady of Guadalupe’ rose. It’s a soft pink and very popular here in Oklahoma.~~Dee
The roses are almost fragrant from here. Love your corner shot of the mixed bed and your ‘Mary’ bed. How smart of you to add her as that garden would do no less than look stunning with her watching.
Layanee´s last blog post..Now Open at Our New Location
Hi Layanee, they do smell wonderful. Wish you were here, and glad I get to meet you soon.~~Dee
I think the butterfly with the catmint is my favorite photo. The colors are perfect.
I love the variety of old Roses you have in your garden Dee. How do you deal with the blackspot? I try to pick them off & dispose of them & keep the center of the plant nice & airy. Seems to help with some of them.
Racquel´s last blog post..A bonus plant
I love the look of your lower garden. It looks so peaceful and I can just imagine all of the bees and butterflies out there. Your roses of course, look fabulous. I was expecting my roses to be the star of this Bloom Day but they were past their peak. I guess the hotter weather we had did that. btw, I think the link you provided on Carol’s post is for April. Or did that only magically happen to me? 😉 Anyway, I look forward to meeting you at CSF in a couple weeks!
Jean´s last blog post..May Bloom Day (a little late)
Lake? Oh, how wonderful!!! Our catmint is blooming here too and the bees are loving it. Beautiful blooms Dee! Have a great weekend!
Beegirl´s last blog post..I Brake for..
You too, Beegirl. Yes, we have a small, spring-fed lake we share with other people in our rural neighborhood. It is a pretty sight, but I’m so used to it, I hardly notice sometimes. How sad is that?~~Dee
Hi Dee, what fabulous colorful photos of your blooms! I can vouch for Valentine, we don’t grow it here, but planted it in the communal mailbox area in Houston that was without irrigation. It was weedwhacked to the ground each winter and grew back with zero maintenance and tons of blooms after that treatment. I have never seen such a tough character with a sweet name, no fragrance though sadly. Your black mondo looks perfectly placed. I cannot take a decent shot of the sambucus either, but yours is great. Hooray for all penstemons too.
Frances
Frances´s last blog post..Nigella Jungle
Thanks, Frances, I’m going to love ‘Valentine’ I can tell. I also notice a minute amount of fragrance on its blossoms, but you’re right, not much scent.~~Dee
Your garden is absolutely gorgeous!
On the other side of the state we are on our 22nd day of rain with only a few sunny hours and one sunny day to encourage flowering.
I bet your vegetables are going crazy!
Martha´s last blog post..Dunn Gardens In Seattle WA – A Well Preserved Olmsted Design
No, Martha, the vegetables are actually just mostly hanging out doing nothing. It’s been very cold here for a lot of them. I’m hoping for no rain (did I just write that?) next week so everything can soak up the sun (including me).~~Dee
Well, your blooms are beautiful, Dee. But to me the backdrop of the log cabin house and the lake is the perfect period at the end of the sentence. It makes your plants shine.
Brenda
Brenda Kula´s last blog post..Sleeping Critters
Thank you, Brenda. I like the old log home too. It is a nice complement to growing things.~~dee
It is, It is!!! It is all about the roses. So very pretty.
Thanks, Deb. They think so anyway. 🙂 ~~Dee
‘Valentine’ always did great for me in my old garden. No fragrance, but no thorns either, and lots of bold, beautiful red roses.
Your garden is looking great, Dee. Happy Bloom Day!
Pam/Digging´s last blog post..May flowers on Bloom Day
Thank you, Pam. I think your new garden is looking beautiful too.~~Dee
Someday, I will move to my mother’s property at the lake, and I will enjoy her love of roses. In your care, that Valentine will really wow you (already looks very happy), Totally love your elderberry!! (totally:)
Your roses, and everything else for that matter, are just gorgeous Dee!
I don’t have enough sun for roses – wish I did!
linda´s last blog post..May Bloom Day
Linda, I wish you did too, for they are a great joy in the landscape.~~Dee
It’s simply lovely. All of it. I really like that Black Lace bloom and the black mondo grass. You are so right about both.
tina´s last blog post..Bloom Day-May 09
Thanks, Tina, I like black plants. I do.~~Dee
The lower garden with the lake view is my favorite. I think I would love to sit in that little paradise and enjoy.
Patsybell´s last blog post..May Bloom Day
I love roses to and like them planted amongst other perennials.
Me too, Helen. They give a garden such grace don’t you think?~~Dee
Dear Dee…You’ve over loaded my senses with beautiful roses and native plants! …and I am imagining their sight and fragrance… You have created a beautiful haven for roses and for gardeners. gail
Gail´s last blog post.."And now, here’s something we hope you’ll really like!" Bloom Day
Oh, Gail, you always say the nicest things. Can’t wait to see you in Chicago.~~dee
I like your little grotto garden (with the statue). Morning sun, afternoon shade is always the easiest site for plants. Your Roses are lovely, I just wish I could smell them!
Mr. McGregor’s Daughter´s last blog post..May Bloom Day 2009
MMD, silly me, I hadn’t thought of it as a grotto garden before, in spite of the statue, but you’ve put it perfectly as always. I always think of Mary as holding a bouquet.~~Dee
I’m a bit envious because I have to do without roses. We have too many Japanese beetles here. It’s a battle I don’t wish to fight. Still, sigh, they’re gorgeous flowers. Happy GBBD! Cheers/Yvonne
Country Gardener´s last blog post..May flowers for bloggers’ bloom day
I’m so sorry about the d**n beetles. They are the worst. You can come visit me anytime in spring, and I will help you get your rose fix.~~Dee
Wow, your roses are so pretty. I think I might need some more roses in my garden, after seeing yours. And I like your plant combo, too. Getting leaf and flower colors to blend and play off when another is an art form!
Thanks for joining in for bloom day.
Carol, May Dreams Gardens´s last blog post..Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day – May 2009
Carol, now that you have a couple of roses, you need a climber and an arbor to “enter” your veggie garden.~~Temptress Dee