The last couple of weeks, I have gardened like a mad woman. Everything looks a lot better. Even though I’m sore, I’ll garden like crazy again today. Why?
Because I’m terribly behind, and the weather has been as cool as iced green tea. Today is forecast as hot and windy, but I’ll be out there again. I’ve been working to empty the greenhouse before it gets too hot to keep plants happy and watered. It will remain mostly empty until fall. While I worked, I noticed the clematis are happier than they’ve been in years. ‘Pope John Paul II’ is blooming his head off, starting out a dusty light pink and opening to blooms of nearly pure white.
The following are a few pictures and updates to let you know I’m still alive and kicking. After a busy weekend of speaking and signing books in Tecumseh at a Baptist Church women’s club and then signing books at Full Circle Bookstore, Bill and I are heading to Austin this week. I love Austin, and I can’t wait to share it with Bill. We’re celebrating our 25th anniversary. My sweet husband is also ferrying me to various work-related functions.The college kids are going to hold down the fort for me. Luckily, the entire garden is on drip irrigation and timers.
The roses have really taken it on the chin this spring. I’ve chopped most of them down to their nubbins, but ‘Baronne Prevost’, a very hardy Hybrid Perpetual is still blooming as though nothing is wrong. Gotta love a rose that can shrug off heat and cold. It is difficult to take photos of red roses, or any red flowers for that matter. The camera lens always want to “blow out” the colors, and they look a mess. This time, I put my settings on normal instead of fine, and then I took this photo of ‘Dame de Coeur’ right before dark. I think it came out pretty well, but I could do better. I need to study this situation more. ‘Dame de Coeur’ is one of my favorite red roses. It is a perfect red like ‘Altissimo.’
I’m taping Central Texas Gardener, being interviewed on Field and Feast on the local NPR affiliate. Plus, I’m giving a veggie container talk at The Natural Gardener. Then, I get to have fun seeing Pam Penick of Digging’s new-to-me garden and getting together with my Austin blogging friends and other blogging friends in Austin to partake in a video or photography workshop sponsored by Garden Writers Association. My friend, Kevin Gragg, is doing the video portion. I wish I could attend, but alas, I’m booked for that day. Kevin is the Television Director at Oklahoma State University and videographer extraordinaire behind our own Oklahoma Gardening television show.
Once I return home, I shall collapse into a quivering heap.
I plan to garden most of the summer, but I’ll give a few talks here and there. The push to promote The 20-30 Something Garden Guide: A No-Fuss, Down and Dirty, Gardening 101 for Anyone Who Wants to Grow Stuff
Hello darling,
Don’t know why my subscription to RDR waned so it was so nice to see this wonderful recap and to hear you’re in such demand, my dear friend. Still have writing a book on my bucket list but did publish a story in our major daily, the Kansas City Star (circa:128,000) this spring which I could never have imagined pulling off just a few years ago that I’d like to share:
http://sections.kansascity.com/SS/Page.aspx?ptype=SS_TILE&secid=143755&pagenum=1&facing=false
Best,
Patrick
Even though we garden far apart ( I live in the Northeast) I could state the exact same two things about my garden this year…..dead roses and crazy- thriving clematis. Oh! Mother Nature how you test us!
Cheryl, I hope your roses aren’t all dead. Several of mine died to the ground, but are better now. Happy growing!
Your garden looks so lush even with the drought. I am surprised you even have time for your garden you have been so busy with your book promo etc… Way to go Super Woman.
Lisa, I’m about finished with book promotion for spring and now can enjoy my garden in some peace. We got rain yesterday, and more is on the way.
You’ve been a busy gardener, and writer. Congrats on the book and the garden looks marvelous.
Thank you so much Carol!
Wow! That is busy! How do you find the time to actually garden ?
Lovely to see the roses stoically blooming despite what the weather throws at them. It really sorts out the sheep from the goats, as my grandma used to say ! My poor things are shaking off torrential rain which is bowing them right down. I have a hedge of ‘Charles de Mills’ which is weighted down almost to the ground.
Good luck with all your engagements – professional and social !
Everything looks great! Good luck with the rest of your book tour. My roses were hard hit by blackspot last year and I’ve already pulled one this year. I’m hoping it was the root of the problem so the others will be less infected this year. Love that clematis. Actually, I love all clematis. :o)
Woman, you are amazing! Enjoy the excitement, then take some time to replenish yourself 🙂 How wonderful that in addition to all the gardening jazz, you’ve also made it to 25 years with your sweetheart. That is really something to cheer about.
Congrats on the anniversary, as well as the book and tour. Your hard work is paying off! I love your roses and clematis, two plants I can’t grow well due to low light. Do you have any Buck roses? If so, I how they fair in your harsh winter? They are touted for hardiness, but of course our weather here (SC) is not really a challange.
Congratulations on your 25th anniversary, Dee. Which day is it? David and I are celebrating 24 years on the 26th. Looking forward to seeing you soon, and I hope you’re having fun in Austin!
Great title for this post! I’m currently feeling the same way. Our growing season is a little shorter than yours, so it’s a mad rush for Wisconsinites to get plants in the ground in mid-May. Congrats on your book, Dee! Good luck with the appearances and the courses. Most of all, I hope you have some quality gardening time (and some fun summer time with your family). 🙂
You accomplished what you wanted with the evening photo. Dame de Cour is stunning! So is your Clematis…..They are both garden “show-offs”. I love them!