Because I'm a Proven Winners® Garden Guru, I received two boxes of plants this spring, many of which will be introduced in 2013. Below is a quick video of just some of the ways I used them in my garden and in containers. After I  finished planting, I asked Proven Winners® if I could give away some of my favorite cultivars. They agreed, so we are going to have a Proven Winners® giveaway fiesta with Senorita Rosalita® leading the way. I get excited just thinking about it. Here are the details: Date: Contest begins today, May 31,, 2012 and ends on Friday June 8, 2012 at Midnight. Location: Here at my blog. How to enter: Enter by leaving a comment telling me your favorite Proven Winners® cultivar. Then, if you want to enter again, tweet or facebook this contest leaving me a comment that you have done so along with the...

From the back of a Harley Davidson motorcyle. We took a long ride yesterday through the northwestern part of Oklahoma heading first to Okarche, then Kingfisher where we met our friends, Dede, a/k/a "Red" and John. They rode with us for the rest of the day. The morning started out refreshingly cool, but after we left Roman Nose State Park just north of Watonga, the weather turned sultry hot. Incidentally, Roman Nose State Park is named after Cheyenne Chief Henry Roman Nose, whose encampment was in this canyon of beautiful springs. The famous sign to the park, which I love, was based upon Chief Roman Nose's face and features his famous war bonnet. On a personal note, the lodge was recently renovated by my niece who works for the Parks Department. We "hiked" a very gentle rise to the falls. It being a holiday, children were playing everywhere in the...

Do you ever have times when there is so much to say, you don't know where to begin? After visiting Asheville and the Garden Bloggers Fling, I am without words. I could expound upon the food . . . . Okay, for a moment, I will. The gluten and dairy free food in Asheville rivals any I've eaten anywhere. Bill and I haunted the Green Sage Coffeehouse and Cafe every morning when we broke our fast, and we had a wonderful dinner at Posana Cafe (which was completely gluten free), but that's not all. I also had beautiful, healthy food at every fling event. My friends took such good care of me and the other flingers who had food and other issues. They were gracious and kind, and kindness means so much when you have a food allergy or intolerance. A special thank you to Christopher, Annie, Frances and the wonderful...

A few years ago, three probably, I began adding red roses to the spring symphony. I also added several yellow. I like red and yellow in the garden, and honestly, in roses, these two colors have become my favorites in our sunlight--with the exception of Pink Knockout®. I do love that hot pink of single Pink Knockout®, but I felt like the garden needed more depth of color, and red roses provide it. Rosa 'Cramoisi Superieur' which has taken a slow road to China in growth. This is its third summer.   Until recently, you hardly find decent yellow roses in the marketplace which could withstand Oklahoma's fickle forecast, but, lately, there's been a change in the wind. I have an older shrub from 1984 named 'April Moon' by Dr. Griffith Buck, one of my favorite hybridizers. It makes me sad I never met Dr. Buck. I would have loved...