This weekend is an opportunity for me to remember that for which I am grateful.  We ate with HH's enormous family yesterday, and my small one comes over this Sunday.  I'll get to have dressing then because I'm preparing much of the meal, and it will be gluten and casein free. Following are my top ten reasons for being grateful for this moment in time. 10.  I live in a country where we are still free to worship God as we see Him.  This is a freedom much of the world does not enjoy. 9.  That, although much is made about the food at Thanksgiving, it is an opportunity to break bread and spend time with our friends and families. 8.  That a five-year-old child, my nephew, came to visit and made me remember what it's like to love fast cars (Hot Wheels), Batman, a soft, green blanket named Silky...

With this post, I hope to clarify a couple of things.  Although I said I grow ninety roses, I don't own ninety different varieties, although it may be close. Several commenters requested more photos of my roses within the landscape.  Before RDR, I didn't take many photos of Rosehaven.  I regret that.  My advice to any gardener and/or parent is to take lots of photos.  Take them of the garden and of your children.  Take them of the children in the garden for that matter.  Normally, I don't post photos of my children online, but this one of Bear and ASW in front of 'Zephirine Droughin' is very old.  ZD never looked so good since that year, and I've added a couple of gardens on either side of them. Now, for a list of the roses I currently grow: New last spring: 'Dream Come True' (1) Grandiflora (2008)  You may...

This month, at Gardening Gone Wild, the subject is roses. Roses, those beauties of the herbaceous garden, those thorny queens with special needs.  Some roses are like pampered celebrities.  In the catalogs, they splash their pretty faces across the glossy pages promising so much and yet, once carefully planted, they deliver so little.  You know what I'm talking about; they're like overindulged actors, who want sparkling water, found only in the Swiss Alps.  Then, when we plunk our money down for their new movie, they give us schlock. So, why do I own over 90 rose bushes? Just look at these sweet faces.  It's easy to look this good in May, but some roses like 'Carefree Beauty', or dare I write, the Knockout family, look this good all summer long.  Then, in the fall, 'Carefree Beauty' presents me with giant, bird lovin' rosehips. In all fairness, we ask a lot...

Lately, with the cooler weather, my thoughts have moved on to more than bulbs although bulbs have been the source of many hopes and dreams for spring. This the front border adjacent to the curving sidewalk.  The centerpiece is this charming little fountain.  Just like in The Wizard of Oz, pay no attention to that man behind the curtain (or the iron bell in the photo's frame).  The fountain is topped with a pineapple, which is a symbol of welcome.  Therefore, a pineapple fountain out front seems appropriate. Before we built the sidewalk, I always thought the area was supremely ugly with the severely straight, edged border (shown at left).  After we finished it, I now like the whole thing a little better.  I can at least look it in the eye, instead of always blocking my vision with my hand as I inserted my key in the front door. Although I...