So long, farewell...

Installing our fence a couple of years ago was difficult - it was making permanent the division of our yard into two (mentioned here).  We were also cutting ourselves off from our nice new neighbors, though I always hoped they understood that we're DINKs and need some quiet time on this side of the fence. But one of the things that made it easier for me was the excitement about growing climbing roses. I had a vision that they would grow up the fence and then trail through the lattice top.

I chose a rosa (Rosa cl. Pinkie) without a lot of thorns in case it trailed down the other side and the neighbor's kids got too close to it. It's also a double-bloomer, so I'd have softly fragrant roses twice a year. In my mind it would (and did for a short while) look like this:

Friends who grow roses tell me they're not that difficult to grow, but I don't really know what I'm doing with them. I didn't have luck with this one (I ripped it out at the end of last fall). This rose came with the house and does well but I don't really know what I'm doing with it so she gets ignored a lot.

So, for months, when I'd see the many new red canes shooting up, I thought - wow! Pinkie sure is an aggressive grower.

If you know anything about roses, you can see where this is going.

In July, I read Jason's post asking for help for his rose and though I was in a bit of denial after reading it, I realized that my Pinkie does, in fact, have rose rosette disease. (By the way, I also diagnosed my echinacea with aster yellows disease after reading Jason's blog last year. I sense a theme here.)

Surely, though, I could control this disease! I read that it can be managed by cutting off the affected canes, so that's what I did in August. I would win this battle! I would still have my dream of cascading roses over my fence!

Please ignore the clover that acts as grass 'round these parts

As you can see by this picture I took today, am not winning this battle:

So long, Pinkie. I enjoyed my time with you and we had some beautiful moments together, but you're going be removed in the next month or so when I can find the time.

I'm going to place a personal ad out in the universe, so if you know of a plant that fits the bill, please let me know.

Wanted: Climbing perennial plant for small city garden. Attractive location along wooden fence with lattice top. Must have flowers. Needs to do well in morning shade and afternoon sun. Fragrance a plus. Roses need not apply. 

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - September 2013

The time since the last Bloom Day has kicked my butt. I don't think I've felt this overwhelmed in a long time, between my job, teaching a night class, training for two marathons, caring for a sick dog, and any other responsibilities I have. Needless to say, the garden has had zero attention beyond my wistful stares in its direction, so no wide shots this month.

The Backyard

Anemone 'Queen Charlotte'

I've seen goldfinches snacking on the echinacea seeds

Can you guess which of these two sedum I pinched back?

Carypoteris - I don't seem to have written down the specific type

The Side Yard (Abeille Allee)

I should rename this the Engergizer Bunny garden. So many of the plants keep going, and going and going...

Like this hibiscus. It's been blooming nonstop since July. It's right outside my kitchen window and provides such an amazing view.

My numerous Coreopsis 'Moonbeam' plants have been in bloom since June. Three solid months of nonstop color. Amazing.

Coreopsis 'Moonbeam'

The newest additions to the Allee are already showing themselves to be worthy. Penstemon 'Delft Blue Riding Hood' and Geranium 'Rozanne' were 1-inch plugs when I planted them in June and are already bloomig.

This silver lace vine serves two purposes - it creates a privacy screen for our front porch from the neighbors, and it provides some nice shade on the porch in the summer months. It needs some trimming, though!

Polygonom aubertii - Silver Lace Vine

Zinnia

Dahlia

The Front Yard

Gaillardia. I love the seed heads after the petals fall off.

These plants are just getting started and will put on a great show over the next month. On the left is  Aster 'Alma Potschke' and on the right is Aster 'October Skies'.

Dahlia

This zinnia is as large as my fist

Caryopteris - this was split from the plant in the back

That's my end-of-summer/early fall show for Bloom Day! Here's hoping I have more time between now and the next one to get outside and have some fun! Thanks to May Dreams