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| The strength of the KnockOut shrub rose is its growth. Therefore, plenty of pruning and watering will yield dozens of flowers, lots of longer stems for the vase. I often had 50 roses in bloom at one time. |
We had one day of spring this year, moving from winter to summer with unusual speed. That meant heat and drought, but drought with high humidity. Soon we were in June Bug (Japanese Beetle) weather, which meant chewed rose blossoms and root damage. On the positive side, signs of Milky Spore Disease (toxic only to white grubs) were apparent in a weakened population of the Most Hated Bug in Gardening.
Hope abounds as a long rainy autumn is predicted, which means an absence of frost and a proliferation of roses. The favorite flower loves cooler, rainy weather and reaches its peak in blossoming during such weather, especially since I harvest the flowers often.
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| These white KO flowers attracted aphids like crazy early in the spring, then beneficial insects and spiders stepped in to feast on aphids. Now I have lots of beneficial insect hosts and few problems with insect pests. Short version - many herbs for beneficial insects and no pesticides. |
KnockOut sidebar - KnockOuts are a tough shrub rose, developed to be disease and fragrance free. Tough means they can be cut back with hedge shears, 30 - 50%, and rebound in weeks. I have done that. Ranger Bob told me to prune them back. I said, "I did, 30% a few weeks ago." The KOs were in full bloom with about 50 roses each. Mulch helps the soil retain water and build soil compost, since the wood, paper, and cardboard become rich soil over time. KOs need constant cutting of flowers to keep them producing. The software in a rose says, "The flower has bloomed and is ready to set seed by making hips. Now we can go to sleep for the season." To enjoy more branch and bloom growth, the gardener must cut away at the KO frequently, especially looking for death starts, the flower so far gone that only the sepals are left, making a five-pointed star. They hide especially in the lower parts.
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| Double Delight lights up the garden, colorful and fragrant, related to Peace. |
Another Creation Gardening effort will be lots of fun, free of everything except labor. I have numerous plants - hostas, daisies, mints - that can be dug up, divided, and multiplied. I even have hostas offered from Mrs. Gardener next door.
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| Joe Pye is large and easy to grow, just add water. The blooms create a butterfly frenzy, with various beneficial insects, bees, and wasps joining the party. They take on a brownish tint as they go to seed, which I am using for the spare garden. |
I am already taking Joe Pye seedheads and spreading them over the spare garden in the back, assuming some seeds will germinate and populate that area with the same tall plant, a rival to Pokeweed in size.
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| Salvia |
A member interested me in Salvia, because it is a mint, easily grown, and a hummingbird magnet. So far, Trumpet Vine has grown for 3+ years and used 10,000 gallons of water. Results: two trumpet blooms, a regular hummingbird magnet. Ha. I was ready to tear it down when it finally bloomed. Salvia should be better.
Getting a large area to bloom without weeds taking over is a challenge. I told Norma Boeckler that her garden is a marvel for its display of flowers.
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| Norma A. Boeckler |
I am trying to grow flowers between most of the roses, to fill in where the grassy weeds want to take over. Those weeds love a long rain followed by intense heat. The flowers hold back in the heat, but weeds burst through the layers of mulch.
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| Norma A. Boeckler's Cardinals - they delight us all winter. |
