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| Roses are an investment. Time spent on their created strengths will yield the best flowers. This is a new rose, Enchanted Peace. |
We have had a blend of cold wet weather with stretches of dry sunny weather. That sounds good, and weeds flourish from it. My main concern was the fickle roses new to the garden this year. Heeding the blast I got from a rose specialist years ago, when new roses were not popping in Arizona, I paid attention to each new bush and poured rainwater on the canes and around the base.
The canes can be green and promising, with tiny leaves on the edge of popping. At that point, a little to much sun, drying wind, and hot weather can stop them. Bo thought I was stopping by to pet him over the fence, so his black and white tail wagged back and forth Vivacissimo. "Good Bo. Gentle Bo. Loving Bo."
Every day I poured rainwater over suspect canes, devoid of leaves, and more water around the bases.
The power of Creation? Yes - the rainwater is full of usable nitrogen, devoid of bleach (chlorinated tap water) and often murky with life. My highpoint in college science was the microscopic study of slough water at Augustana. We had double lensed microscopes to watch the flora and fauna in 3D. I enjoyed seeing everything as if it were a tiny aquarium, and studying their relationships. I got an A for that project and nothing compared to it. Botany with plants preserved in vinegar almost destroyed my appreciation for any food or salad using vinegar. Salads especially reminded me of rotting plant material.
Sunlight on rainwater starts the process that begins so much of pond life. We had a fabulous man-made pond at our New Ulm house, and that water was so green the neighbors moved the drainage hose far away from their border. Their response reminded me so much of the Augustana slough, grossly stinky but without the addition of septic drainage, a pale green. The next owners wisely filled the pond, hyper-aware of the pond perched much higher than the basement windows.
I do not enjoy hauling rainwater to the roses, but I enjoy the results. Last night we had a bonus rainstorm, which made me thankful for the tons of nitrogen fertilizer dumped on our lawn and garden. The kiddie swimming pools get just enough water for the birds to splash in. The barrels and buckets collect roof water for pre-soaking plants, helping them get started, and healing the distressed ones.
I over-soaked some bee balm one year, overnight was too much. The plant survived and slowly grew and prospered. On a quiet, sunny afternoon, the Military Gardening Group (often supplemented by Mrs. Ichabod) watches the bees and hummingbirds.
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| Heirloom has the olfactory power Mr. Lincoln - and then some. |
