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| The Maria Shriver rose is replacing the John Paul II roses. White roses tend to be weak, and JP2 fades the moment it is cut for the altar. |
Today I began my search for a rescue dog, got some advice, and drove onto the gardening center. I was hoping for another showy, potted rose and some hostas with a theme. Daisies are good for roses, so I snagged a yellow shasta with coconut like fringes on the bloom. Last year I had white coconut daisies, late with only a little growth in the drought.
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| Call me nostalgic, but the Queen Elizabeth rose is the most beautiful one of all. The bud alone signals a perfect bloom of ethereal color - developed by a Creation scientist. |
Steady rain has been a boon for grasses, weeds, and flowers. The frail plants have become strong with the combinations of rain, drizzle, and sunshine.
The rose Ranger Bob dubbed The Rose From Hell is now the favorite. The blooms are a light red with white, making them look otherworldly. The thorns are still the worst I have ever endured, especially good for accidental blood-letting. Bob spotted a second one (neglected but blooming in the back) and suggested a group for frustrating prowlers.
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| Easy Does is prolific and displays "the colors of sunset." |
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| The shy but persistent photographer got this Easy Does It rose photo for a wedding rehearsal dinner. |
I sit down on a square of cardboard to work on planting and pruning. I was near the sidewalk and the beautiful Easy Does It roses when our Hispanic grandmother came by. A few weeks ago she gave me presents for the roses from last year. She loved talking about the new ones. She got a bunch of Mother's Day roses from Bethany Lutheran Church. The newly moved-in next-door mother of three got the biggest arrangement. Everyone found roses on their doorsteps, including four households outside our little cul-de-sac.
The steady rains energized the struggling plants from last year. Hand-crafted holes for the newest plants made me think of the musical Carousel. "Look at them worms" instead of "Look at them clams." There is an extra boost from
- Stored rainwater
- Organic mulch
- Red wiggler earthworms and related creatures.
The increase is exponential because each part benefits and grows the other parts.
