Calif_Sue's blog: The rain is coming

Posted on Nov 5, 2011 7:30 PM

We got some compost this morning and spread and rototilled it into the area where the new lawn goes. Grabbed the camera for a few shots before the rain started this afternoon. Pouring right now, good thing I watered this morning. :-)

I like orange but this is a bit much. It's to keep the big beasts (not ours, my daughter's dogs) out of the dirt and eventually the new sod. See how they look longingly to get inside! LOL! The raised part toward the back is where I'll plant a curved bed of perennials to soften the squared look of the lawn.

Sigh, talk about perfection in a rose, Vesper is slowly opening.

This is Penelope, a small own root with it's first delicate looking bloom.

Salvia madrensis http://www.anniesannuals.com/plt_lst/lists/general/lst.gen.asp?prodid=2030&prp_let=S
Got this one as a 4" pot from Annie's last year, once it got into the ground it took off.

This is a large leafed abutilon that I took a cutting from my other garden when we moved. In one year it's the same size as the original and rarely without a bloom, which are quite large. Not sure how it will do through the winter here as it gets a bit colder than where I used to live so I'll take additional cuttings.

I have 3 blooms now on William Shakespeare 2000, the largest one is just huge. I don't normally do hand shots but I hope it gives an idea at the size. And this is still a small plant in a 3 gal. pot. Smells divine too.

This is a cutting that took for me of a miniature, Ida Bell, I had taken these shots, linked below, at a rose garden back in 2005 so I am tickled it rooted.
https://garden.org/plants/photo/21423/

https://garden.org/plants/photo/21422/

A couple of Abraham Darby blooms that I couldn't get a shot of until I picked and staged them, now I am enjoying them inside.

Staging is fun and then you get to bring them in too! This is Summer Song, an awesome color for a rose!

Four David Austin's English roses; Summer Song, Abraham Darby and a bud from Lady Emma Hamilton

Last shot of the roses with a small stone bunny I found on the property, hidden in the shrubs, a sweet memento of the former English couple that lived and gardened here. I will treasure it!