I love Northland's roses and I love freebies. They sent me a free Toscana Vigorosa last year. It's much appreciated.

Me too. I'm very pleased with their plants and the way that they conduct their business.

City of London

http://www.helpmefind.com/rose...

Gorgeous rose Toni. Thanks for the link!

Thanks for the clarification, zuzu. I have limited space, so I cut back Wildeve. The canes that I removed were rubbing, crossing numerous other canes or about to block a new cane. I just cut back the others to about 4' and I cut the lateral canes back after blooming. (New canes can reach over 6', lateral canes can be 3-4'. The plant can get pretty crowded if you let it do its own thing, which I had done until now). For Austins, I guess it makes sense to prune minimally until established and then follow Austin's instructions. I have not been tempted to cut any hybrid teas. They have a very different growth pattern. Besides, since I am new to growing roses, my own root hybrid teas are only 1-2 years old.

The irises are slightly raised at the edge of the bed in an area of good drainage. A couple started to rot in other locations. I am fitting quite a few plants in a small space, for the time being. I am hoping to move myself and my plants to a new place with more living and gardening space in the next couple of years. Until then, I will be pruning to fit.

I would love more tips on pruning, pegging, pilloring and training climbers. I am studying the winter picture of the Austin rose bed in the garden tours forum. I am a bit jealous of the lack of winter protection but England has a lack of winter as I know it. (By pilloring, I mean growing on a post, not ancient torture techniques. Although, it could be torture if the rose has nasty thorns...).

I took some pictures of my overcrowded little garden, but am a bit shy about posting them. I really need rose addiction therapy, among other forms of therapy I am sure, but plants are much cheaper and much more fun!

Please don't be shy about posting your pictures, Andi. We want to see them.

You're right: "Pilloring" does smack of pillory, so unless you're punishing your roses for immoral behavior it might be better to call it "pillaring." I've never trained my pillar roses to grow on posts because I have pillars that are obelisks with an open structure and I can weave the canes through the framework. If I ever did use a plain post, I think I might add some lattice to it

Thanks for the information about Wildeve's wild ways. I just received one from Roses Unlimited this week and I'll be sure to plant it where it will have enough room to spread out.

Yes, Andi, pictures please!

Andi - If I'm willing to share pics of MY crappy garden, with weeds up the yingyang, ugly riverrock, chewed up leaves, black spot, etc etc etc, then YOU need to post pictures because I can guarantee you that they'll look better than mine!!!!!!!!! :) I get so disheartened when I see pics of Zuzu or Calif-Sue or Cottage Rose or Melva, Porkpal, Alan, or Steve... but then I take heart because I've been doing this for only 3 years (started in '08, so I classify this year as year 3.. 2008, 2009, 2010) and they've been doing this much longer than I and have an imminence amount of patience.

Now if this was DG, no way in hell. But this isn't DG.. this is WAAAAAAAAAAY better than DG.

I cheat. I only post the ones that look their best; I've got plenty of really sad ones. I could probably win a "Sickliest Rose" contest easily. I love seeing everyone's roses and companions.

Ppal - you know that's a great idea. On DG, there was a thread on I think the photography forum of "show us your worst wild bird photos" and it was pretty fun. Maybe we show do a poll here and vie for the "saddest rose picture". It'd all be in fun and *i* would learn from it!

I'll get some pics posted, I need design advice. I am moving a few things around (I know, not the best time of year for it). I have roses that are much smaller than I expected, ie Belinda's Dream which is otherwise healthy in spite of being shaded by other plants. I also have some minis that need to be moved before they are lost. My groundcover roses are covering more ground than expected as well. I really like them, just have to adjust my plans.

A friend gave me quite a few roses last year, which I just plunked in wherever they fit. Charlotte right by Golden Celebration and Chris Marlow by Honey Sweet are both too similar. I edged the garden forward a few feet and am eliminating some more grass. The plan is to put the minis in front and move things around a bit. The rocks here make any planting a challenge.

I am trying to attain a cottage look. I am trying to have plants with contrasting textures among the roses.

Of course my plant addiction is not helping one bit. Like any addict, I find certain justifications, but my garden is becoming overcrowded and manic. So many roses, so little space..... I also overindulged in end of year seed swaps - free crack for gardeners-but learned about winter sowing. My veggies are in home made grow bags against the neighbor's building. He doesn't care.

I need a spell checker with more gardening terms. Any suggestions? I currently have several firefox add on spell checkers. I had a hard drive crash followed by a modem crash. Luckily, I keep a separate computer offline for work and am meticulous about backups. I am still getting the programs set up on this one.

Sorry for getting off topic. I don't have a Queen Liz. One cubit member loves hers so much that propagating new ones.

I am a new gardener also skiekitty. I am so glad that I found roses that survive the winters here. I never expected to have them getting too big!!! A nice problem to have, I guess. You have to be a bit crazy to grow roses in the mountains with the long winters and the rocks. It is great to have online friends to share my gardening passion. Only a few neighbors garden.

Good news! My Queen Elizabeth is showing new growth! I tried to get a pix, but I'm not familiar with all of my new camera's settings, too dark. I'm just ecstatic! (I ended up giving it a light tonic of instant tea & Epsom salts.)

Love, Peace and Cinco De Mayo are reblooming now. Most of the others have buds almost ready to break.

Great news! Congratulations. Looking forward to more pictures.

Zuzu - Thank you!

About more pix -
Reblooms or new ones? Companions, or "D" all of the above? I'm having a glass of wine this evening which I usually don't, so look out!
There's no telling what I might post. Ha!

Might be winter pix. LOL

Okay, probably not.

How about a pretty shrub bloom? This is an Ashleaf False Spirea.

Oh gosh, I've done that before, be careful!!! =)

As soon as the sun sets a little more I'm going to sit out in the garden and have a rum-n-coke or two.

Alan

Sounds yummy, Alan!

The boys are off to see fireworks. I'm enjoying an hour and a half of PEACE! I can hear the noise off in the distance, and if I had the *want to* I could probably see some, but no....ahhhh, relaxation is priceless when you have a four year old!

Gorgeous, Chelle. Drink more. Post more.

Okay, you don't have to twist my arm. You didn't say what you'd like to see, so I'll just do eeny, meeny, miney, moe.

BTW - Second glass, LOL

Tall, lemon yellow daylily. NOID.

Hey, Zuzu. I'm getting way OT with these pix so if you want to move them please don't hesitate. I've got more!

Pedestrian flower, but I like the shot.

Rudbeckia. (?)

Nothing is OT to the sophisticated mind, Chelle, and we're all ever so sophisticated in this cubit. Post photos of anything you like and discuss anything you like.

Nice ruffle on that daylily. I'm really starting to love ruffled flowers of any kind. The double petunias are blooming and I'm in heaven looking at them.