Neal, I probably wouldn't like hot and muggy either. The thing I don't like about the summer heat, that it really is too hot for me to work outside once the temps get above 90F. I have to get everything done before the heat hits for the day, so I am always pushing. I prefer to work at a steady pace rather than pushing to beat the heat.

Spring becomes a marathon to get a LOT of work done before the hot days arrive. Then fall is another marathon to get everything done before the rains arrive. That kind of gardening just isn't as much fun as I would like it to be .... it becomes true labor.

During these drought years, temps do not cool off until after dark, so there's really no working during the evening hours, either.

Since I don't have any shade in my garden, just moving to some shade and continuing to work is not an option.

All of that said, it's still worth it.

Drought years can be so depressing. The first year I lived in this house (and moved most of the plants from the previous garden here) was a drought year. It was hot and everything was brown, I didn't even want to be outside at all.

Thankfully there are mature trees dotted around the yard, so I can almost always find a shady spot to play in the dirt.

gemini_sage said:Drought years can be so depressing. The first year I lived in this house (and moved most of the plants from the previous garden here) was a drought year. It was hot and everything was brown, I didn't even want to be outside at all.

Thankfully there are mature trees dotted around the yard, so I can almost always find a shady spot to play in the dirt.

Neal ...

Along with selection of roses that are naturally more drought tolerant, I have also trained my roses to be more drought tolerant because I know I won't have rain during the summer months and will have temps in the high 90s to low 100s. Also, I am growing roses in "lousy soil". The soil has improved, but the basic structure under the surface doesn't change that much.

I haven't had any losses due to the drought. Some of the roses did show water stress during the second year of the drought, but I changed how I watered and my mulch materials and there was a lot less stress after the change. Yes, some of the roses went summer dormant, but not many.

I do wish I had more trees. During the summer months I have worse cabin fever than I do during the winter. I can work outside when it's colder as long as it's not raining or snowing. Day temps generally move up into the 50s by the end of January, so I can start working in the garden in January even tho' I don't prune until near the end of March or early April.

I yearn for more shade, but that won't happen here.

The roses I brought with me originally tolerated the drought surprisingly well. Most went summer dormant for me that year too. I've seen stress from drought compromise cold hardiness when followed by a tough winter, but thankfully we had a string of very mild winters after that drought.

Yes, you are in a colder zone than I am, so I would guess that a stressed rose going into winter would be compromised.

I am seeing die back for the first time because of the deer damage.

It's always something.

I worked with a florist's rose over the weekend that is pretty and unusual, it's called 'Quicksand'

The event venue where I work set up at a bridal show Sunday. I think we had the prettiest booth, if I do say so myself! LOL

A striking rose and a very attractive display!

I can't imagine a prettier booth!

gemini_sage said:I worked with a florist's rose over the weekend that is pretty and unusual, it's called 'Quicksand'

• Rose (Rosa 'Quicksand')
• Uploaded by gemini_sage

Stunning. I love it.

We got a really cold spell and any blooms here froze to death. I had been really lucky having roses blooming even up to and including earlier in January. No more. Have to wait for spring now for new blooms.

http://www.fsq.nl/en-us/Produc...

Beautifully decorated booth Neal - very inviting - alluring.

Love those crystals.

Thank you all so much! The lady who puts on the show was wowed, and several other vendors stopped by to take photos- that felt really good We had a lot of serious interest and have booked several tours of the facility.

We bought some new glassware just before the show that worked beautifully with the color scheme. I was blown away when I held one of the Quick Sand roses that was blushed pink to these that are reminiscent of carnival glass- it was a perfect match!

Debra, a lot of brides love the crystals- I get lots of use out of those!

This is where a lot of weddings I do take place, either on the front lawn or facing the house. The original central part of the house was built in the 1890s, the wings added about 10 years ago. I've considered installing some flower gardens but have been undecided how to proceed. Since I'd want it to be a beautiful backdrop for multiple weddings, should it be all white? Or perhaps all pastels? I would love to use a lot of roses, but RRD is terrible in that part of town- a huge hedge of Knockouts had to be removed from the side yard because of it.

What a lovely setting!

I agree, absolutely lovely.

I like the all white flower idea because it should serve as a neutral backdrop, but then it might be monotonous. Depending on how large the beds would be, could you place pastels on the ends and gradually fade them toward the house until there is only white? That is assuming the beds run parallel to the house. If out in that middle grassy section, maybe you could take a similar approach, only from one side of a circle to another, or white in front gradually changing to pastels in back, as an examples.

I like that idea Debra! And all white parts could also have various shrubs and foliage plants for textural contrast and to avoid monotony. There are areas of lawn on each side that would be perfect for large beds- all white nearest the house to pastels further out would work nicely, and there are dark green shrubs as a backdrop to those areas that the light colors will contrast well against.

I would love to see those beds when finished.

If I start on them this spring, I'll probably do mostly annuals the first year, then bulbs, peonies, and irises in the fall. The soil there is terribly compacted, probably from heavy equipment while building the wings. Should probably just do a big lasagna garden.