March 24, 2016
Rebirth of a Rose and Garden
Way back when, I bought a white Lady Banks rose at the Antique Rose Emporium. Wow, I never knew such a thing existed! I plopped it into a blank back corner to shield the fence and quickly swooned over its fragrant clusters.
Then, I planted a couple of tiny primrose jasmines nearby. Eventually they took over that spot, which was okay then. I didn’t have to water them and I had other things to do as I plugged away at the rest of the yard.
In January 2012, we finally dug out those guys to create a rustic patio we’d often discussed. And voila, that sun-starved, rainwater-only Lady Banks was still there.
I pruned, composted, mulched and watered in liquid seaweed. In two months, it looked like this.
Since then, I’ve kept up rejuvenative pruning. I’ve woven long stems into the back fence, too. I don’t water it any longer. Its only fertilizer comes from tree leaves I bank against it. In 4 years, it’s done this.
It’s grown so rapidly thanks to bountiful rainfall that I’ll soon wrangle those long stems into a denser form.
On the other side of the yard, I’ve chopped my first Lady Banks to the ground a couple of times, once when a momentous wind snapped it. Even last fall I had to cut out one side when we repaired and painted the shed. Always it grows right on back, better than ever.
I haven’t watered it since its first year when I stuck it in with nary a thought to the heavy soil.
Tiny bouquets charm us early every spring, but its true job in our garden workforce is to screen the chain link fence and neighbors beyond the barren creek. Multitudes of birds claim it as their clubhouse for raucous discussion.
For years, I watched Madalene Hill (one of the dearest people I’ve ever known) rebirth the blank grounds at Festival Hill into festive gardens.
At James Dick’s Round Top Festival Institute for musical performance and learning, Madalene and daughter Gwen Barclay furthered inspiration through a symphony of gardens.
Now under horticulturist Henry Flowers’ expertise, Madalene’s culinary adventures, that taught us all so much, continue to flourish.
Knowing that butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds strike a chord with us all, perennials include those tasty to us and to wildlife.
Huge rosemary plants partner with the biggest firecracker ferns I’ve ever seen!
On one trellis, a yellow coral honeysuckle screens a service area. Great idea for “service areas” of our own!
Hummingbirds are already showing up for us all. In case you missed it, this week we repeat Zoom in On Hummingbirds with Mark Klym.
Artists often birth their muse among flowers and their mysteries. Through April 10 at the Georgetown Art Center’s exhibit, Botanicals, discover how sensitive and talented women reveal their perspectives.
Thanks for stopping by! Next week, we launch our fabulous spring season. See you then, Linda