Wednesday, May 7, 2008

New Rose Bushes

I must admit that I have slacked off of my gardening duties since we moved into this house 2 and a half years ago. When we moved in, we installed some basic bushes and trees and I put in some tulip and daffodil bulbs that fall. I added a few little black-eyed-susan plants and a couple of hostas, but that was pretty much it. I was doing good to put down new mulch with each new spring and to be honest my poor little front flower garden has been on the pitiful side of sad for some time.

Tonight, I finally got my rear to the garden center and picked out some roses. Even with 4 kids in tow, it was glorious to browse the rows of perennials and flowering shrubs. By the time we were done, I had two kids pushing carts, and I think I have decided which fountain I'd like to get for the front flower garden. I lined one area of the front garden with yellow and coral tea roses, and picked up one red climbing rose and some red shrub roses and dwarf English boxwoods for one side of the house. I will stop by the nursery tomorrow and have mulch delivered to finish off the project.

The late snow we had last year did some serious damage to my dogwood tree last March, but I held off on trimming it until I could see how much would come back this year. I got the dead branches out of it tonight, and actually pulled out over half of the branches. Hopefully it will have a better year this year and recover. That is my favorite tree.

Here's my post from the Lots of Kids blog:

Mother's Day Roses:


In my family we give yellow roses. I am not sure how far back the tradition goes, but I know that my grandfather would give my grandmother yellow roses and my parents had yellow roses in their wedding. Whenever there was an anniversary or a birthday, there would be beautiful yellow roses. At each house my parents owned, we planted yellow rose bushes. I cannot imagine sending my mother anything but yellow roses. I love yellow roses for the family tradition, but I also love coral roses, and my husband spoils me with them occasionally.

Now spring is here, and it is time to fill the flower beds. I have been using annuals for the past few years, but it just hasn't worked out the way I'd like. So, I told my dear hubby that what I wanted for Mother's Day this year was to plant roses. Tonight dh is away so the kids and I went out and purchased 4 yellow tea rose bushes, and 3 coral colored tea rose bushes for the front flower bed, and 5 red shrub rose bushes and one climbing rose to plant along the side of the house. We also picked up several other little fill-in perennials, and when I opened the back of the truck my neighbor across the street asked if I bought out the nursery :-)

I was able to get the front bushes in the ground before dark, and the side bushes will be put in tomorrow. Then we can mulch it all and it will be fresh and finished for Mother's Day. Better still, as each Mother's Day comes, and the plants mature over the years, I can enjoy the beauty of our family tradition in my very own front yard.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

It never ceases to amaze me that Erika can find the time and dedication to make sure that our flower gardens are in order. The new roses and boxwoods are just a small showing of just how much she looks at the little things.

As I spent of the afternoon tearing up sod and laying the new bed, I had most of my neighboors comment on just how good it looks. It is incredibel that Erika can look for flowers and plants and just make them FIT!

And, as always, the Lord rewards the work. While I stared at the daunting pile of mulch, after the three hours on digging the garden, I was given four "helpers" from the neighboorhood. My two girls and two other girls from the neighboorhood worked with me to move all of that mulch. While they may not be the most efficient helpers I have had, they made up for in enthusiasm and determination. It is times like this that I praise the Lord and my wonderful wife that I had the opportunity to just enjoy those four children.

Thanks for the garden Erika!