For whatever reason, the urge to blog or even read blogs has been lacking. It’s not that I don’t care about your gardens or thoughts, but that I have so few…thoughts that is, other than what job needs doing next. The mulching and harvesting, with short bursts of deadheading and edge clipping, a little time spent cooking and preserving, and much needed sleep after long days working in the heat seems to leave me rather brain dead. That said, there is definitely a light at the end of the tunnel, and the job list is shrinking. The gardens do look great at the moment, and I’m a happy, but weary gardener. There are observations being made in the garden, so I’ll be posting some quick reports. Feeling the need for more roses in the gardens, there was an order placed last winter with Heritage Roses. Having never ordered from them before, I was my usual skeptical self. The prices just seemed so reasonable compared to those I’d ordered before. However, just as the weather settled temperature-wise, the big box of roses arrived. I was delighted!
Prior to this, I’d ordered bare root plants from David Austin or Jackson & Perkins, and for the most part, they were larger than these quart plants from Heritage, but also more expensive. However, these were green and growing with good root systems. Once planted, they never seemed to hesitate, despite our cold, wet spring. Some already had flowers, and although I know it was prudent to clip them off, I let them open and receive admiration before clipping them.
As the weeks are progressing, all the roses look healthy and happy, despite two being dug out by the raccoons, and despite being constantly soggy. Some of them are 3′ tall. Several are blooming again. I’m so happy with my Heritage roses, that I’m looking for more places to plant them next spring!
The rains continue, the Japanese beetles and other bugs have arrived, and the kitchen is being inundated with summer squash, beans, and cucumbers. Hope your potager, large or small, is bountiful as well.
herbalblessingsblog 
How wonderful. Can’t think of anything better than new roses.
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Hoping this will be the beginning of a new skill! I’ve never been that great at growing roses, and last winter was so hard on them. Hoping these will survive and trive!
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You’ve been swamped — almost literally, Carolee — this spring with work, work, work. No wonder you’re too tired to blog. Heritage roses, on the other hand, will withstand almost anything; at least, mine do, from deep winter freezes to scorching summer heat. They are the only roses I grow, now, ever since I ordered a few really OLD roses back in 1980, including the “Red Rose of Lancaster” in my herb garden. My newest are three David Austin “Grand Dame” I ordered three years ago with the heady fragrance of the old roses.
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I love roses, but have never felt very confident growing them. Had a lot of really “old” roses for a while at the herb farm, but the deer loved them and ate them to the ground every winter. I’d really love to be good at growing them!
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Some seasons are like that. For me, it is November/December, when we are going to events selling books and getting ready for holidays. When you need a break, take one.
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I had dahlias for several years and was able to overwinter them in my deck containers with heavy mulching. However, the thirds winter they were attacked by grubs. – Margy
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