New obsession with outside garden, topiery etc.

[Optimist]

I am trying to keep the orchid collecting to a sensible rate. Mostly what I have now are phrags and paphiopedilums-- no reason why. For some reason I have gotten into Roses and junipers-- especially "cloud" trees-- with little pom poms, like large scale Bonsai trees. Also, Japanese Maples, and ground covers.

Hopefully I can upload some photos. This thing will not let me do it.

[DirtyCoconuts]

fun! i want to see more

[estación seca]

Years ago one of my neighbors had a palo verde tree close to his mailbox. They're amazingly vigorous. You can cut one down to the ground and have a huge bush in 1-2 years. Anyway, he carved the tree into a mailbox replica.

[Leafmite]

Good luck with your new hobby!

I went from growing in the yard to container growing.

I tried out some of the old English roses (from David Austin) this year to honor my dad who grew fragrant tea and floribunda roses for over fifty years. The last few days should have put them into dormancy so we will be moving them to the garage.... I have grown roses in ground but this is my first attempt at growing them in a container.

[Optimist]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

Good luck with your new hobby!

I went from growing in the yard to container growing.

I tried out some of the old English roses (from David Austin) this year to honor my dad who grew fragrant tea and floribunda roses for over fifty years. The last few days should have put them into dormancy so we will be moving them to the garage.... I have grown roses in ground but this is my first attempt at growing them in a container.

My dad was also the gardening enthusiast of the family. Iris, roses everything.

I split the difference and am growing some in raised beds. I got several "Own root" roses from Heirloom Roses online (Eden climber, Penelope, Sally Holmes, Sea Foam, Ice Burg, Ballarina). They were a bit more expensive then some companies. -- I got mostly white-- no reason, I am enthralled by monochromatic schemes. In the front it is red (mostly knock outs and carpet roses), and in the back it is white with touches of pink. I also got several "single petal" roses because I don't think they get as much love and they are totally gorgeous. So that was last year. Next year (meaning 2024) I switched it up a bit, and have pre-ordered two massive roots. One of Ketsup and Mustard, and another of "Koko Loko." Both were roses I regretted not buying. They are bare root, and I should get them in February or March. Crossing my fingers because I have had luck with only one bare root rose in the past-- I got several bare roots from Tractor Supply, and all of them died except one-- This one was in the wrong bag as well so I had no idea what it was. It is super vigerous, and I found it was a Hybrid Perpetual, Frau Karl Druschki, considered one of the most beautiful whites, but it only blooms once a year, and is a short climber. Of course I planted it in the wrong place-- the middle of the front yard, so there is nothing to climb on to. I suppose since it is a "short" climber, I will get her an Obalisk, either that or I will need to move her.
Lovely flower:

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by Optimist

My dad was also the gardening enthusiast of the family. Iris, roses everything.

I split the difference and am growing some in raised beds. I got several "Own root" roses from Heirloom Roses online (Eden climber, Penelope, Sally Holmes, Sea Foam, Ice Burg, Ballarina). They were a bit more expensive then some companies. -- I got mostly white-- no reason, I am enthralled by monochromatic schemes. In the front it is red (mostly knock outs and carpet roses), and in the back it is white with touches of pink. I also got several "single petal" roses because I don't think they get as much love and they are totally gorgeous. So that was last year. Next year (meaning 2024) I switched it up a bit, and have pre-ordered two massive roots. One of Ketsup and Mustard, and another of "Koko Loko." Both were roses I regretted not buying. They are bare root, and I should get them in February or March. Crossing my fingers because I have had luck with only one bare root rose in the past-- I got several bare roots from Tractor Supply, and all of them died except one-- This one was in the wrong bag as well so I had no idea what it was. It is super vigerous, and I found it was a Hybrid Perpetual, Frau Karl Druschki, considered one of the most beautiful whites, but it only blooms once a year, and is a short climber. Of course I planted it in the wrong place-- the middle of the front yard, so there is nothing to climb on to. I suppose since it is a "short" climber, I will get her an Obalisk, either that or I will need to move her.
Lovely flower:

I just planted a 'Zephirine Drouhin' that's growing on its own roots where it can climb the railing to the steps up to the raised front landing outside of my front door. It's about as sunny as any part of the yard, and it just seemed the perfect place for a fragrant rose with no thorns.

[Optimist]

Originally Posted by Subrosa

I just planted a 'Zephirine Drouhin' that's growing on its own roots where it can climb the railing to the steps up to the raised front landing outside of my front door. It's about as sunny as any part of the yard, and it just seemed the perfect place for a fragrant rose with no thorns.

Yes, thornless is a nice thing on a rail you might touch. I am laying off roses, and -- basically trying to stay away from plant purchases for a whole year after this!!! I still have some arriving in spring! The two roses, Koko Loko and Ketsup and Mustard, then I have 3 paphiopedilums that I was chicken to ship in winter, so the vendor said he's ship in spring. On the 20th I am getting another Japanese Black Pine, 'Shirome janome'-- and I am running out of space. Today I was super serious about getting a new japanese maple, but I cleared the form when I found the company did not have free shipping over a certain price. I guess I am spoiled by companies that ship free after a certain price. I think I am going to go on a "plant starvation diet" for a while. I need to be responsible and wait to see if the stuff I bought likes where I planted it. (I also planted a small plum tree, Bruce, (not ornemental as it has fruit) in my rose garden. It had been in a big planter for about 2 years. The roses like a bit of shade since we are so hot around here, so I like looking for smallish (15 feet tall or so) trees that will cover an area with shade. I particularly like the Sakura type blossoms to cover the tree in spring.

[Optimist]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Years ago one of my neighbors had a palo verde tree close to his mailbox. They're amazingly vigorous. You can cut one down to the ground and have a huge bush in 1-2 years. Anyway, he carved the tree into a mailbox replica.

Sadly they don't grow in my zone 7a, I don't think. I'm sure they would not be unknown here if they did.

[Leafmite]

Same with my dad...roses, fruit trees, the vegetable garden, a collection of irises of different colors....

Thanks for mentioning Heirloom Roses....
I just ordered Strawberry Hill, Rose de Rescht, and Comte de Chambord, from Heirloom Rose as I have always had better luck with own root roses.

[Optimist]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

Same with my dad...roses, fruit trees, the vegetable garden, a collection of irises of different colors....

Thanks for mentioning Heirloom Roses....
I just ordered Strawberry Hill, Rose de Rescht, and Comte de Chambord, from Heirloom Rose as I have always had better luck with own root roses.

So far I think they are a really great company. My bushes are very young. I am hoping they make it to the next stage. I am totally in on the "own root" idea, but I do have some grafts coming, and actually, my pine trees are all grafted too.