THE COLD WEATHER LASTED LONGER THAN MOST YEARS! EVERYTHING WAS ALMOST 3 WEEKS SLOWER IN COMING UP AND/OR DOING ANYTHING.

THE UNUSUALLY COLD WINTER/SPRING SEEMS TO HAVE MADE ALL PLANTS TO “COME BACK WITH A VENGENCE “! THE TREES ARE LEAFIER…………THE BLOOMS ARE BIGGER AND BRIGHTER! ALL IN ALL NOT BAD AT ALL! JUST LATE.

THE FIRST “BLOOM” OF THE ROSES IS ALMOST OVER (MAY 15TH)! TIME TO CUT THEM ALL BACK, FERTILIZE THEM, WATER THEM AND IN ABOUT 4 WEEKS OR LESS………MORE BEAUTIFUL BLOOMS. AS USUAL THE KNOCKOUT ROSES ARE SPECTACULAR! IF YOU HAVE NEVER HAD ANY LUCK WITH ROSES BUT WANT TO……….BUY A COUPLE OF THE “DOUBLE RED KNOCKOUT” ROSES! YOU WON’T REGRET IT!

“JULIA CHILD” AND “EASY DOES IT” ROSES COME BACK EVERY YEAR AND DO JUST GREAT! THIS YEAR “QUEEN ELIZABETH”, “TRUMPETER”, AND “DROP DEAD RED” ARE SHOW STOPPERS!

I DON’T SPRAY MY ROSES! YEAH, I’LL LOSE SOME LEAVES TO LEAF SPOT AND SOME BUGS WILL EAT SOME BUDS, ETC.

GRASSHOPPERS (ALL SIZES ) WILL EAT SOME LEAVES (SUCH FUN TO WATCH A BIRD SWOOP DOWN AND HELP ME RID THE ROSES OF THE GRASSHOPPERS)….SO I’LL SACRIFICE SOME LEAVES FOR THE BIRDS!

LOOK FOR “CRINUMS”  SOON! BUDS AND STEMS ARE ALREADY FORMING!

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR ROSES EVERY DAY OR SO, YOU CAN PREVENT MOST PROBLEMS WITHOUT A LOT OF SPRAYING! IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE IT, COME LOOK AT MY ROSES!

PLANTS ARE JUST LIKE PEOPLE! THE MORE LOVE AND CARE AND ATTENTION YOU GIVE THEM, THE BETTER THEY “PERFORM”!

FOR GARDEN QUESTIONS, SEND ME AN E-MAIL OR LEAVE A COMMENT ON THE BLOG.

HAPPY GARDENING TO YOU!