So gorgeous, Ingrid! In the photo under Betty Prior what are those clumps of grayish plants on either side of the daylily? They sure are pretty. Do they spread or did you plant a lot of individual plants. They have a lovely effect.

Really, your garden looks the best I've ever seen it. Your rose bushes look quite large and shapely. The garden has filled in beautifully with roses melding into each other and their companion plants adding truly lovely interest.

Sherry

Here is a link that might be useful: If only sweat were irrigation...

Sherry, those are lamb's ears and in each area I planted just a few little clumps and those things multiply like rabbits. In fact, just a few days ago I had cut these back! I've tried many silvery plants and this is the only variety that's survived, even though they probably get more water than they need.

Your heartfelt praise means so much to me, I can't even tell you. This really is the first year that I feel I have something to show, and the weather has been very kind, with a rainy winter and long-lasting spring season that wasn't too hot. As I remember, your first flush is already over and I'm just now experiencing mine. My tea rose row, which I didn't show, but of which Miss Atwood is a part, still has some way to go before it's what I'd like, but by next year I foresee great improvement. Constant change, that's what it's all about, and for the most part I love it. In time some roses will grow too large (something I know you're already contending with), but I'm actually looking forward to that!

Ingrid

Your garden is beautiful! I love the combination of textures and colors. I'm enjoying Miss Atwood, too. I looked her up on HMF because I'm not sure I have ever seen her before. In your photo her petals look like delicate silk.

Gorgeous! Now that I am out of rose space until I figure something out, I am paying attention to companions. What is the blue flower that shows up in a couple of the photos?

Thank you!

I love garden shots and your's is just gorgeous, Ingrid! Thanks for posting them.

Thank you so much everyone! It's a joy to share the garden with you.

Vettin, the blue companion plant is a variety of penstemon which has very narrow leaves and does well in the heat. I've only seen it once in a nursery and grabbed three of them.

Ingrid

Amazing... I hope i can have it in my home

Here is a link that might be useful: Inspirasimart

Beautiful. Not just the roses, everything. I love your Bisohp's Castle. Mine did particularly well this year too. It was a good spring for the Austins.

I remember when you had just started your garden. You must be so pleased with how beautiful it is. Thank you for posting these photos.

Your garden is beautiful, Ingrid. Your roses are happy, and I like your companion plants too. Thank you for these photos.

So sorry, the rose I misnamed Cottage Garden is really Cottage Rose, one of the older Austins. I'm embarrassed. A good rose mother should know the names of her children!

Ingrid

Beautiful plants and garden!

Brava, Ingrid, Brava!!!
I believe your gorgeous penstemon is penstemon heterophyllus, or blue bedder penstemon. From a distance it looks to be "Blue Springs." It can be hard to find in local nurseries, but Annie's Annuals, an excellent California mail order nursery, carries it. There are other similar cultivars, including "Electric Blue," which is almost robin's eggy turquoise, and "Margarita BOP," which has a touch of violet, or what my daughter used to call "blurple." (BTW, BOP stands for Bottom of Porch, which is where that cultivar was discovered.)
I'm guessing you must have an excellent drip irrigation system, because I would think that the amount of water your fabulous roses would need to look like that might be too much for their more drought tolerant companions.

Here is a link that might be useful: images of Penstemon heterophyllus Blue Springs

Thank you, onederw, for identifying my penstemon. I believe you've identified this cultivar correctly. I don't have a drip system, and do indeed hand-water, and I've noticed that one of the three plants is not doing as well as it could, and I think I am overwatering it. Thank you for reminding me that this plant needs less water than the roses.

Ingrid

What a feast! Thank you for that.

The yellow? in the distance above Bishops Castle in the last pic?

I wish I still knew the name of the yellow plant. I've had it for years and have lost the label. No doubt it's a drought-tolerant type that looks a bit like Mexican Evening Primrose with slender stems that have extremely narrow leaves.

Ingrid

Exquisite roses and companions, Ingrid. Your lighting is so lovely compared to our Florida glare.

Where are the weeds? The weed pressure right now in central Florida is off the charts. They seem to be the only thing growing in this drought.

Thank you so much floridarose. As far as the lighting goes, we've had some overcast days. Otherwise I only take pictures early in the morning or later in the evening. I've found my daytime pictures with the sun shining are nothing to write home about.

I only showed the areas without the weeds! With the more closely planted areas I did mulch as much as I could which has helped a lot. The weeds that do poke through are much easier to pull out, especially since I do water every two or three days. We're officially off drought restrictions after our rainy winter! I hope it rains for you soon.

Ingrid