Hi, Ingrid, I enjoyed your garden summation to date and look forward to your photos. Clarity of the mind is important so I understand what writing it all down accomplishes for you.

I agree perfectly about Austins. I don't have any - gave up after 6 months of Tamora. I only have a few moderns: Burgundy Iceberg (a total winner), 2 Chrysler Imperials in pots on the patio, Tiffany that seems do be doing better in her 2nd year. One I got at Ashdown called City Girl (a climber) I am really loving.

The rest are Hybrid Musks, Chinas and Teas with Tea-Noisettes getting bigger in their pots. Reve d'Or has 3 blooms!!! How beautiful!

I'll have to see your photos of your warm colored teas to understand what you're saying about clashing with the native scenery. Maybe some sort of transition plant(s) for background could buffer the view beyond and minimize that high contrast you notice.

It's good to find a direction in which to go even if it's not the one we set out on. Somehow it's not disappointing to find out what doesn't work because we're also discovering what does. And getting a lot of enjoyment out of it.

Thanks for posting this.

Sherry

Sherry, your response was so wonderful and understanding; I feel as though we're very much on the same wave length.

Your comments about the teas was very helpful to me. I can't really post pictures yet because they're very young and some of them haven't bloomed yet. However, you've given me the idea of interplanting the roses with some companion plants that will soften the transition to the more natural scene behind them. I'm thinking of herbs, sages and lavenders, and I think that might actually be very pretty.

Thank you!

Ingrid

I enjoyed your post and your thoughts. I'm kind of disillusioned with Austins, too, but will see how/if they (and/or I) are doing at the 3-year mark. I still think they are lovely in gardens of those who know how to deal with them effectively.

I've really gotten enthusiastic about irises, too, didn't realize when I put in my very first ones (inherited some when I moved here but they're long gone) that there are some that repeat. They seem to multiply fairly rapidly, too.

They say you shouldn't mulch irises, and I'm not in a zone as hot as yours, but my bed in front cooks so mulch is essential. I guess I'll just scrape it out around the iris. Maybe it doesn't really matter that much. I know they probably shouldn't be too wet.

I like this kind of account, too. What other people have learned is what this forum is all about, isn't it? It's interesting to read about one person's practices, plant selections and combinations, and so forth; and it's a pleasure to share another gardener's excitement, curiosity, and satisfaction. Keep on posting.

Melissa

Ingrid, it's a pleasure to read your garden odyssey. We all evolve along with our gardens.

ingrid, When I first started reading GW, I couldn't understand how people could SP a healthy rose. But now I know. If it doesn't work for you, it doesn't. It's simple. I too maxed out on Austins, and probably will not add anymore. I think I have every possible color anyway:)

Strange things do happen. When I first moved here 7 years ago (after never having gardened in my life!) I planted 6 white bearded irises. Well now I have about 100 from that 6 and they are in bloom now. I think I get more comments about them as I do my roses. And now the irises are intermingled with the roses (I do have to dig them up, separate them and redistributed a bit more this year) and it looks great. So a simple HD bag of irises does wonders. I probably should look at reblooming ones, but now I have an emotional attachment to these.

And I can't say enough about alfalfa. Last year was the first time I used it and I do think it makes a huge difference. I have the biggest fattest buds this spring and am seeing many basals. I've also noticed that the root balls of many of my roses are thick with feeder roots where they were not before. So I'm sold.

I'm really excited because I have 12 bands from Vintage (11 teas, one HP) and am planning a new rose bed on the other side of my yard. I too have fallen in love with teas and yes, the lack of pruning required is a plus! I just hope I get to stay in this house long enough to enjoy the fruits of all this labor!

Ingrid, I was always a little scared to prune my Austins. Don't know why except fear they would behave badly or not bloom. I pruned three Ambridge Roses couple months ago and they seem much happier and actually growing well. I wish I had pruned Jude the same. He's too top heavy.
Teas are my rose of choice if it all comes down to it. They do well and like you said, they have such graceful habits. I certainly have some Austin's that I put up with BS because I love them. Otherwise, they'd be gone.
Hmm, I want to see your Barbara Worl sometime. Besides Le Vesuve, did you get any others from Vintage?
Carla

I enjoyed reading all your responses. I'm not actually SP Julia Child, just moving her to a much less conspicuous location. Carla, I also got Single Cerise China (enabled by Jeri) and Marie-Jeanne, a white polyantha, with the same Vintage order.

As for the Austins, and actually all my roses, I'm so fortunate that I see very little disease. My problems come more from caterpillars, other insects and sometimes squirrels.

Buford, I'd love to know the names of the tea roses and HP you ordered from Vintage. I may have some of the same ones.
You'll definitely have to post pictures when that rose bed is blooming. It should be awesome.

I'm glad the alfalfa is working for you too. That means it's not just my imagination. It's really nice when something that's economical works well too.

Ingrid

Ingrid, these are the ones I ordered from Vintage:

Clementina Carbonieri
Devoniensis
Duchesse de Brabant
Enchantress
Freiherr von Marschall
Huntington Pink Tea
Lady Hillingdon
Marie van Houtte
Monsieur Tillier
Mrs. B. R. Cant
Pierre Notting
Souvenir de Pierre Notting

I'll hopefully be preparing the bed this fall and plant them in the spring. I already have Marie d'Orleans, Mlle Franziska Kruger and Rosette Delizzy already and I love them.