Enabling Day: A True Story

9 years ago

Yesterday dawned beautiful -- sunny skies, temperature near 80. DH and I decided to go for a drive in the country. Because of all our rain, the hills are green as Ireland -- especially out in Ventura County, near the town of Fillmore (population 14,100), where on a road of exceptional scenery -- mountains, farmland, orange groves -- one eventually comes to Otto & Sons Nursery, a very large rose nursery with a DA test garden.

"I'm not necessarily going to buy anything," I assured DH.

"Necessarily" is a key word here.

Forty-five minutes later, there were four 3-gallon roses in the trunk of our car, and my vague, off-again, on-again plans for another rose bed in the front yard had been hardened into fact. I'd talked, on here, of having Dream Come True, imagined two Sheila's Perfume in front of that and maybe some Lavaflow at ground level ... a few weeks ago, instead of Dream Come True I bought a big-box body bag of Chicago Peace, just .. because. Now, I have two Pink Promise and two Black Cherry.. all out of Otto's bargain bin, and very healthy, growing roses at that ! I knew nothing of Black Cherry and quick as a flash whipped out my phone and did a search for it on this forum. (I'd seen raves about Pink Promise here a few weeks ago). Black Cherry came up smelling like a .. floribunda, including positive comments from people right here in SoCal.

Now for the eerie part. We were planning to be away on Monday, when my mow-blow-grow guy (he's been promoted from mow-and-blow) comes to our house. How could I tell him where to dig, get the bed set up, and plant the roses when I wouldn't be there? I didn't want to wait a week. I was pondering this when I noticed someone at my side. I looked up -- "Heriberto! Just the man I was looking for!" He was working across the street and noticed me hauling the roses up the driveway on a handcart ... I explained it all, we laid out the bed boundaries with a hose, and Bob's my uncle.

All of this was clearly Meant to Be. As was said in "Slumdog Millionaire," "It is written."

Sylvia

Featured Answer

stillanntn6b

9 years ago

i don't think I could trust anyone else to plant my roses, not even my husband.

Dig the holes? Yes. But beyond that I want to know the soil, rocks, and whatever else goes into the hole besides the rose. Also the watering...I do think I do it better than some people.

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Comments (9)

seil zone 6b MI
9 years ago
That was definitely meant to be! Pictures please when it's finished.

I wish I had someone to help me out like that. I would have no problem letting them do the hard labor while I did the little fussy stuff, lol.
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Lilyfinch z9a Murrieta Ca
9 years ago
Same with seil !! Puhleeeese someone come dig and edge my beds for me ! I've tried hiring it out bit out in my rural area people are wishy washy . One time I was told after a missed lawncare service , sorry ma'am I was out fishin longer than I thought I would be ! ?!? Lol
SylviaWW 9a Hot dry SoCal
Original Author
9 years ago
stillann, seil and lilyfinch -- It's not as if I don't actually work out there! Our rainy winter has left a legacy of weeds that seem to come up two hours after I've just pulled them ... I'm responsible for weeding, watering, mulching, feeding, pruning, pest and disease control, potting and repotting when applicable, etc., etc. I just don't choose to do the heavy work at my rapidly advancing age.

Are the roses any less mine because I didn't dig the holes? I don't feel that way.

Water: the new roses will go on the same system as the existing bed, i.e. drip irrigation.

About mow-and-blow guys: This is the way things are in California. When we bought our house in 1986, DH bought a mower and was out there taking care of his own lawn .. until a neighbor came along and suggested we use a gardener "like everyone else on the block." I want to make clear that we're on an ordinary suburban lot in an ordinary neighborhood -- not rich people. Over 25 years, Heriberto has had steady employment for himself and his assistant (we are far from his only customers), has upgraded his truck and his equipment several times, and has been a pleasure to work with. We trust him to come into our back yard when we're on vacation.

As the bed develops, I hope to be posting pictures.
rose_crazy_da
9 years ago
Sounds like so much fun ..looking forward to Spring in about a month or more here in the Ice hole ...Please post same pictures they would be greatly appreciated
Lilyfinch z9a Murrieta Ca
9 years ago
Gosh I hope I didn't make you feel like your roses are any less yours ! I mean it when I say I would love a good helper for a day or two . Sometimes we have dreams in our head of gardens we simply can't do on our own . And I think it's wonderful you have someone reliable. I wish I stumbled upon some good work ethic but we just haven't yet ! Please do share photos , can't wait to see !!
SylviaWW 9a Hot dry SoCal
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks all. I'll post pictures tomorrow.
parker25mv
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Oh, Black Cherry, such a delicious color. Just looking at that color hue makes me think of cherries. Almost got one a while back.

I have a Sheila's Perfume. It's fragrance isn't really all that great or powerful now but I heard some roses can take a few years before they fully develop their fragrance.
Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
9 years ago
I'm like stillann in that I like to actually plant the roses myself. I really appreciate my husband pre digging the hole first when he can. I dig some of them. My husband also will stage an area with hauling manure bags and compost to farther parts of the property for me. I put in on. He is a winner.