Hey!! Great pics lilyfinch! What a sweet idea for a birthday gift. Love the rock. I like be the mailbox too. I've been so tempted to get one on Zulily or Joss and Main that looks alot like it. I've got to get my Jasmina weaved thru my arbor but she's slow at climbing. Sonia looks beautiful!!

Heres a few I've taken the last couple of days.

I have been smitten with Miss Dior. I love this rose.

Summer Romance.

Plum Perfect. This rose is so perfectly named.

Climber Seminole Wind

Distant Drums. Kind of a weak plant but hope to get a few more when Edmunds gets them back in stock.

Pink Martini resting on a fence!

You know I gotta add a couple bouquets!

Miss Dior

Mixed bouquet

Ok time to go see who else has added their pretties!!!

Then I will add this:

And passiflora blooms:

Love all your blooms and presentation.

Great looking pics. I wish I had May blooms. Hopefully, by June! Nice to see everyone elses though!

Cenk - your passiflora vines are beautiful!! Are they fragrant ? I have one wild one that grows by our utility boxes . I need to check on it and see that it came back . They are so so unique and beautiful! Love your arrangements too !

Judy - I gotta be honest I can't believe you weave jasmina through an arbor! Haha gosh it's so thorny . I need to get some stakes to help up its branches and get my blooms up. It's flailing about like one of those roadside car sales air ballon men that wave their arms ! Lol

miss dior is so beautiful and I've never seen Seminole wind ! That looks lovely . Thanks for sharing your lovely plants both of you !!

Ingrida and hallo please share when you can ! I look forward to seeing everyone's roses

Well I haven't been able to yet lilyfinch bc it only has one cane long enuf to try. Once it gets to growing I hope I can weave it thru but if not i have little ties I can use. I love to go horizontal on some canes when possible to get more blooms but part of the time I break the crazy limbs. grrrrrr

Lots of great pictures here! Lilyfinch, I like Jasmina very much! Your post box, too. Maybe I need one of those. I could use a place to stash a few everyday tools. The clematis look great too. Roses are my first love, but clematis are in my top 5 favorites! Did you remember the name of the other one pictured? I forget so often it's ridiculous! The name is there one minute and then gone the next. It will drive me nuts until I figure it out. I need to go through and write everything down, before I really forget something forever.

Prettypettals, I am smitten with your Ms Dior as well. I've seen it for sale and considered it before. This just confirms it. What sort of habit does the plant have? Plum Perfect is one I have been meaning to get as well. I always notice that every single rose you grow is one I grow, or would like to grow. We definitely have the same taste in roses. ( I must say I have a few that I don't like and don't want, so those don't count.) All your roses are so lovely.

Cenk, nice passion vine. I keep changing my mind about growing one. Many grow so large. I'm keeping my eye out for one that stays 10-15 feet and has edible fruit. What is that first pink climbing rose? I love it. Your three new friends, of course, steal the show. Adorable!!

Some rainy day pictures

Darcy Bussell in need of rescuing from the sweet peas

Duchess de Brabant with Dianthus, poppies, salvia, evening primrose and more. This bed needs some tidying up! Funny how much more I notice that when I share pictures:)

Alnwick Castle with Prince Charles Clematis in the background

I love this container combo. Love Song with purple honeywort, and pale yellow salvia.

The Amaryllis are all in bloom here outside.

First ever bloom opened today on my new Princess Charlene de Monaco. Pretty, but a little misshapen. Already has a wonderful scent.

What a nice surprise on the slope this morning! My Evelyn rose, planted in December of '16 as a band size has produced her first two blooms. One is open and one a tight peach bud. They are surrounded by the poppies and sweet peas that self sow every year. Next month it will be too warm for them and they will quickly go to seed. I've had an abundance of self sown annuals come up this year with all the extra rain.

A pretty Clematis, " Samaritan Jo" climbing through a never yet blooming "Boule de Neige" rose with a pale pink Aquilegia in the foreground. Lisa

First bloom for my David Austin Alnwick rose planted a couple months ago here in Alabama.

Nice, Penny! I think you will enjoy Alnwick Castle. I like mine quite a bit. Gotta love those cup shaped blooms! Is yours grafted or ownroot? Lisa

Thanks Lisa! It is definitely now my favorite between it and my Heritage. I believe I purchased it as bare root/own root from my local co-op.

Beautiful pics Cenk! Love the sweet sweet puppies!!

Thanks a bunch Lisa! I think we do have a bunch in common we love. I've tried getting rid of ones I don't love as I get older. Lol. Figured if I didn't do it soon I never would. Your pics look beautiful too. Love the Amarylis and all the annuals mixed in too. They all look great. Love your combos. I hope to smell a scent on Princess Charlene next time around.

Penny I looooove Alnwick. It's one of my very favorites and smells amazing!!!

Cenk! Puppies are so adorable. Are you keeping all 3? What breed are they? Please tell us the names of your beautiful flowers too!!

Cenk your roses are gorgeous!!! Oh my gosh those puppies are so handsome. They look so soft and sweet!! Do you know the name of the first rose ? Do you dry your leaves for tea ? That is so cool .

Lisa , love your clematis and that princess rose . I wish I would find that somewhere locally ! So gorgeous. I remember the clematis is cezanne and with it is andromeda and I need to get a better photo of the two. Clematis are my second love also, omgosh I can't stop buying them ! It's horrible. I'm just jamming them in at this point but I keep finding them at good deals. In fact I just got a crystal fountain for $5 at lowes today ! so does Samaritan jo have that darker pink also ? I've only seen one in person but it was spent .

Judy - my jasmina had thrown out about 4 totally horizontal canes. I had to get a wire thingy to prop one up ! It's growing so crazy but next year it's really going to show off ! I'm so glad I bought it. I am thinking that a clematis would look great with it. I do have one on each side of it but I can't remember which ones .

Penny - love that alnwick !! My local nursery has that one and it was hard not to grab it. I'm trying to wait till they are blooming but each time I go less is available and I'm gonna miss out . I hope you love yours !!

About the post box : I had seen on Pinterest a mailbox used for tools and thought it was cute . This really spoke to me when I saw it ! If I didn't have a brick mailbox I would want it for my home. It's so charming! Waiting for letters from a garden fairy ;)

Hi lilyfinch, Samaritan Jo is kind of Violet pink, darker on the outline and paler in the center. I do like it, and it helps to add color to the rose that just has hasn't bloomed yet in two years. You lucky dog! $5 Crystal Fountain Clematis! I think CF is my very favorite one of all. I wish I could remember where I recently posted a picture of my 10 year old Crystal Fountain in full bloom with Mary Rose. Totally Gorgeous. Mine is in quite a bit of shade, so it often shows more greenish than lavender colors, but it's so much happier out of the hot sun. I was so mad at myself last week. I was pulling weeds around it just before dark, and accidentally broke a big stem a ground level. This shoot was loaded with blooms and entwined in a metal oblisk and into the rose bush. So mad at myself! I love clematis and I actually have quite a few new ones I need to get into the ground ASAP. I just have such a hard time deciding who goes with what rose. You will love Crystal Fountain. I'll see if I can find my picture of it with David Austin's Mary Rose. Lisa

Not the one I was thinking of, but you get the idea. It will show more purple with more sun. These blooms were near the very bottom of the plant, so they were in heavy shade. The blooms that climbed higher up the rose and into the sun were lavender. This is my favorite clematis. If this is your first Crystal Fountain, you're in for a real treat! Lisa

Oh dear, stunning pictures and now I want Alnwick Castle and Crystal Fountain. And a few others.

Lisa, how does Mary Rose bloom in the shade?

Betty White has large blooms but after 40 inches of rain they are humongous.

Charles Darwin is still newish. If this bud has longevity he will be a fav.

Cenk H are you for real what a gorgeous garden beautiful roses and my other obsession puppies..can I move I wow

Lisa I'm so glad it's an excellent clematis!! I thought a double clem may be tricky or not bloom much .. lol it just looks so fancy ! I was thinking of putting it in a little shade .. gets shade around 3/4pm on ? I am running out of clematis garden space ! I do have a whole acres worth of fence but only plant them in the garden right now. My husband won't enjoy mowing around them if I start branching out .

But they are so addictive and for only $5 what could I do ?

Iris gal I need to remember to look for Betty white next spring! She's beautiful both as a person and a rose. I still watch the golden girls and love her !

Lady of Shalott with iris fulva

Dear Lisa, thank you for your comment. I believe you should have a passiflora in your garden. The flowers are unique!If you are anxious of its sizes you can even do frequent pruning to shape it like a tree. Sorry that I do not know the English name of the pink climbing rose((

Dear Prettypetals, dear Kelly and dear Lily, thank you for your comments. Soory that I have problem with the English names of the roses. Do anyone know a practical guide to identify the roses?I would really appreciate any help. there are many rose listings on the web but they do not do any good.

Dear Kelly, the puppies are half napoliten mastiff (mother) and half beagle (father). The father somehow came into the garden for a while and this is the result)) The puppies are 5 indeed, and I am planing to keep them all.

Dear Lilly, drying passiflora leaves and flowers for preparing tea is really very good. I strongly recommend that. But do not drive after drinking this tea))

Dear Rose-crazy, thank you for your comment. Of course, you can anytime come and be my guests. It will be a pleasure))

Totoro, what a great combo! It's perfect.

Cenk H, I do wish we knew the name of that 1st rose rose. It's just perfect. How wonderful that you are able to keep all the puppies. They must be so much fun! I do want to buy a passion vine. I just need to get so many things into the ground before I purchase anything new. I know this is the time of year that my favorite mail order nursery has the best selection though. I didn't know the tea made you woozy.

Irisgal, my Mary Rose really was planted in far too much shade, but at the time that's the only space I had available. She didn't bloom much the first few years and I was underwhelmed. Now she's been in that spot for 6 years. She has moved her considerably large "body" out into the sunnier front of the border(actually onto the grass) and produced 100's of blooms in her spring flush. Even her shady parts bloomed well. I put cardboard down and am smothering the grass so I can widen that border.

Lilyfinch, Crystal Fountain is my oldest clematis. Mine is in ALOT of shade, but I'm in hot and dry S CA. It is strong and tough. I don't really get fall rebloom from it, but I have not been good about pruning either. I just look foreword to the great April show every year. Today's goal is to plant some of the potted clematis in the ground! I have a boatload! Way overbought! Lisa

Dear Lisa, I found the name of that pink rose. It is 'rosa damascane' and it is a hybrid of 'rosa gallica' and 'rosa moschata'. This rose is very common in Isparta, Turkey and Kizanlik, Bulgaria. Please check this link: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_%C3%97_damascena

This is the bush type of it in my garden:

And this is the climbing type:

Oh thank you, Cenk H!! That rose is beyond beautiful! Now to follow your link and see if it is available here. Thanks so much for finding that for me. I really love that Rose. Lisa

Do you know if this is an autumn Damask or a summer Damask?( In otherwords, does it bloom once in the early summer or repeat every 6 weeks or so until autumn? Thanks, Lisa

Dear Lisa, it repeats blooming every 5-6 weeks starting from early April until November (even December, here in my city, Adana which has a hot humid Mediterranean climate.)

Wow looking great everyone!

Charles Darwin opened today May 10th

If you have Love Song and Ebb Tide plant them together. Love Song looked more smokey lavender today and the combination was made for each other. Picture doesn't do it justice.

Thank you Lisa for the shade answer. Your combination is a winner!

Is your Miss Dior from Heirloom, Prettypetals?

Hey Kelly. I've had it a couple years but I believe it was from Heirloom. I remember it being a great repeat bloomer last year too. I believe this will be its third season.

Irisgal, I love that combo of Love Song and Ebb Tide! I have two Love Songs because they do so well in my dry heat. I've been afraid of Ebb Tide and Twilight Zone turning that hot pink color in the heat. Have you had any of that with Ebb Tide? I like Plum Perfect and if I ever came across it locally, would snap it up. Do you think I could get the same effect w/ Plum Perfect and Love Song?

I went to Lowes last night and came home with Earth Angel, and some clearance perennials.

Cenk H. So many Damasks! Very difficult to figure out what you have. Any more clues? Lisa

Lisa, Plum Perfect isn't dark enuf to give that great contrast. I think Plum Perfect would be smashing with a deep true red.

Ebb Tide's blooms are being that deep drab purple right now in our cool late spring. But as it warms up the blooms of both E.Tide and Twilight Zone go magenta. I think all the "modern purples" do..

In 3rd year iris versicolor Between the Lines first bloom

These survived that late snow.

Evelyn

Munstead Wood

Winchester Cathedral

Alnwick Castle

Marie Pavie

Nice! I didn't realize our rain brought you snow. Those survived it quite well. Lots of my blooms were ruined buy a scorching hot, dry, and windy week, followed by a few days of rain. So late for rain around here. Lisa

I clearly did not pick the right spot for this Sandra Bernhadt peony as a Japanese maple is growing over it. But the color of the buds matches the maples foliage.

I will move it after it blooms. This peony is tough. I dug it up moved it 3 times since it was a baby in a pot and it still has 2 big buds on it in its 3rd season.

My rose companion plantings are really taking off this year. Walkers low nepeta and Salvia caradonna with Cream Abundance. I think caradonna is my favorite Salvia. It is the first to bloom even before Blue Hill which is runner up.

I too have Love Song and Ebb Tide planted in a bed, Iris gal. Your image is very pretty, but I think in person, the combo usually looks even better because the true colors for both of the roses can be difficult to capture.

Yipee Desertgarden, yes, they are so smashing together. Do you have another beautiful combo?

Lisa and others, how often do you feed your David Austin roses and what do you use?

I am trying Coop Poop this year like every 6 to 8 weeks.

I have another section with Ebb Tide, Purple Lodge, and Blue Girl, Irisgal. It is kind of the same idea however it is designed differently with Purple Lodge, which should become rather tall in the back, Blue Girl in the middle position, and then Ebb Tide closer to the front. Hume's Blush, a soft pink is next to Ebb Tide on the other side of the bed. I have Eyes for You next to Ebb Tide in the bed with Love Song.

Store bought Columbine with Boscobel which is much paler in cool rainy weather. I had no luck direct sowing Columbine from seed.

DA Lady of Shalott

Great thread Lilyfinch....

High Society Climbing Rose...Amazing fragrance

Beautiful haku and easy squeezy! I need to look up high society . Looks like a great climber!!

I first saw it at the Huntington Library last year and the blooms were huge and amazing so I had to get it. I got 4 it at J&P they sell out of them fast. I also got Social Climber thats also a climber... and has a great fragrance.

Lady of Shalott blooming from the ground to above the fence with wisteria

cream veranda bud looking the same shade as Wollerton Old Hall

WOH

Blossomtime kissing Earth Angel

Cream veranda open



Tiny first bloom on baby Plum Perfect but 2 more on the way. Love the color. It is my first purple rose

Wow I really like that cream veranda. I hope chamblees offers it next year so I can get it . They have such good prices I love to ask for gift cards for Christmas there and load up. I also planted a plum perfect , it had one bloom open when I was away in Florida and has one more getting ready ! I can't wait !!

My first roses of the season, both from cuttings in pots:

Diablesse de Mers

Belle de Segosa

Nice Henrik! Lilyfinch, you will enjoy Cream Veranda. I have two in hanging baskets. As for fertilizer, I use Gro Power for roses and lots of compost. Cenk , I bought not one, but two passion vines. One produces edible fruit. Lisa