Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day: April
As I write this Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day, it is 29°F this morning. Yesterday was a howling, cold day with a high of 43°. We burned another fire in theRead More The post Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day:...
View ArticleYorkshire Garden Trip: Newby Hall
One of my favorite gardens we visited on our Yorkshire Garden Trip was Newby Hall. Newby Hall was built for William Weddell, but the first home wasn’t like the stately oneRead More The post Yorkshire...
View ArticleApril garden chores
I am really behind on my April garden chores, and after the last couple of days, rain and abundant sun is making the cultivated plants and weeds grow. I wouldRead More The post April garden chores...
View ArticleGarden Bloggers’ Bloom Day: the glories of May
Come, step into my garden and take a walk with me. Ah May, I’m so glad you’re here. It seemed like the weather would never get warm, and the rainRead More The post Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day: the...
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East Anglia Garden Trip: East Ruston Old Vicarage
I spent most of my summer traveling. After the difficulties and sadnesses of last year, I felt an urgency to get moving, and boy did I! Along with the Garden Read More The post East Anglia Garden Trip:...
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A very rosy spring
We’re having a very rosy spring at Little Cedar Garden this year. In fact, as I walk down the pebbled paths in the back garden I’m struck by the scent Read More The post A very rosy spring appeared...
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Oklahoma spring garden after the storms
Honestly, much of my spring garden looks like hell. My spring garden is a shadow of its former self. Remember the October ice storm? After cleaning up all the limbs Read More The post Oklahoma spring...
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The fall garden late, late show
In the middle of October, my fall garden puts on its late, late show. Pearly heath asters combine with pink roses for a beautiful crescendo. Japanese beetles that so devastated Read More The post The...
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Creating swathes of color
Let’s chat about creating swathes of color. Yes, I’m spelling it in the English style as swathes because, as Anne of Green Gables says, an “e” adds just a little Read More The post Creating swathes of...
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Battling Japanese beetles
As if it wasn’t already difficult to grow roses in Oklahoma, we are now battling Japanese beetles too. Normally, I don’t like to include words of war in my posts, Read More The post Battling Japanese...
View ArticleColor in the garden can change your life
There was a time when I feared vibrant color. Although I painted during college, I worried about adding color accents to my garden. So many rules about what goes with what. No fuchsia. No orange. No...
View ArticleGarden Bloggers’ Bloom Day, June 2013
The entire garden is dancing a spring jig for the rains have come again to much of Oklahoma. Because it is Oklahoma, we are getting too much of course–everything in extremes is our motto–but for most...
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Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day July 2013
It’s a soggy Bloom Day here in Oklahoma. I can’t believe I just wrote those words. The last three years have been nothing but drought, but this year is a whole different animal. I hear from my friends...
View ArticleSome days are diamonds
Some days are diamonds. Others don’t glitter with promise. Instead, they are as jagged as rocks jutting out from a precipice. This summer, with its steady rainfall and cooler than normal temperatures,...
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Autumn arrives with a frosty kiss
Autumn arrived at RDR this morning with a kiss from icy lips. A cold front with rain barreled through the center of the state making the roses shudder and wave their petals about in the swirling winds....
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Fantastic plant combos of 2013
The end of the year usually marks a roundup of posts. However, this year, I thought I would change things up a bit. Let’s look instead at a series of fantastic plant combos. I mean, we’re in the depths...
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What to buy your favorite rose gardener for Valentine’s Day
Bill and I were discussing romance this morning, and he asked me what I thought was romantic. You know I love roses, but not a icky, chemical-laden bouquet with no scent. Thinking about traditional...
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Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, March 2014
Welcome to Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, March 2014. From 2012, I can see we are behind schedule. I guess I didn’t write a post for March 2013. Is anyone surprised we’re moving in slow motion after the...
View ArticleThe roses took a beating
As I go about my spring chores in the garden, I’ve looked at my roses with much dismay. They aren’t well. The damage is so bad I pondered whether they have Rose Rosette Disease although I haven’t seen...
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Garden Bloggers Bloom Day May 2014
Good morning everyone! It’s that time again. Garden Bloggers Bloom Day is upon us. A special thank you to Carol Michel for hosting us yet again on her blog. Looking back over past bloom days, I see...
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Speaking of tough roses
A couple of weeks ago, I spoke at Roses, Inc. Green Country in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, a suburb of Tulsa, one of my favorite towns. Speaking about tough roses for the Oklahoma landscape, makes me think...
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Garden Bloggers Bloom Day: August
Did you ever wonder where the term, the “Dog Days of August” came from? Do you suppose it refers to hot weather and a general malaise? Well, sort of. The Romans named the days from July 23 through...
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Four more roses bite the dust
I mentioned recently on the Oklahoma Women Bloggers blog that ‘Cl. Old Blush’ had Rose Rosette Virus (RRV). I don’t mean to harp on this subject, but gardening isn’t always just sunshine and bluebirds....
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Ten plants to replace climbing roses
Here are ten plants to replace climbing roses removed because of Rose Rosette Disease. I know some rosarians don’t think you need to remove afflicted roses, but I’m following the science at Oklahoma...
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Garden Bloggers Bloom Day: October
Good morning or afternoon depending upon when I get this October edition of Garden Bloggers Bloom Day posted. Thank you to Carol from May Dreams Gardens who makes this fun possible. A few days ago, I...
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Garden Holes of Opportunity
From several conversations I’ve had with gardeners lately, I know you’re worried about my roses. I’m worried too, but I am trying to take a proactive approach toward Rose Rosette Disease without...
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Time to Prune Roses
It’s time to prune roses in Oklahoma if you have any not yet stricken by Rose Rosette Virus. If your rose has Rose Rosette, shovel prune that puppy and bag it. Do not put the diseased plant on your...
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Snow Play
In Oklahoma today, we’re in the midst of snow play. Bear is testing the snow now to see if it’s the good sledding kind. I’m betting it is. I’ll join her as soon as I write this post. In recent years,...
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Garden Bloggers Bloom Day–March and spring plans
In Oklahoma, there’s not much blooming this March for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day hosted by Carol of May Dreams Gardens. Normally, by now I’d have tulips starting, along with the early daffodils, but...
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More garden plans
On this rainy, nearly spring day, I’ve been sitting at my computer and having a big think. Was it Winnie the Pooh who used to sit and have a think? I can’t remember. Anyway, these are some of my...
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Native shrubs to replace roses
What do you do when the shrub you based your entire English-cottage-style garden upon dies? The rose, that fair-blossomed beauty, fell prey to an ugly disease which we’ve discussed here before, Rose...
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Hot forecast and sunny days
“Is it hot out here or what?” I ask as I fan myself, and sweat drips down my face. Bill says, “Is a twenty-pound Robin fat?” It’s hotter than Hades in Oklahoma. Not as hot as 2011, but hot enough. Good...
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An October state of mind
As I step outside my back door just after dawn, my Nikon hangs over my shoulder and across my hip. I balance a cup in my right hand and take a sip of PG Tips. It’s cool enough this morning for hot tea,...
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Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day, Dateline October
Hello gang! I bet you thought I would be MIA for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens. Nope, I ran outside this morning to take a few photos of what’s blooming at RDR. I...
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Blooming plants beat the winter blues
I don’t know how you feel about winter, but if you’ve read RDR in the last eight years, you know it’s not my favorite season. That’s an understatement. Oklahoma skies are gray and bleak throughout...
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How to balance garden desires
There comes a time in every gardener’s life when she realizes she can’t grow it all. Gardeners by their very nature fall in love with most plants, especially new ones, and cottage gardeners like me? We...
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Beautiful foliage carries the summer garden
A garden without beautiful foliage is boring especially in the middle of a hot summer. Except in Oklahoma’s most temperate years, most flowers slow down or even stop. That’s why roses in my part of the...
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Chilly May brings memories and yellow and pink roses
I didn’t make it on time to Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day this month because we had a graduation for one child on May 15, and a banquet for another on Sunday The Diva, Megan, graduated with her Masters...
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Travelogue: RHS Garden Wisley
Good morning campers! Did you think the travelogue was over? Ah, no, it is not. We have many more places to go and things to see. Click on the galleries below to see the photos in a larger format....
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Ornamental gardens are forgiving
Ornamental gardens are forgiving, and mine has certainly had a lot to forgive this year. The garden’s slump started with my trip to Houston in April for work followed by another trip to England in May...
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February garden chores: bit by bit
February has decided it’s March, and so the late winter season waltzes on into spring. Many years ago, I read Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, by Anne Lamott, wherein Lamott’s...
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Flower bed before and after & plant shopping 101
After returning home from Italy last week, I found the garden in better shape than I expected. Ornamental gardens are forgiving. In spring, my garden is always covered in leaves and debris. I live at...
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Rain-soaked garden
Most of Oklahoma got rain night before last. The rain-soaked garden woke up yesterday morning to singing birds, crawling caterpillars and me stalking it with my camera. There is nothing more...
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Blessed be gardens and weddings in May
It’s the beginning of May. Sorry I haven’t written in a couple of weeks. You must forgive me. Like the garden, I am gathering my strength, girding my loins, and getting ready to launch myself and the...
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A visit to Hillwood
Hillwood, Marjorie Merriweather Post’s estate, in Washington, D.C. opened its doors for the Garden Bloggers’ flingers on our first morning of tours. Hillwood reminded me of numerous other estate...
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Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day, August
Hello friends! I’m actually making it to Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day this month on the actual day! I think it’s the first time this year. Go me! Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day is sponsored on the 15th of...
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Garden work
Garden work Garden work is blessed work, but it’s still work. That’s why garden tasks are called chores. Last Sunday, in Oklahoma, we had a high of 68°F, so I worked my tail feathers off in the two...
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English roses to know and grow
It’s a windy almost-spring day outside so let’s talk about English roses to know and grow in Oklahoma. I probably haven’t written a happy rose post in years due to Rose Rosette Disease, but ta-dah!!...
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Everything’s coming up roses
My roses have never been better than this year. In fact, this May, everything’s coming up roses in my back garden and in containers throughout my entire landscape. Growing roses isn’t easy, but it’s...
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Plants I love in the garden now.
These are the plants I love in the garden at the beginning of October. The weather is still hot, but changes are coming this week. Thank goodness. New plants I love in the garden now. Last weekend, I...
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