Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Color in the gardens

All the colors of spring are blooming this week. The roses and spring flowers continue to bloom, and the colorful veggies are leafing out. It smells so fresh and clean, and the birds are singing - nesting and raising their babies.  Bees are collecting pollen too - the roses are alive with activity!
Overcast skies saturate the colors

White cluster roses

Pink and yellow is found on nearly all the rose bushes

Shades of pink 

Peaceful white

Chartreuse lettuce leafing out

We call this dark pink, but the pioneers knew this color as red


Love the stripe! 

Pink and white and green

China rose showing off for visitors

These Hollyhocks will start to show their colors soon

Purple chives

Blooming Sage 

Bees


Borage hiding purple flowers in fuzzy buds

Sunday, May 15, 2016

A Rainy Saturday in May


On Saturday, May 14 we invited our fellow Master Gardeners and the public to our gardens to view the roses in bloom.  Typically to the Pacific NW, it rained!  But that didn't deter our visitors, or us from spending time and doing a little work in the gardens.  Here are some of the photos captured.  I have more to post, so stay tuned! 

Rosa Mundi hedge 



Rosa Virginiana




Old Cardinal 




Fragrant Cabbage and Moss roses putting on a tangled show 




See the bud? 




We can't wait to see the bloom! 




The foxglove almost look like a painting




Roses on the arbor 




The Arbor from the other side




Rain drenched Dog Roses 





Panorama of the garden




Moss roses in the rain




Plentiful Herb beds 




Rosa Virginiana in the rain 




Cabbage Rose, this was my fave photo from this weekend





Wednesday, May 11, 2016

May Roses, and more


We tend the gardens all year, tirelessly weeding and planting and pruning. And May is our reward. The roses and other spring bloomers are spectacular! We are really having a wonderful year. Almost every rose in the garden is blooming, including a few that I have not seen bloom in several years.  Take a walk around the gardens with me, and you will see what I mean.  If you are in the area,  stop by to see them for yourself, the roses should bloom for about three more weeks.


Rosa Mundi 




Rosa Mundi





Rosa Mundi





Henri Martin moss rose





Cardinal de Richelieu





Jean Bach Sisley





Old Red Moss 





William Lobb moss rose 





Galica Rose 





Bell Isis (very fragrant!)





Old Pink Moss (very fragrant!)





Cabbage Rose (very fragrant!)





Cabbage roses in back with Moss roses in front 





Rosa Virginii





William Lobb moss rose 





Harison's Yellow (the yellow rose of Texas)





Dog Rose  





multiflora Thunburg with Dog Rose 





Rosa Mundi hedge 





Bee's love the roses! 





Henri Martin moss rose 






Foxglove in the shade 









Harison's Yellow (note the thorny red stems) 





Dog Rose aka wild rose





Rose colored Columbine!  





Hollyhock buds 





Chives  





Sage 





Thyme 





Kitchen garden - and gardeners!  





Rosa Mundi and Lavender