Miniature Roses as Cut Flowers

I have greatly underestimated miniature roses.  They seem dainty, delicate and for use only in the landscape.  I was pleasantly surprised when I noticed that the make GREAT cut flowers for arrangements.  Now my arrangement skills are sorely lacking but flowers are still pretty.  Above is green ice paired with black baccara.  I found this to be quite elegant looking.

While pruning my many roses, I forgot why I grew them in the first place.  To have cut flowers....how could I forget.  My mother asked me if I was burned out from gardens...I said years ago!  When I tell her I haven't been working in the gardens...I mean I don't put in 6 to 8 hours into it.  But on a given day I work one to two hours in the gardens.  In any event, I opted to cut flowers.  When I look for roses, I look for ones partially open.   The great thing about the miniatures is that I don't wait for that.

 Peach drift was another great miniature that blooms in abundance.

 Green ice has become a delight!

Just other roses I opted to use

I had a random lily blooming so I opted to pair it with ivy.

JFK and Mister Lincoln I believe

Today, I will continue to prune the rose bushes.

 You can see green ice blooms in abundance

Peach Drift.

Arrangement I put in the foyer.  I used bottled lemonade as the mixture but I don't care for the color like I do mountain dew and sprite.

I used bottlebrush in some of them.  Again, not the greatest in arrangements but I'll learn.

I did like the ivy with the lily in an old milk bottle.  I thought it looked artistic.

My Abstract Flower Arrangement

 If you grow a lot of flowers, I highly recommend giving them as gifts.  I routinely give them to people I encounter often.  Grocers, doctor's office's secretary, hair dresser...you get the idea.  I don't give them routinely because then people will expect them but I do give roses away often.  Thrift stores are full of vases and you will find people will appreciate you for it.  These were for my doctor's office's two secretaries...who I can hound sometimes.

I haven't learned how to arrange, clearly but I use a can of Mountain Dew and aspirin in the vase.  I wanted height so I added bougainvillea and Ivy.

I, always, try to put in unique roses...like Memphis Music.  To be honest, one color tends to be prettier.

Wordless Wednesday

Back porch makeover...before and after

This project was relatively quick and easy.  I didn't have to buy anything I just shifted stuff around.  If you haven't followed me before, I have been working on a massive rose garden on the back of the house.  The back of the house is full of windows that had curtains covering them.  As I began redoing the back yard, I had opted to open the curtains.  The informal dining area windows faced a screened porch that was a mess...the following pictures are the "before pictures"

I used it as gardener storage.  

Perlite, shovels etc is what you saw

Well, I opted to move all this stuff to the garage.  I attempted to power wash which made things worse not better but there is pollen everywhere.

After Pictures

This is what you see while eating breakfast.  It's looks like a brunch area.  One day, I will make it a sun room by  replacing the screen with glass and tiling the floors.

Looks like a restaurant almost.  But it's like decorator towels....more for looks.  It does look nicer..but the pollen on the screens are annoying.

Meanwhile...back at the ranch...the springtime show is about to begin...and the lights are flashing.

Pink snow camellias I just planted are starting to bloom

My son bought me this as a gift....from a distance it looks like a surprised owl....I think it might scare birds more than anything....but I do like it.

Recently purchased azaleas

Coleus seeds that I just sowed

Zinnia seeds are popping up

Tulips are surfacing

Know what's a bad idea?   Planting rye grass over daffodils....can't tell what is what...

Snow crocus are sprouting

Icebergs are blooming and yes, black spot....

Knockouts have been blooming

Indian Blankflower has been here all winter...did not take care of it at all and its on a very sandy dry slope

The juniper arches I planted at Thanksgiving looked like they have grown.

This weed personally OFFENDS me......I don't know why but I hate it

Sunny knockout tree blooming

The nursery where I bought all the perinneals let me have the  "holders"   These things come in very handy

These bougainvilleas have never looked so good.  I didn't feed them..but  they received a TON of water...I am discovering the secret to these is water...they say they don't like a lot of water on websites..but I'm gonna go ahead and disagree.

Tulip trees are budding and blooming

Hibiscus in the greenhouse

Easter lilies

Huckleberry..and oh, I am sneezing like crazy this past month.

Tulip tree in the front field

I have planted over 300 bulbs..in a few weeks it will be a show.