In Loving Memory of Our Dear Sparky

In Loving Memory of I Am Spartacus "Sparky"

February 5, 1998 - July 12, 2011

Sparky with his friends, Sueno and Rocky

Sparky slipped from life as sweetly, obediently and uncomplaining as he had lived it.

He will be sorely missed.

Double Delight

Double Delight from the rooted cutting opened its first flower beautifully. 

I thought I'd share the event with you!

I do love the color variations in Double Delight. Its phototropic qualities are a wonderful visual addition to its intoxicating fragrance.

 I enjoyed preparing a couple of articles about rose color for eHow:

My White Roses Are Turning Pink

How Do Roses Get Their Color?

Use your browser's back arrow to return to Roses, Color and Light.

(You may click to enlarge the above photos.)

The Character of Our Garden

Every garden is its own entity. Our journeys through picture books and trips to the nursery come together differently than our vision of perfection.

An errant carrot seed from last year produced this lovely bunch of 'summer snowflakes.'

Our own garden exists differently in my imagination than in actuality. Weed seeds, opportunists that they are, find respite from the surrounding desert in our yard. Every crack between stones, every bare slice of earth is fair game.

Prairie Star is happy in an untidy bed.

Our front walk with Dream Weaver and minis.

Our garden is a mish-mash of this-and-that from impulse buys and  opportunity purchases.

Peppermint Twist phlox is pretty and sweetly scented.

Our front walk is made of local stones.

Alliums and Shasta daisies

These alliums were a parting gift from a dear friend who moved away. They have multiplied with gusto. 

Baby's breath and germander.

I am attached to baby's breath. We used it extensively in the flower shop throughout the '70s. 

Minis and yarrow

All the yarrow in our yard came form one or two plants. It is shallow-rooted, tough and forgiving. I can pull it out where I don't want it, and stick a small rooted stem where I do want it. It grows to 3 feet high or flowers at less than a foot high if I shear it short. Its delicate, ferny leaves belie its tremendous durability and utility. I am fond of yarrow.
Our garden is filled with local rocks including some lovely petrified wood. It is rustic in the extreme, without tidy edges or smooth walkways. It is a never-finished garden to busy ourselves with and dream over.

Double Delight from one of my rooted cuttings!



You may click to enlarge the above photos