Friday, April 29, 2011

Brandywine Crabapple Tree in Bloom

I adore this tree. It was planted about five years ago and it's still smallish. I love the color and form of these charming little blossoms, don't you?
Like a peony bud or a rose bloom

Dramatic color against the blue sky
A cluster is like a lovely corsage

The blossoms open flat and pale pink. There is a slight, sweet fragrance that would probably be stronger in a more humid situation.


Blossoms have opened big and happy

Such a pretty tree!
The blossoms are charming at every stage and range from hot to pale pink.

All ages clustered pleasantly together

The leafed-out tree in August

Crabapples in September


You may click to enlarge the above photos

Friday, April 15, 2011

A Rose Article


Happy Abraham Darby in our no-spray garden.
I have published an article  about basic rose care on eHow. I hope you enjoy it!



Prairie Star in our no-spray garden

Raising roses is a great pleasure.


Quietness in our no-spray garden


The Buck roses we have grown are delightful in our no-spray garden.


The amazing Chicago Peace  in our no-spray garden

Monday, April 11, 2011

Spring is Trying to Get to Our Garden

Spring comes to the High Colorado Plateau as reluctantly as a capricious child who is expected to accomplish several boring chores and just doesn't wanna. Days in the 70's F tease us with delightful sunshine only to give way to cruel sandstorms and 50 mile-an-hour winds. Then, the snow comes followed by warming days again, and mud. 


The garden was frosted on April 9th with spring snow.

The crabapple is trying to bloom.

Bright pink creeping phlox was not expecting this!!
Candytuft and grape hyacinth beneath the crabapple tree.

How will Belinda's Dream, one of our new roses from Chamblees, fare in her new home?
Spring eventually does come, however, and just when it ought. 

No harm done... the next day she bounced back

Morning coffee with creeping phlox.


Pansies in the kitchen window box are very cheering.


There is so much to do in the garden right now, as weather permits. We had a cold winter, and though no record temperatures were hit, there were several prolonged spells of very low temperatures. As I prune the roses, I am seeing a lot of winter damage. The orders from Chamblees and Heirloom have arrived, and all are in the ground except for poor Aunt Honey. Several of my cuttings are planted now, too. If every day were like today, with temperatures in the 60's and 70's F and no wind, I could be Garden Super Woman. 

Monday, March 28, 2011

An Afternoon at the Desert Botanical Gardens at Papago Park, Phoenix

An afternoon spent at the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix at Papago Park was delightful. 
A beautiful spring day at the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix
My mother, our friend, Wilma, and I spent a wonderful three or four hours in the sunshine and fresh air, taking in the desert scenery.  
Barn's Butte at Papago Park
Wilma volunteers as a docent at the gardens. She led us on a spirited tour through the wildflowers and cactus. We saw so much to inspire and awe, and might have spent another day or two to see the rest of it. 


Our intrepid guide, Wilma
The Butterfly Pavillion is open until the first week in May. Dozens of beautiful specimens happily flutter about an enclosed garden going about their business little noticing the camera-mad public in their lives.

A Buckeye Butterfly on a bright yellow columbine

This Giant Swallowtail finds the red petunias alluring
Having grown up in Phoenix, the Sonoran desert is a familiar landscape to me, but I was very excited to see desert plants from Mexico such as the Creeping Devil cactus and the Boojum Tree.

The creepy Creeping Devil cactus from Mexico
The exotic Boojum Tree

You may click to enlarge the above photos