To be overcome by the fragrance of flowers is a delectable form of defeat. ~ Beverley Nichols

For weeks my husband has promised me that he was going to take me to a nursery. Well, last weekend was the best time because he owed me a Mother's day gift : ) So I was actually able to buy something. Of course when we got to the one that I had been really wanting to go to.. it was SO expensive! Like 6 marigold's was $15! I definitely couldn't pay that. I know that nurseries are always more expensive and I'm sure that there quality was alot better than, say... Wal-mart or Lowe's. But I had to draw a line. I mean these were annuals! Perennials I will pay a little more, but not annuals.

I was sorely upset but thankfully I was able to find the Hydrangea "Limelight" that I had seen the last time I had been there. So I bought that. A disappointing trip, considering I had been waiting so long to go back.

On the way back though we found a little Country Store that made the entire trip worth while. It was small and it had any kind of preserved food you could think of. But what made it so great was all the flowers outside the store. We had not been there very long when I spotted the biggest, most beautiful rose I had ever seen. Plus it smelled like Heaven! There was no price on it so we had to ask someone (I hate that). But when the guy came over and we asked him he pointed at the huge sign behind us that said ROSES $12.99. OK before you start wondering about my intelligence. It was Mother's day and I assumed (you know what they say about assume?) that since the price was so low that it had to be cut roses. After I got over the embarrassment I grabbed that big red rose (Janice Kellogg rose) and searched for another one to go with it. That's when I found the "Liv Tyler" rose. I have been wanting one and to find it that big for $12.99, well, it was very exciting! I was still on the lookout for Bee Balm, but I had pretty much reached my limit after the Hydrangea and the roses!

This is the Janice Kellogg rose. It stands out a little in the rose garden since it's so big and the others were bought this Spring bare root

Another shot of the Janice Kellogg rose. Named after former President of Kellogg garden products.

http://www.greenarrownurseries.com/gallery/album294/Kelloggs_Rose_PUB2

The "Liv Tyler" rose. Not in bloom yet, but I am waiting anxiously!

Hydrangea "Limelight" I am so excited about this blooming!

I bought this "Barbarini rose Dianthus" because it is highly fragrant and I think that that is an important part of a garden.

My moms gift to me. Asiatic Lily that I split up and made three from! YAY!

This just bloomed and I thinks its the Chicago Peace rose. It is a lot prettier in person!

This is one of the miniature roses in bloom.

This is the "Snowfire" rose about to bloom.

This is the same rose in bloom.

Gardening is a matter of your enthusiasm holding up until your back gets used to it. - author unknown.

I have always wanted a rose garden. I started it last year and unfortunately I put it in the worst place in the yard! They got almost no direct sun. Like all flowers location, location, location is the first ingredient in growing flowers. Of course now that I think about it, I really didn't put that much thought into where I was going to plant them. I guess it was a good thing that I only paid $3.00 a piece for them. Because had I paid more I would have been very upset when they all died!


Well, now its a better year. I didn't just have a baby and I now have time to plan.
So of course being the persistent person that I am, I just started again.


New location- back yard where we get sun pretty much all day!



New plan= (its actually a circle contrary to the awful picture.)










Arches covered in roses will be on the right and left side of the rose garden. Then in the middle we will probably get a bird bath and a bench??? Idk.


We already have the the roses put in the places they go, now the hard part... putting down all that edging so that the gravel stays in. Now that's going to be a job!

This is Snowfire.. I think. I will have a picture tomorrow of what it looks like open, Its a beauty!

This is one of the roses I got on clearance at the end of the season last year.

Knockout roses... blooming like crazy!

I am not sure which rose this is. I guess we'll be surprised when it opens! I LOVE surprises!
I am thinking its a Floribunda rose since it has so many little buds on one stem.

Iris's are blooming and they are BEAUTIFUL! I have added more Iris's for the list of bulbs to buy this Fall!



My little bitty shady lady impatiens from park seed.

Purslane from my tipsy pots.

Hollyhocks!!!

Another Salvation Army find! A little... idk what. But I am going to use it as a mini-trellis.

Did you really think I could go one post without saying something about my Wave Petunias???