Gardening, anyone?

For anyone who grows roses: years ago we had a rose named Lagerfeld, after the late designer. It's an incredible lavender and smells terrific. I've seen little boys stop to smell it after getting a whiff on the sidewalk. I looked and it's still available. I'm going to replace ours (lost in a cold snap). We also have an Impressionist. It's a climber with big blossoms. The flowers go through about 5 color changes during their life, so there are different colors on the same bush. It varies from yellow to orange to rose and you can imagine it in a Monet painting.

I'd love to see pictures of the roses. Our region has been devastated by rose rosette disease and virtually all roses in our entire part of the country are dying or dead and it is not recommended that they be planted again. So sad.

Rose Rosette Disease (RRD) is a devastating disease of roses. It makes the rose unsightly because of abnormal growth of the rose plant tissue. Symptoms such as witches' brooms, excessive thorniness, enlarged canes, malformed leaves and flowers are associated with this disease. This disease has been reported since the early 1940s but only in 2011 did research demonstrate that it is caused by a virus, aptly named the Rose Rosette Virus (RRV). Diagnosis of RRD prior to 2011 was primarily done based on observed symptoms and the presence of the eriophyid mite that is believed to be the vector of RRV. In recent years, this disease problem appears to be a growing issue as more and more cultivated roses are used in landscapes. At this time, all roses are believed to be susceptible on some level to the disease. Recent funding from the Specialty Crops Research Initiative program is allowing research into this disease with the goal of developing roses that are resistant to RRD.

https://roserosette.org/

JoE777, if my Granddad were still alive he would be so sad, because he had a huge rose garden.

Just a few years ago my mom and I were talking about what a stellar spring we were having and how the roses everywhere were just gorgeous.

Before the roses, he and Grandmother collected and raised orchids for many years and had a good-sized greenhouse in their yard. One year we got an extended spell of single-digit cold and even with the greenhouse they lost almost all of the orchids.

I had been thinking about having a trellis built against the south side of my house and planting one of the big old-fashioned "blowsy" roses, but I'm not going to now.

Ahhh! A definite sign of spring.

Beautiful tree blossoms! None here yet, but at least my snow drops are emerging:

several alliums have broken through the ground and have about 2 inches of “green” showing. First sign of spring in my yard.

Noticed that I haven’t seen very many robins yet.

Planted a tray of brussels sprouts, roma tomatoes and multicolor sweet peppers. Snow is still melting, but all will be ready in two months.

Spring has officially sprung.

GmaFoley, how wonderful to see your hummingbird and daffodils! Starting to see some daffodils here, and a few bright crocuses. Hummingbirds should be here by mid April. I'll have my feeder ready!

Wren- yes, a heliobore on the bottom. From Lowes.

The top is one of the first blooming wild flowers here in March, but figuring out the name. More to follow!

My beautiful orange and crimson orchid in full bloom.

Wish there was a like button!!!