Long Time, No Wrap.... (Tuesday, April 6, 1999)

.... been busy. I actually had a few days off recently and found plenty to do with them! I've been working hard catching up with my shipping, paperwork, email, etc. But, best of all, we've had a few spring-like days and I've been gardening! Yay! And very best of all, just as I finish digging and planting a new area, another storm sweeps in and waters it all in nicely. Things are starting to look good. I've been planting seeds, poppies of all kinds. I've foiled the cats by planting little sharpened bamboo stakes in all of my seed beds right along with the seeds. I've found that this method works very well for keeping my furry friends out of the tempting, freshly-dug soil. They are just baffled by the sticks -- they aren't able to turn around freely to enjoy a good dig in the bed I've prepared. My poppies have actually had a chance to sprout. And, of course, I've been putting in more roses. I've taken out a few that didn't like the coast very much -- Duchess of Portland has never looked good, so she goes into a pot in the nursery area. The same goes for a Perle d'Or that was unhappy in its spot. I'm just dumping Thisbe -- ugly thing. But hope springs eternal -- I actually planted a couple more Hybrid Teas and Floribundas. Amazingly, the Floribundas I've planted so far are doing alright. I planted a beautiful little nameless one that I got as a cutting from a friend -- it is a nice shade of lavender with light, creamy stamens and a good fragrance. I put it in a bed with Lavender Pink Parfait, Mr. Bluebird, Blue Violet, and Cramoisi Superieur, Louis Phillipe, Martha Gonzales, and Black Jade. I can't wait to see what it all looks like. I also finally got some plants into the ground that had been in pots last year -- stuff I got as cuttings from friends. Lafter is now happy in its new spot, accompanied by a couple of gorgeous "Unknowns" that I got from the Placerville cemetery. I also put in My Sunshine (just down the line from its ancestor, Sunsprite), Rita Sammons, Golden Halo, Sorcerer, Crimson Glory, Playtime, Diamond Jubilee and Bill Mendosa, a "found" red China from Mendocino. I managed to find a spot for Phyllis Bide and now I have to figure out where to move a couple of big ones that are in a very shady spot. I got all of my little "Halo" roses in big pots and they are looking perky and happy. I'm very interested in seeing them together with their ancestor, Anytime. Now I'm about to go back outside and hack away at an overwhelming Juniper (why on earth do people plant Juniper???) in my back yard to make room for the Golden Moss, Topaz Jewel, and something else. Now what will it be.....? This is the fun part. :)

Previous Rose Wraps Many Changes (Monday, April 17, 2000) Where's Alice??? (Monday, August 16, 1999) Ah, the Celebration...... (Wednesday, May 19, 1999) Long Time, No Wrap.... (Tuesday, April 6, 1999) Is It Spring Yet??? (Wednesday, March 10, 1999) Mothers Day in Mendocino... (Friday, February 26, 1999) Old Blush (Tuesday, February 9, 1999) Plum Blossoms (Wednesday, January 27, 1999) The Dead of Winter (Friday, January 15, 1999) The Old Year Passeth.... (Monday, January 4, 1999) Alba Madness! (Thursday, December 10, 1998) The Weather Again (Thursday, November 19, 1998) El Nino/La Nina (Monday, November 9, 1998)

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White Rabbit Roses
P.O. Box 191, Elk, CA 95432
Proprietor: Alice Flores
Colophon