I also removed three more poorly performing roses. I am so sick of black spot in this garden and coddling roses. The roses also get attacked by beetles every year. Aargh!!! I am so over roses right now. But I am not tossing them all out. Some are performing OK and I do have an emotional attachment to them. But over 90% of them have to go. They need tons of water an fertilizer and still fail to perform and look healthy and beautiful. I refuse to spray an use up any more of my valuable time on them. They have to go!
This fall when I harvested my sole pumpkin that is still sitting on a kitchen windowsill, I had such a sense of joy and accomplishment. I have never grown a pumpkin before! My roses have never brought me a sense of joy and accomplishment like that in all the years I have been gardening. So, my new rule of thumb is unless something I grow brings me a sense of accomplishment and pride, out it goes.
Under this new rule, I have decided to keep my iris rhizomes. I am fascinated by irises - their colors and the many different varieties. They are not too much trouble to grow and they do not need coddling. I am always delighted to see them blooming. Some of mine even try to bloom in winter. I only lose a few every year due to rotting because of heavy rains and supersaturated soil.
One of my beds is being devoted to roses and irises - mostly climbing or very tall roses. Another bed is being devoted to perennials. The rest of the garden is going to be devoted to growing fruits and veggies. I am making plans to create a cold frame and I have decided where that is to go
Weather Note: Freezing temps are predicted tonight and it looks like Guerneville will be in the 20's. I turned on my white mini lights that I have strung in my lemon tree to help protect it frm frost.
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