Rose Garden Labors That Dazzle

Ingrid Bergman Graced with Rain Drops

Here’s my contribution to the American Labor force on this Labor Day. May it brighten your Day. How do you spend Labor Day? I usually spend Labor Day working in the garden. Did you know that Labor Day, also known as International Workers Day has been around since 1882? Labor Continue Reading

Roses, Rain and Rainbows

Rainbow Sorbet

On Thursday, August 2, 2012 it rained. It has not rained for 45 days in Central Illinois. Central Illinois is known as the heartland. Famous for soybeans and fields of corn “knee high by the 4th of July,” the corn was fully chest high this year before the drought fully Continue Reading

Rose Pruning Primer, Early Pruning post traumatic stress disorder (PPTSD)

Let us hope and pray y’all have not gotten spring fever with the deceptively warm winter, gone wild and whacked your bushes. Because if a killing frost comes along there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth if the new growth stimulated by your early pruning dies back as the Continue Reading

Rose Pruning The Rite of Spring

In May 1913, Igor Stravinsky debuted his ballet The Rite of Spring (watch a YouTube video). Though it is one of Stravinsky’s most famous works, his creation was first met with harsh criticism, negative reviews, and yes – a riot. I put forth to you today that the emotion evoked Continue Reading

Best Tips For Pruning Roses Stress-Free

I would like to coin a new gardening phrase. Pruning post traumatic stress disorder (PPTSD) I have it, it’s real, I suffer every President’s Day. It occurred from having pruned right after President’s Day in Texas. President’s Day is supposed to be the last day of the danger of a Continue Reading