Christmas Potpourri Recipes

Because of the season, I thought I'd share some of my favorite christmas potpourri recipes, and other recipes for potpourri with you. There's not much going on in the garden right now..... But there's still lots to do indoors.

For those of you who saved those rose petals, or dried flowers or roses to use in potpourri, try making some of these. They make great gifts for the Holidays!
Note: These potpourri recipes typically take 10 days- 2weeks to allow for the fragrances to mingle.

                                            Rosebud Potpourri

• Dried Rosebuds                                            
• Dried Rose Petals
• Dried Rose Leaves
• Dried Orange Peel (cut into shapes)
• Star Anise
• Orange Oil

Gently mix rose petals, rose buds, orange peel, and star anise in a glass container. Add a couple drops of rose oil, and 1 drop of orange oil. Gently stir ingredients together. Cover container. Potpourri is complete in around 10 days. Use and enjoy!
This recipe is perfect for using in  a Rose-Sachet. They are fun to make, and useful too! It can be a great project to make with kids. Designing and decorating the little sachet bags with ribbon and lace, will make them feel special. They make great gifts too!

It could be a fun project for older girls at a sleep-over birthday party.  You could have the potpourri all ready to go, and they could make the Sachets and fill with the ready-made Potpourri.

                               Christmas Potpourri Recipe

My recipe for making Christmas Potpourri is pretty simple! Ingredients include red flowers, red rose petals, tiny pine cones, dried pine, cedar, spruce, cinnamon sticks, dried orange peel........sound like christmas?
Find the entire Christmas Potpourri Recipe here
I know it's almost Christmas, but you still have time to put it all together, in a pretty glass jar with a cover, add a nice red ribbon... and there you have a lovely hand-made gift. Tell the recipient (a friend or relative I'm sure) that it was freshly made, and will have the true (finished) aroma in a week or so.....

Or, if you have some finished Potpourri and are in need of a last miniute gift...How about a Lighted Potpourri Jar? They are quite unique, and very beautiful! They are rather inexpensive to make, but they look like they cost a fortune! Find out how to make this beautiful Lighted Potpourri Jar HERE

The jar is filled with tiny Christmas lights which actually warm the potpourri, helping to release that wonderful aroma! You can use any potpourri recipe of your choosing for this lighted jar.

For more ideas and recipes visit:http://www.allaboutrosegardening.com/How-to-Make-Potpourri.html

Merry Christmas to all, I hope you have a safe and Happy Holiday!

Carol

The Last Rose Blooms of Fall

As the air gets chilly, and Jack Frost covers the lawn and gardens, the last  rose blooms of Fall are bittersweet. The roses continue to produce a flower here and there, and each one is a welcome sight. I still see buds on the plants, but most of them won't get the chance to turn into flowers. The weather prediction for the end of the week is for snow. The Knockout Roses just keep on going...

I don't do a lot in the rose garden before Winter. A few "Special" roses get a mound of soil for added protection, but that's it. I try to grow roses that are hardy to begin with. I hope you enjoy these last
                                                     Rose Blooms

The Knockout Roses just keep flowering until a hard frost puts them to bed for the Winter. Part of the bush is producing hips, but flower buds keep appearing!

My little garden ornaments seem to ponder what to do next in the garden!

                                          The Last of the Roses

Another beauty!



Look at those Rose Hips!

These are the leaves of my Theresa Bugnet Rose. Look at the beautiful Burgandy color of the leaves. Another reason why I think these will make a great hedge around the garden. While the flowers are gone, the colorful leaves continue to add interest.

 The Zebra Grass is huge! I'll leave it till Spring, because I like the Winter interest. I'll cut it down in early Spring.
It can be sad to know that the garden is done for this season, but next year brings new hope for another great year in gardening!

To next year!

Happy Gardening!

Fall Gardening Tips

Some Fall Gardening Tips to help you get ready for Winter.

As Summer fades away,and the signs of Fall remind us of the Winter to come, it is time to get our garden ready for the cold months ahead. Here in New England the leaves are turning, but the weather is still quite warm. The foliage is not as nice as in recent years (I don't know why), but my huge Maple trees are dropping their leaves without even turning colors! They usually turn a bright golden yellow, and then drop, but this year they seemed to have skipped that step!
Raking won't be as fun! Even picture taking with the kids won't be quite right!

The Knockout Roses just won't quit! The other roses have been producing hips, not flowers, but those knockouts wow! Such spectacular roses!  See the new red growth, and all the new flower buds?

This is a great rose for the garden, or the landscape. Even without deadheading, those flowers just keep coming. I like roses that I don't have to fuss with.

Do you use the rose hips from your roses?

In late fall, after the hips have turned a bright red color, (usually after the first hard frost)you can collect them and use them in recipes. One such recipe is to make Rose Hip Tea. Did you know that Rose hips are loaded with vitamin C?

                               Fall Gardening Tips
Depending on the way You garden, you may want to leave most of the work until Spring, but I find that getting things done Now will make my life easier come Spring.

Tip #1  Cut back perennials, leaving a few inches of the plant (don't cut level with the ground)
I leave some with lots of seedheads such as Echnichea, and Brown-Eyed Susans, for food for the birds. The rest get cut down, and thrown into the compost pile.

Tip#2  With the garden looking barren, it's a good time to plant some Spring flowering bulbs such as Tulips.
It's like a little bonus in the Spring, when they magically appear. Here's a good place to buy Tulip Bulbs

Tip#3  It's not to late to plant perennials. Make sure you keep them well watered, and mulch with a layer of leaves. Don't fertilize until Spring!

Tip #4  Keep the compost pile going! Don't think that you can't compost in the fall/Winter!  You can help those fallen leaves decompose faster by running them over with the lawn-mower. By mowing the grass with the fallen leaves, you'll have a nice mix for the compost pile.
Wondering about composting? Do you know How to make Compost? Are you unsure of what materials to throw in it?

Tip#5  It will soon be time to think about Winterizing your Roses
I don't cover all my roses, I try to plant varieties that I know are hardy enough to withstand the cold, but I like to help the newly planted ones by mounding up some soil around the canes. I get the soil from the vegetable garden, not from around the plant! For a special rose, I don't mind giving them a little extra protection.

Tip #6  After the first few heavy frosts, it's time to wind up all those garden hoses, and shut off the water supply. Statuary has to be taken down and brought in also. Most of my fountains/etc. are cement/stone, and can't stay out all winter. The base will fill with water, freeze, and crack!  It's an all afternoon job (for hubby) bringing it all in! Come Spring, it's another day to bring it all back out.

For more Fall Gardening Tips Look here


One of my favorite Shrubs is the Hydrangea Tree. I just love those huge flower clusters. The little white floretts slowly turn a lovely shade of pink they age.

Every year I pick a large bouguet and bring them inside. I don't put water in the vase,because I want them to dry. They last all year!

Be sure to visit my web site:allaboutrosegardening.com for lots more gardening tips, and plenty of pictures of gardens and roses. Who knows you just might be inspired to start a new garden!

My Golden Chain Tree

I planted this Golden Chain Tree several years ago. When  I Ordered it, it looked like a little "stick", but I planted it just the same. Now, each Spring, I can hardly stay in the house when it's in bloom! Take a look at these pictures, and see what you think!

The long blossoms hang down in a cluster that looks like a Wisteria blossom. The bees and Butterfly's love  it!  Deer tend to avoid it.
I'm always on the look out for interesting trees to add to my yard and garden. It's hard to find a yellow flowering tree, so when I saw this one I knew I had to have it! I think flowering trees add a lot to the landscape. The trick is planting them in the right spot.
This one needs a little protection from heavy wind, so although I know it would look great out in the Rose garden, I planted it close to the house.

If you want more information on the Golden Chain Tree, or would like to order one  visit: http://www.allaboutrosegardening.com/Golden-Chain-Tree.html

My rose hedge of Theresa Bugnet is blooming nicely:

It's so nice to see color in the garden! I love the "old rose" fragrance of these roses.
Can you see the nearby Lupines blooming also?

I have several colors, and can't really decide which ones I like the best! (or how I got so many colors? I'm taking pictures, so I can save seeds and know which colors they are!

Isn't this a great color? Sort of Peachy-Red. Lovely!

I have plenty of these Purple/Blue ones, but it's actually surprising how many different shades of purple and blue there are.

I plan on saving Lots of seeds this year, and having them For Sale on my web site: http://www.allaboutrosegardening.com/ by next year. (it's in the planning stage) right now.

Do you save seeds from your garden? If you do, you should keep them in a dry container (an envelope works well) Be sure to label it with the variety and color. And FYI the best place to keep them is in the fridge. It keeps them from drying out, so you know they will be o.k. to plant next year.

You can save a lot of money by starting your own seeds. Need more advice on  Starting Seeds? Check it out, and start saving them This year to plant in  Next years garden !

Happy Gardening!

Carol

A New Beginning

A new gardening season has begun! The May flowers are bloomimg, and yes the Roses are soon to follow! As I write this, I  already see buds and blossoms on some of the rose plants. About a month ago, I pruned back, and fertilized all the roses with my special Organic Rose Food" that my roses LOVE!

We've had lots of rain, so the plants have had plenty to drink.

As you can see from this photo, My Seven Sisters Bush is loaded with buds!!

And Theresa Bugnet is already in bloom.

There are lots of buds ready to open! I only wish the flowers would last longer, it seems they go by so quickly. I have these planted along the outside of the rose garden, hoping they will someday become a living hedge. The Simplicity roses were my first choice, but they didn't do well for me????
Since the Theresa Bugnet does so well in my planting zone, flower early, and the young canes are almost thornless, I thought they would be a good choice.

I think when they finish flowering, I will trim them back really low, so the bushes can fill in more.


I have been very busy  putting together some planters and pots for the gardens. I like to make my own, because I can save a ton of money that way. More money to spend on new Roses!

See a few of the ones I've made:

I planted this Urn with a pretty varigated Begonia, and some blue Lobellia. It is in the Rose garden.

The pots on the stair planter are planted with assorted Annuals. Pretty Petunias and more Lobellia. Give it a few weeks, and see how nice it looks.

My Strawberry Planter is planted with Begonias, some Oregeno, and a Rosemary plant. This is one of two I have in the Herb garden.

I have to show you this picture of my Wegelia Shrub. It's georgeous!

Isn't it lovely? It's grown and flowered just as I invisioned it would. I wanted a colorful shrub at the corner of the left side of the garden that would add color early in the season, and  I found the perfect one! I can't believe how many blossoms it has this season! When I took this photo, there was a Hummingbird enjoying the flowers, but it flew away as Igot close, so I missed photographing it! (tomorrow's another day)

A few more pictures of "Whats Blooming in My Garden"

My beautiful Tree Peonies!

The Clematis are beginning to open. Do you know How to grow Clematis?

Don't you love the Iris? They bloom faithfully each year without fail. I can't decide which color I like the best!

The Chammomile happily grows along side some rose plants. The scent of the blossoms makes me feel like having a cup of tea! I think I'll go brew a cup now......
Happy Gardening!

A New Beginning

A new gardening season has arrived!!!

The May flowers are blooming! And YES, the Roses are starting to bud and begin their journey into beautiful bloossoms. I cut them all back about a month ago, and fertilized with my special "secret" all organic formular, and lo and behold........

My Seven Sisters bush is (as you can see) loaded with buds.

My Theresa Bugnet bushes are alreadying showing blossoms. They are always the first to bloom.

I only wish the flowers lasted longer. It seems they fade so quickly!

But not to worry, there will be plenty more roses to follow!

Like this one, already in the bud stage.

I've been busy potting up some planters to scatter about the garden. I like making my own, simply because of the cost! I find that if you save your planters each year, and add fresh potting mix, the cost of buying some 6-packs of different flowers, sure beats buying hangers and pots already made.

Here are a few that Istarted:

I planted a pretty varigated Begonia, with a few blue Lobellia in this Urn. I have it in the Rose garden in front of some rose bushes.

My stair planter is planted with an assortment of Annuals. Just waite a few weeks, to see how pretty it will be!

This Strawberry Jar is one of two in the Herb garden.

If you've never tryed making your own pots you should give it a try, be creative, choose flowers that you like, and start planting!

I just have to show you this picture of my Cardinal Shrub, it is so..... beautiful this year! Take a look...

It is just as I invisioned it would be a few years back when I ordered it and planted it. It serves as a very colorful anchor plant on  the left side of the garden.
I purchased it from:<a href="http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-3700562-10777784?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.DirectGardening.com%2Fdetail.asp%3FProductID%3D6749%26amp%3BSource%3DCJDF&cjsku=6749" target="_top">
Weigela, Bristol Ruby</a><img src="http://www.tqlkg.com/image-3700562-10777784" width="1" height="1" border="0"/>

Spring Emerges

It's been a LONG winter! But, as we all knew it would eventually come, Spring is finally here. I've had a particually hard winter, and I am most certainly ready for some playing in the dirt! As I take a stroll around the gardens, I see much work that needs to be done. I guess garden work is never really done, now is it?
This time of year seems to go by so fast, it's hard to get everything done on schedule, so I'll atempt to do a little bit every day.

A walk through the rose garden assures me that most all is well! As long as I see some green on the canes, I know the plant has survived the winter. It's still to early to cut them back, we could get some really cold weather yet, you never know. I will rake up between the plants, and move back any soil that I mounded up.

I see plenty of green canes on this plant, it looks like it did just fine. There was plenty of snow to keep the plants protected. Hopefully I won't have a lot of winter kill this year.
I cut back the tall grass, a chore I don't particulary like. I like to leave it through the winter, because I think it adds some winter interest to the garden. But if you waite too long in the Spring, it starts to break up and blow all over the lawn and garden.

Here it is before I cut it:

and now, it's cut, and hauled away to the compost!

Once it starts to grow, it will fill in quickly, and hide all the dead part.


It's important to have other flowers/shrubs/trees in the garden to give it structure. Each year I try to add something new to my garden. It might be a tree, or a shrub or two, or even a perennial plant.

Today I purchased a rose "Chuckles" This is a low-growing bushy Shrub rose. It has clusters of single,deep rose-pink blooms all season. I have it soaking in a pail of water, and will plant it tomorrow.
I will give it a season to grow, watch it and see how it does, and if it is a rose that I really like, I will take cuttings from it and make a whole row of them.
Want to learn how to take cuttings from your roses to multiply them? Learn about propagating roses


The daffodills have not only poked up their heads, but they are growing so fast, I swear if you stand still and watch them you can actually SEE them growing!

I have large clumps of them throughout the gardens, in many different colors. I think they are very beautiful flowers, perfect almost. They are easy to grow (plant in the fall) They return every year, you can pick them and bring them inside, or leave them in the garden to add beautiful color. What more could you want in a garden flower?

Back out to the garden, more raking to do......

I heard a bird sing

In the dark of December

A magical thing

And sweet to remember

"We are nearer to Spring

than we were in September."

I heard a bird sing

In the dark of December.

-Oliver Herford

Planning Spring Projects "Flagstone Walk"

It's hard to think about projects for the Spring with the chance of a winter storm headed this way, expected to dump a foot or more of snow, but, it is actually a good time to plan.
By the time Spring rolls around, there will be raking, and mulching, planting....etc., etc., etc. and little time for planning.

Even though my rose garden looks like this now,

and the roses are sleeping with their heads sticking out of the snow, the garden will soon awake and look like this:

The birds and butterflys will return, as well as the fairy princesses who come to the garden to play and have a tea party!

By tea time, there is NO time for planning....

So I thought I would get you to put on your thinking caps and think about changes for the coming year.

One thing that might be of interest to you is to put in a new Flagstone Walk. Take a look at this one, installed by one of my website visitors. Didn't she do a terriffic job!!! Wouldn't you like that in YOUR garden?




See how one lady took on this task, and beautified her garden!

Visithttp://www.allaboutrosegardening.com/Flagstone-Walk.html

for the Step-by-Step instructions on how she built it.

Walks, or garden paths add so much to the garden. They define the walk space, and serve as edging for the flower beds.

If done correctly, you don't need to worry about weeds. As beautiful as this flagstone walk is, you can make walks out of  a number of different materials. Bricks, pavers, flat rocks, cobblestones, gravel, even simple mulch paths all work.
 You try to define the planting bed from the area to walk on, and make it nice to look at!

I would love for you to share your comments on building garden paths or walkways. If anyone has built one, please share it with us! Any tips or tricks you learned along the way to benefit us would be especially helpful

Thanks for sharing!

Keep those thinking caps on!