Rose Pruning and More Seed Planting

Monday I noticed some powdery mildew on my roses, not surprising with all of this wet heat that we’ve had. This can cause malformed buds, poor flowering and if it blows into the potager it will ravage my Golden Scallopini again! It must be dealt with.

But how?

There are many suggestions for what to spray on it but all of them seem to have nasty to kind-of-nasty side effects for the very bugs I’ve been trying to promote in the garden. Seeing as it is an air circulation issue why not just create more air circulation?

So I cut back any growth that did not have flower buds on it and then at least half of the leaves on the entire bush. This really opened it up. Then I cut back quite a few of the leaves from the peony growing in front of it, and the mums growing to the side to half their height. This will prevent the mums from getting leggy and opened everything up creating a lot of air flow. 

We’ll see if air flow alone can help out, instead of running for a spray can.

I planted the Picotee Morning glories I had started indoors in the box at the front door along with some of the nigella that has self-seeded from last year. 

I had also started some of the poppies and columbine seeds that I bought this spring inside so that if the seeds that I direct-sowed didn’t take I’d have something at least. They went into the new cutting gardens by the east fence with some cosmos from my sister and the seed swap. The rest of the cosmos went in with the lavender in the front border of the potager. 

I saw a small blue butterfly in the Tallgrass Prairie but it was so fast, and never stopped anywhere long enough to get a picture. Possibly it was a Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche Lygdamus), they’re one of the most common in this area. The black swallowtail was also about. I’m so glad the prairie is working as food and habitat! It’s lovely to see. 

Because of all the fun I’ve been having trying out herbal spring wines I used up all of the carboys we had. Tuesday I ran down to Angus to pick up a couple more so that I can continue to tinker. I racked the Tarragon Rhubarb, Chervil Lilac and Lilac wines and now they’ll continue to ferment for a couple months until they’re done and have cleared. Then I can rack and bottle them. The Lilac wine smells absolutely amazing!!! I can’t wait to try it. 

Left to right: Chervil Lilac, Lilac and Tarragon Rhubarb wine. The 1 gallon jar infront is what i squeezed out of the combined must. Waste not, want not. The bucket is the Mint wine.

Our first full blown rose awaited me when I went out to feed the chickens Wednesday morning. There was already a rose in the garden when we moved in so I’ve been training it along the metal wheels my brother-in-law gave me. Then my sister bought me another rose and it’s full of buds. I’m trying to train that one up the trellis with my Virgin’s bower clematis.  

The Emily rose is to the left, slightly pinker, much more frangrance and the rose that came with the house is to the right.

Incredibly, the hard prune seems to have worked wonders. There is still some powdery mildew on some of the leaves which I will continue to remove, or try to wash off if it's a good dry day. But no spray seems to have been needed. This time at least.

Today was basil planting day! Thursday saw all 5 types of basil going into the garden. The Genovese and Dark Opal both look really good but the rest of them are a little sad. There is new growth so hopefully they’ll perk up now that they can start growing their roots into the soil. 

Genovese Basil

Our first blue iris bloomed today as well. These were the bulbs I got at the Dollarstore earlier this spring and I’m pleased that they actually produced. I’m not sure what that specific name is for them but they’re dutch irises, not bearded irises. Lovely blue with yellow accents. 

Another happy occurrence was the blooming of the Lace Perfume dianthus from Seeds of Imbolc. I’ve never grown these before and they are lovely! And the smell is so beautiful. It appears that you can eat the blooms of any dianthus so I’m thinking these will perfume a wine or jelly intoxicatingly!

Friday after mowing the lawn I decided to start laying out a plan for the rose garden that I would like to plant on the southeast side of our property.

When we were in Hamilton we had memberships to the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton/Burlington. We were there when they had just finished reworking the rose garden with healthy, Canadian-winter-tolerant roses and companion plants for pest reduction and enjoyment improvement.  They also have a sweet little teahouse with fresh made scones.

I had never smelled a moss rose. I did not know it existed. Now, I want all of the roses. Earth Angel was by far my most favourite smell and I found a little family run nursery in Niagara-on-the-Lake that grows them. And, of course, a great many others. 

I planned the garden to be a bit of a Labyrinth, not that I can make it large enough to get lost in, but it will lead you along. Quite a pain with an electric lawn mower but I’ll get some rebar or posts or something to make guides for the cord. This way we get rid of another great swath of monoculture that is lawn. Yes, the roses I’m going to get are not native, however there are many native and culinary species that make excellent companions for roses. 

The cutting garden will then flow into the rose garden which will waft enticingly its perfume over the seating area around the fire pit. 

Because of Bonnie and Clyde, our southeast maples, there is some shade over the potato patch and rose garden. Fortunately Palatine sells several shade tolerant roses that are incredibly beautiful, amongst which my new favourite is La Belle Sultane. That gorgeous glowing center in the mid-afternoon shade will be a beauteous thing!

I also planted out some Butterflyweed and Lance-leaved Coreopsis in the new front garden and cutting garden as well as expanded the front garden into the lilac and peony garden. The joys of your husband ordering more mulch. 

Saturday I continued the planning and preparing for the rose garden. I missed the cutoff for fall ordering bare-root plants so I may have to run down and get some. Or be patient and wait until spring of 2022. It seems so far away, but the years do run along. 

I have a rough idea of where I’d like to plant what roses. 

In researching good companions for roses I compiled a list of pest-discouragers - alliums, geraniums, marigolds, thyme, sage, anise hyssop, Russian sage, lavender, yarrow, oregano and nepeta.

Many of these are edible or medicinal, all provide some pollinator support and they’re pretty. 

Other ornamental options are larkspur, blue false indigo, nicotiana, globe thistle, sea holly, bearded iris, poppies, stocks, monarda, dianthus, and sweet peas. Many of these I already have and can just transplant over, some are native species so that will be good and some just smell incredible!

For foliage interest I’m thinking of using some of the Little Bluestem I already have amongst some of the roses and then lady’s mantle, white sage, lamb’s ears and hostas are other options. 

This will make for a stunning scent garden filled with roses and beneficial companions. The colours and textures and perfume will be a source of constant enjoyment. 

I also found a mock orange this year that I planted in front of Josh’s grape vine on the east side. While I was working the citrus scent wafting on the breeze was a portent of things to come. 

Last but not least, I continued in the Potager planting cucumber seeds under the sunflowers that I planted a few weeks ago. From the seed swap I received Wisconsin SMR-58 pickling cucumbers and Salt and Pepper pickling cucumbers. Then I planted some Boothby’s Blonde seeds where the Mexican Sour Gherkins are languishing. 

I also made one bean tripod and planted some Trionfo Violetto pole beans, but I need 3 more tripods for the rest of the beans...

Maybe Sunday…

Or a nap.