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By Mom Unplugged, July 1, 2007 9:20 am

This foxglove made it through the cold winter and returned from the dead. It always seems a miracle to me that flowers can actually survive the winter (even though they are “perennials” and are supposed to). When I survey the dried and dead remains early each spring, I always expect the worst. However, usually the flowers amaze me with their resilience, such as this foxglove, one of three I planted last summer. Two are in flower, and one is almost there.

This is a Flax flower. It was one of this year’s impulse purchases at the nursery because I thought the little blue flowers were so pretty. At this point, my garden is one giant experiment, so we’ll see how it does!

I have always loved California Poppies. They are so lovely, yet so tough. In my last house I had them wild in the front yard. Here, I decided to plant many of them in a dry front flower bed. This is a first bloom.

CONTEST:
Finally: news of a photography contest! David Austin Roses is hosting a Garden Rose Photography Competition. Submit a photo, either a close-up, or a whole plant or garden picture, and possibly win a $100 or $150 David Austin gift certificate. The rose must be a David Austin English rose (which you might have without even realizing it - check their website to see the varieties). Photos will be judged on beauty and originality. Deadline is September 30th so you have all summer to find that perfect rose. Good luck!

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This post is part of The Sunday Garden Tour at A Wrung Sponge. Head over there to find more participants, or to add your own garden-related post. Happy Sunday!

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By Mom Unplugged, June 24, 2007 9:54 am

I saw this sign in a store shortly after planting my hopeless looking bare root roses one month ago. I had to buy it!

Well, the bare root roses are actually getting leaves. They look ALIVE! Here is a before and after picture of one of them:

Graham Thomas on May 28th:

Graham Thomas this morning (June 24):

Only one still looks a bit iffy, but the others are doing very well. Roseraie de l’Hay is really going crazy!

Happy Roseraie:

Some of my older roses are flowering right now. My three year-old Climbing Iceberg has several sweet-smelling white flowers and many buds.

Climbing Iceberg

This lovely red rose is a leftover from the previous owner. I am afraid I have quite neglected it, but it still puts on a pretty show in early summer each year. I am not sure what it is.

Mystery rose with a volunteer aspen in the middle:

This post is part of The Sunday Garden Tour at A Wrung Sponge. Head over there to find more participants, or to add your own garden-related post. Happy Sunday!

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By Mom Unplugged, June 3, 2007 8:56 pm

We are back from Phoenix and plugged in (to the computer) again!

Thanks to air conditioning and swimming pools, the children and I somehow survived temperatures of over 100 degrees without melting. However I must say I am happy to be back at my cool (elevation 7,000′) mountain home! No wonder so many Phoenix residents come to my town for the summer.

When most non desert-dwellers think of Phoenix, lush gardens are not what comes to mind. However there are some truly lovely plants that grow very well in the arid climate of the Arizona desert.

As proof to any doubters out there, for this week’s Sunday Garden Stroll, I chose some photos of a garden at my Phoenix hotel.

Lush Lantana (a shrubby perennial in Phoenix)

The Lantana and Lavender were absolutely stunning together.

Some appreciative visitors to our breakfast on the patio. It’s baby quail season and this pair was followed by nine babies all running along behind as fast as their little legs could carry them (poor Mom!).

If you enjoy gardening or looking at gardens, please visit A Wrung Sponge. Cloudscome is hosting a “Sunday Garden Tour” meme. There is a Mr. Linky where you can find links to other garden posts, or post a link to yours!