Thursday, May 10, A.D. 2012

Roses Unlimited

Krishti u ngjall!

I would like to recommend an excellent source for mail order roses—Roses Unlimited. I ordered six roses from Roses Unlimited in late March, and I am thoroughly pleased with the result. The company is in South Carolina, which is much nearer to Ohio than the west coast’s many reputable suppliers of roses. Thus, the shipping was reasonable, and Roses Unlimited’s shipping charges are as straightforward as possible—$5.00 for each one gallon sized plant. Most of the roses currently cost $16, which even with shipping remains a fair price.

Moreover, the roses arrived in great shape. Two years ago, I ordered eight bareroot roses from the west coast, and sadly only half of them has survived and only one has really taken off well. The six Roses Unlimited gals are already larger and healthier looking than three of the two year old plants, and they have already begun producing flowers. Only one of the two year olds has flowered, and this month was its premiere. I followed the instructions exactly for the bareroot roses, but perhaps that was not enough. I now know that one gallon sized plants are going to do much better. It is worth it to spend a little more for a rose that is “performance ready,” though some of the bareroot roses cost as much or more.

I have been growing roses for seven years, I have had about fifty cultivars, and I have learnt a bit since I began. After two consecutive years of significant casualties with grafted tea roses that I bought at local nurseries—losing almost half of the previous season’s new additions—I decided that I would never again purchase a grafted rose. When a delicate tea died back in the winter, the root stock rose—usually the ever indefatigable Dr. Huey—would grow in its place, taking revenge against the parasitic freeloader in an annual display of garden Bolshevism.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to find much variety in “own root” roses in Cincinnati. Once you get past the Knock-Out family, whose reputation for hardiness is well merited—I own them all—there is not much left besides less ornamental shrub roses. Some places carry a few lovely Buck roses, but the selection is scarce. Furthermore, it is almost impossible to find “old garden” variety roses that I particularly like. Therefore, mail ordering is the only way to get most own root plants. Without a doubt, Roses Unlimited is the best supplier of them that I have experienced.

Yet, there is a cloud for every silver lining. Roses Unlimited has a rather primitive web site compared to the large outfits on the west coast. There are not many photographs or much cultivar information. However, it is not difficult to research each cultivar by copying and pasting the name to a search engine. There is no online ordering capability, either. One has to call or to email the order. Lastly, Roses Unlimited does not accept credit cards or any sort of PayPal service. I had to mail a check. Nonetheless, these minor inconveniences are easy to overlook when Roses Unlimited offers such superior stock at a low cost.

The next time that you are looking for a certain rose, check Roses Unlimited. I certainly shall do business with them, again.

Posted by Joseph on Thursday, May 10, Anno Domini 2012
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Friday, October 28, A.D. 2011

True Confessions of a Gardening Addict

A few weeks ago, I read Jeremy Wayne Lucas’ “True Confessions of a Gardening Addict” on the best gardening site, Dave’s Garden. Lucas humorously narrates how he traveled down the dark path of obsessive compulsive gardening, whereupon he developed a messianic complex toward the unwanted, clearanced plants at his local home improvement store. Lucas writes:

I also began to sense that the garden center managers shared my sincere respect for the life of the plants. We all realized that, despite some inept care, the plants were, for the most part, completely recoverable and could go on to full, happy lives. With what would probably be diagnosed by my psychiatrist as a hero-ideation complex with more than a touch of megalomania, I justified my compulsion to haul off every available cell pack by believing myself the rescuer of these otherwise doomed plants in the way that Schindler had been the emancipator of Jews during the reign of the Nazis. It became my deific duty to take every available plant (though I must admit that just after December 31, I was less than thrilled to haul off about four hundred pitiful, purloined poinsettias). I was especially overjoyed when the time came each month for the out-of-flower orchid plants to be discarded as cells. The orchids seemed like a special reward for my devoted service. My heart would also leap at some of the exotic shrubs, plumerias and other tropicals, shelves of “Angel Brand” mini-plants, and cultivar roses that came my way. I processed thousands of perennials, tens of thousands of annuals, and filled my garden to overflowing whenever I had a moment to spare from the triaging and tending.

I merrily empathize with Lucas, though I do not think that I have nearly so virulent a strain pollicis viridis.

Posted by Joseph on Friday, October 28, Anno Domini 2011
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Wednesday, September 21, A.D. 2011

Holy Bees!

Knowing my love for bees, my brother Aaron sent me a story yesterday from the Vatican Information Service: “Bees for the Pontifical Farms at Castelgandolfo”:

As part of its initiatives to mark the Day for the Protection of Creation, the Italian agricultural organisation “Coldiretti” has given Benedict XVI eight beehives containing more than 500,000 bees. The beehives will be kept at the pontifical farm of Castelgandolfo where they will be used in pollination and the production of honey (some 280 kilos a year).

Coldiretti explained that bees play a vital role in the planet’s ecosystem and their disappearance would have disastrous consequences for health and the environment: a third of human food production depends on crops pollinated by insects, eighty percent of which are bees.

The “Campagna Amica” Association will provide technical assistance to the pontifical farms to oversee the protection of the bees and the production of honey. Castelgandolfo is considered to be a model farm because it unites traditional production methods with modern technology. It has 25 dairy cows, 300 hens and 60 cockerels as well as an ancient olive grove producing three thousand litres of oil a year, an orchard of apricot and peach trees and a greenhouse of ornamental flowers.

I suppose that it is obvious that the bees are Apis mellifera ligustica, or Italian honey bees. However, maybe they are Apis mellifera mellifera, German bees, in honor of the pope.

Posted by Joseph on Wednesday, September 21, Anno Domini 2011
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Monday, July 18, A.D. 2011

Weed

I have found yet another useful site in my neverending quest to identify the flora that visits my yard: Weed Science Society of America. Tocqueville was right; Americans will form an association for every conceivable object of interest. The Weed Society has some useful resources for plant identification, but they also wax nerdy, as science folks typically do. Mark your calendars; the W.S.S.A. will conduct its WeedOlympics at the University of Tennessee at the end of the month. The general student body at that state school may expect something rather different, though, when they hear of the event.

“When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.” (I do not know the source of this wisdom, but it is rather true.)

Posted by Joseph on Monday, July 18, Anno Domini 2011
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Thursday, July 7, A.D. 2011

Broccoli Hall and the Pond from Hell

During the spring of last year, I made a few ponds for my backyard. My family helped, and we were ultimately successful. There were some unfortunate moments. Many of them. However, our tales of woe are nothing when compared to the nightmare story related on Koiphen: “The 300,000 gal. mud pond challenge” Reading it made me count my blessings. I marvelled at the persistance of “Koigrl,” and I also wondered how wealthy must one be to fight such a good fight.

I discovered that Koigrl is novelist Maxine Paetro. She lives in upstate New York on a lovely piece of land featured on the Garden Conservancy. I do not know if Paetro founded her estate, but it carries the whimsical name Broccoli Hall. Check out photographer Jennifer May‘s shots of the gardens.

I do not know what Maestro’s books are like, but the woman knows how to use her fortune well. Her gardens are fantastic, and she is a serious breeder of koi. She reminds me of the talent, creativity, and well roundedness one often finds among Britain’s aristocratic classes. American plutocrats do not generally seem to be as thoughful with the luxuries of leisure, though I am glad to know that some rich folks continue to use their money to make the land and the nation more interesting.

Posted by Joseph on Thursday, July 7, Anno Domini 2011
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Saturday, May 30, A.D. 2009

Robyn Rhudy

The internet affords us the opportunity to catch a glimpse of extraordinary people whom we might not otherwise know. One such fascinating person is Robyn Rhudy, a Maryland chemist who would have been a great wife for Noah. She maintains a massive and informative site, FishPondInfo.com, which offers a lot of practical advice about ponds and backyard wildlife. I highly recommend that you visit her pages.

Posted by Joseph on Saturday, May 30, Anno Domini 2009
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Sunday, May 24, A.D. 2009

Dave’s Garden

I have come to enjoy gardening immensely. Indeed, my fantasy life would be one of a wealthy farmer. I would not like to farm from necessity; that is a hard life that would preclude me from running a farm in my ideal way. A state just a crop away from penury would not allow me to let old dairy cow Bessie to grow old in the fields in peace. Economics would force me to sell the old gal down the river. Necessity is cruel.

However, I love to help things grow. Planting, cultivating, and enjoying the splendor of nature—it is very satisfying. It is also much easier than craftsmanship. With the arts, you and your skill are on your own. With gardening, nature meets you more than halfway. Living beings survive and adapt; if you follow the general directions for a plant, it almost always flourishes.

I find a metaphysical sort of solace in gardening. On my little patch of earth, I can foster order and rectify wrongs. I can make a little oasis for the birds and bugs in the midst of human sprawl. Like Adam in Eden, I can step up to the role of steward, and I find the job endlessly rewarding.

The internet makes having a green thumb easy. There is so much information about every conceivable gardening topic. One site that I recommend is Dave’s Garden, which provides a forum for plant lovers. However, there are thousands of useful sites. Dig, plant, weed, water, prune, and thank God for the earth and for all that grows therein.

Posted by Joseph on Sunday, May 24, Anno Domini 2009
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