DESERT ROSE RAMBLINGS

Welcome to my Blog!!

When we moved to Southern Nevada, specifically Las Vegas, over 15 years ago, I quickly had to adapt to the desert and re-learn a lot of what I knew. Gardening in a hot and dry desert with poor soil can bring forth rather unique challenges. I would like to share my gardening adventures and successes as I try to add green and color to all of this brown. I will also write about my journeys elsewhere and post corresponding images. Hope you find useful information and/or enjoy reading my blog!!

Lynn

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Best Modern Roses for a Hot, Dry, Summer Area

During the Summer, temperatures more than 100F and <12% humidity is no stranger to my area. The following are roses that have been either unfazed or minimally fazed during these conditions. I compiled this list as a guide, especially for those new to gardening in a hot, desert. These roses have proved to be fairly bullet proof and would be a great start for rose gardeners in these areas.

White
Bolero 2004
Moonstone
Pope John Paul II
Iceberg Floribunda**
Snowbird
Annapurna

Bolero 2004

Pink
Grande Dame
Perfume Delight
Marijke Koopman
Summer Romance
Bewitched
Pink Peace
Tiffany
Buxom Beauty
Carlin's Rhythm
Eyes for You
Fragrant Memory**
Gene Boerner
Crescendo
Sexy Rexy
First Prize

Eyes for You

Grande Dame

Yellow
South Africa
Easy Going
Julia Child
Honey Bouquet
Absolutely Fabulous
Gold Medal
Michelangelo
St. Patrick

South Africa

Red
Black Magic
Fire Fighter
Veteran's Honor**
Crimson Bouquet
Europeana
Mr. Lincoln
Drop Dead Red
Lavaglut
Legends
Rouge Royale
Don Juan Cl.
Altissimo Cl.

Firefighter

Orange/Coral
Easy Does It
Tropicana
Voodoo
Gingersnap
Touch of Class
Artistry
America Cl.

America Cl.

Apricot/Salmon
Brandy
Just Joey
Abbaye de Cluny**
Bronze Star

Purple
Ebb Tide **
Twilight Zone
Purple Lodge ( not widely available.. 1 U.S. source)
Dakota Redwing
Purple Tiger
Big Purple

Ebb Tide

Mauve/Lavender
Angel Face
Plum Perfect**
Neptune
Fragrant Plum
Love Song**
Blue Girl**
Love Potion
Wild Blue Yonder ( unattractive growth habit, but nice in appearance if you plant in threes)

Angel Face

Other
Koko Loco
Gemini
Guy Savoy
Abracadabra
Priscilla Burton
Playboy
Perfect Moment
Chicago Peace
Cabana
Disneyland Rose

Guy Savoy

Saturday, June 17, 2017

Rose Spotlight - Chicago Peace

Chicago Peace -1962

This hybrid tea rose is a sport of the Peace hybrid tea rose. The coloring is varying, ranging from deep pink splashed with canary yellow to a softer pink, with a softer yellow. Sometimes roses on the bush appear strikingly similar to Peace. It has very pretty, dark green glossy leaves and is reported to have a mild fragrance that I have been unable to detect. My Summer climate is hot 100-110s degrees often with less than 10% humidity. The blooms of this rose are captivating, and one major plus is even when temperatures are above 100 degrees, the full-size blooms and petals do not fry in the heat

A Chicago Peace Color Variation

Click link to see another image of this beautiful rose: Chicago Peace

Monday, June 12, 2017

For of the Love of RED... Roses!!

It seems that people love or hate red roses. When I think of the quintessential rose, in my mind, it is always the classic, long stemmed red rose with high centered blooms, that was clinched in the mouths of men, while they danced the tango. It is also the rose that appeared in many Disney films or just represents romance... love. If you walked my garden, it would be obvious that I have a strong attraction to pink, however, red roses, especially the deep dark ones, will always have a place. While I have grown many red roses, the following are top performers in this hot desert.

But first, the Honorable Mentions:

Crimson Bouquet - A clear bright red that does not fade and holds
its color
Veteran's Honor - beautiful red, classic hybrid tea form, however,
it lacks fragrance
Chrysler Imperial - dark red, lovely fragrance, however, the
blooms are unremarkable
Europeana - Magnificent sprays of blooms, very healthy dark red
rose
Altissimo - Vigorous, bright red, single petal climber
Black Magic - decent repeat, dark red blooms, the bush is stiff and
upright ( good for formal gardens)
Orfeo - dark red climber, nice fragrance

Now, the Best:

Firefighter - Gorgeous dark red blooms on a fairly upright,
virtually thornless shrub, with a strong old rose
fragrance.

Oklahoma - Gorgeous deep red, sometimes burgundy blooms.

It also has a strong, old rose fragrance.

Francis Dubreuil/Barcelona - Beautiful cupped, dark red

blooms held near dark green leaves. It is moderately

fragrant.

Munstead Wood - Beautiful, old fashion blooms that are deep velvety purpley red. It has a strong old rose fragrance. Think I have a theme going....

Nigrette - The plant and its form is nothing special thusfar, but it is less than a year old, so I am giving it time. Why is it on the list?? Nigrette is the deepest, darkest, red rose I have encountered. It does not turn purple, it is always dark red, like a Cabernet Sauvingnon. It is moderately fragrant.

Don Juan Cl. - This climbing rose is extremely heat tolerant. The blooms are dark red and fragrant!!

Sunday, April 16, 2017

Hello Spring!!

Okay, I am a little late considering it is April. I have really been remiss regarding reporting and showing images from my Spring flush. Not good on my part. Even my neighbor, after looking at part of the rose flush that could be seen over the wall that separates our properties commented about how beautiful the roses are. Here are handful or so of my recent blooms.

Blue Girl

Souvenir de la Malmaison - Sorry... I need to add mulch....

La Reine - full of un-opened buds

Carding Mill... such a pretty, nicely fragrant apricot rose

South Africa in its golden yellow phase

Chicago Peace

Koko Loco

Saturday, March 25, 2017

Rose Spotlight - South Africa Grandiflora Rose - Kordes

South Africa - Grandiflora Rose

(Kordes - 2001)

This deep yellow grandiflora rose has 4" blooms, is supposed to grow to 5', and is a vigorous grower. It is very healthy until the thrips attack; they seem to love it. My plant is own root, received from Roses Unlimited in 2014. The natural shape of this plant is nice, veering toward bushy, with a nice proportion of mid-green glossy leaves to blooms. South Africa is very heat tolerant. If you like golden yellow roses, South Africa is a must have for desert gardens!

Saturday, March 18, 2017

Growing Lavender in a Hot Summer, Dry Climate

Learning to grow lavender in the desert has come as a result of trial, error, and research. After throwing away many dead plants, I have finally discovered how to successfully grow these plants in this dry, hot, environment.

1st : Not all lavender are created equal. There are some varieties that are more suitable to hot and humid climates versus the hot and dry that is common in the Desert Southwest. I have had the best luck with Goodwin Creek Lavender, French Lavender, Spanish Lavender, Fern Leaf Lavender and new this year is Sweet Lavender

2nd: The best time to plant Lavender is March, unless Winter temperatures and freezes typically extend beyond that date.

3rd: Do not overhead water or over water lavender plants. I find Spanish Lavender to be most temperamental in terms of watering and Goodwin Creek Lavender by far the most drought tolerant.

4th: Watch new plants very carefully. They will require a little more water while establishing, but once established are very drought tolerant.

5th: Make sure the planting hole drains well. Lavender do not like wet roots...Because my soil is sandy, once all of the rocks and boulders were removed, drainage was less of an issue.

6th: Lavender requires 6 or more hours of sun daily.

Sources and and information regarding lavender.

- All About Lavender

- Goodwin Creek Lavender

- Joy Creek Nursery

- Growing Lavender in the Nevada Desert

Saturday, March 11, 2017

First Rose Blooms of the Season

These roses are the first blooms of the season! Most of the roses are full of buds and if they are not decimated by the winds scheduled for next week, I will have many blooms from roses old and new to share!

Nigrette

The dark red bloom color of this rose reminds me of Oklahoma, but with a little less purple. I have owned this little rose bush for less than a year, and am impressed with its health and vigor.

Blue Girl
Blue Girl Rose has beautiful bluish lavender blooms and healthy dark green leaves. If it makes it through my summer this rose will definitely be a keeper! I contemplated purchasing Stainless Steel, but selected Blue Girl because it is a soft lavender versus a grayish lavender.

South Africa
This rose has been on the to shovel prune for two years now. I am just not that fond of yellow. It is planted in my "box of crayola" colored roses, because I am finding I still gravitate toward cooler soothing colors. South Africa, is cheery and definitely not a soothing yellow coloring. It is also a thrip magnet!!!

Saturday, January 7, 2017

Winter Chores for the Rose Garden - It is Pruning Time!!

This is the time of year that I dread. There is so much work to be completed in a short amount of time, but I know, in order to have healthier plants, and better blooms, winter chores are a MUST. It all begins with pruning. So, with bypass pruners, loppers, gauntlet gloves, goggles, glue, and garbage bags on my cart, I will be off to prune, one rose, and one bed at a time....

Fortunately, the only roses that require a somewhat significant pruning right now are the grafted roses going into their second year. These roses have their canes cut down to about 2-3', all spindly or crossing canes are removed, leaves are stripped, then Neem oil is applied. I am not sure if this year, the canes will be sealed with Elmer's glue?? I have sealed the canes every year, but read a MSU article which indicated borers are not active during the colder Winter months, thus deeming sealing pruning cuts with glue un-necessary. I do not want to lose any roses, and will likely opt to play it safe, versus sorry, and apply the glue... Baby own-root roses (under 3 years if received as a band or under 2 years of age if planted as a one gallon or larger) will essentially undergo deadheading, and the removal of dead or crossing canes. It is a lot of work!!

Evenings, I scour roses magazines, searching for must have roses to fill empty spots in my garden. This year, I am considering (Crocus Rose, Dermalogica Passion, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Geoff Hamilton).

Cleaning up the beds, and removing plants that were not a success will help my mind's eye as I make plans for the next season. Unfortunately, I need to get the ball rolling with this task, as many of the perennial companies are selling out of the most desirable plants available for Spring 2017 shipping. Yikes!!