pretty shrub

This gorgeous tree bush is not what I thought it was . It is however very ornamental, and truly gorgeous. I don't have a name for it. I did think it was from the guava family but i must be mistaken. Its a challenge to find out what this beauty is.

Datura on the trail

Yesterday i went for a jog with my friend in the canyon.  We came accros this beautiful datura plant. 

Jacaranda Tree

You can always tell when summer is around the corner in Southern California. One of the signs is a blooming Jacaranda tree. I can not tell you how beautiful these trees are. I see these trees on my jogs and on my way home. They are so lovely.

Carefree wonder

If i ever move i will have to have carefree wonder wherever i go. Its bright pink cluster blooms spill over its self just making a cluster of hot pink prettyness.

sequoia twist (mini)

This little mini is first of a small plant and second so cute. Its slightly bi colored. So cool.

Honey suckle explosion

Nothing smells better then honey suckle on warm humid day. I have a few different types of honey suckle growing around the yard. This one intermingles with my climbing rose night owl, that is blooming on the other side of the arch.

berries and cream climber

Berries and cream has to be one of the best climbers you can get. It is so clean and repeats so fast. The bush actually explodes in bloom. It is not to thorny either.

Unconditional Love (mini)

I Really love this mini. I mean I really love it. It is freaking fantastico. I know that is not a word but its better than fantastic for me. The mossy buds opening into the most gorgeous rich red that is just so luscious. This mini does not like to be pruned hard. I have made that mistake. Be gentle and you shall be rewarded.

Baronne Prevost

I hope i have the name right. I came out to water and found a splendid suprise.  This rose was a gift from my dear friend christina(organic dreams). I do not know the details but its amazing.

My Wild Duck

I awoke early so I could read all my blogs. I hear her quacking up a storm, my wild duck. She and her mate visit and eat a few times a week. She lands on the roof and quacks up a storm. I had to run out there and throw out some corn for her so she can eat some breakfast. She is just too cute. Today she is by herself.

how I get those perfect roses

Usually I am a pretty disciplined gardener. This year I am taking a break because my 11 year old bulldog needs me more than ever.


I plan my rose pruning for our local rose show. Pruning of roses is followed by a a strict spray and fertilizer schedule. First I cut back not to hard all the spindly rose stems, and remove all the old leaves and get rid of them (compost or through out in the greens barrel).


Then I dormant spray all the naked stems. This stuff is way gross. I really hate mixing it up, but it helps so so much. Then i clean up all my beds really well.


Mulch and compost are the next to go down. I am lucky to work at Starbucks because I bring home super heavy bags of coffee grounds. I throw the grounds straight onto the ground.


My organic fertilizer goes down next. In the past I have used biosol, mills magic, john and bobs. Roses are not that picky, as long as they eat they will be happy. Then I top off with the compost. This will be whatever is on sale and has the most kinds of poop in it... It all depends on what I have time for. It usually means a trip to home depot and the big bag of Kellogg's.


Then I take a break for a few weeks.


I will post my spray schedule next,


and then my fertilizer schedule following.

a polished life is having a give away

Give aways are so fun to enter. I never have won one myself, but there is always hope. This one has Nfu polish. Nfu are so amazing. go here to enter http://www.apolishedlife.blogspot.com/2011/05/500-followers-giveaway-nfu-oh-flakie.html

Polish putterings and ponderings nail polish giveaway

Polish,putterings and ponderings is having a giveaway. To enter go to http:justakelly.blogspot.com/2011/05/50-followers-giveaway.html

Sent from my Samsung Captivate(tm) on AT&T

Daddy's little girl (miniature

This pretty pink miniature becomes covered with mini hot pink blooms. I really like this bush. I really enjoy minis that explode into bloom. Its like a pink fire cracker. I also love it when the blooms are really mini. A lot of the newer miniatures have mini flora size blooms, but this is a mini through and through.

Nigella (love in a mist)

I just love these flowers. Everything about the them. Even the seed pods they form are awesome and almost look like balloons. Nigella come in a few colors, but only the blue are blooming for me now. There is a white version with deep purple stamens and a wine colored with also dark stamens. These self seed very easily. I usually go out and collect the seed pods when they look like they are starting to dry out.

Higgins at Hilltop park

There is a park by my house that sits at the top of a large hill. The views are spectacular. I wish my camera would do the views justice. On a sunny non smoggy day there are gorgeous ocean views, however my camera doesn't capture that. My camera does capture my beautiful boy Higgins very well.

Pink columbine

Pretty Pink columbine. I really think this one is so sweet.............. I had her in the back yard in my rose bed, but the roses grew to big to ever enjoy her. I transplanted her to the front yard in this nice barrel and walla pure cuteness...

opi Pirates of the Caribbean collection

http://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=opi%20pirates%20of%20the%20caribbean&tnr=21&vid=895798870449&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts2.mm.bing.net%2Fvideos%2Fthumbnail.aspx%3Fq%3D895798870449%26id%3Dfa9602aa09824686230a1388c9b9d8c8%26bid%3Ds790EQSe01t6dw%26bn%3DThumb%26url%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fwww.youtube.com%252fwatch%253fv%253d_-WpjSXdbPM&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D_-WpjSXdbPM&sigr=11a9hkftu&newfp=1&tit=OPI+-+Pirates+of+the+Caribbean+Collection

I am totally loving these colors. They compliment my olive skin like a dream. The perfect pastels. I only wish I had silver shatter. I must have you silver shatter......

Marilyn Monroe (hybrid tea)

I really think this is one of the most outstanding hybrid teas around. Gorgeous blooms with perfect form. They stay on the bush for days. I also have a tender spot for her because I have won many ribbons in rose exhibitions with this very plant. If you are looking for a creamy apricot rose that needs little maintenance then this is the rose for you. The problem most people including myself make with hybrid teas is not realizing the incredible amount of space they need to really thrive especially in coastal areas were it never reaches freezing temperatures.

Tiddly winks (miniature rose)

I was so excited when this mini came on the market.  Tiddleywinks is so vibrant and floriferous.  Every year its the first and last mini to pump out full blooms.  I love single petal roses.

higgins ( bubbies)

Higgins is so spoiled he gets at least three trips a day to the park and countless rides. Toys and presents all the time. I love my little old bubbie. I can not even believe how much better he is doing on My perfect pet dog food. I have a link on my side bar. It costs on par with the raw diet but is much safer, and very gentle on the system. I will never feed a dog kibble again if I can help it.

Lavetera

Lavetera is a very common plant here in southern California. I still love it and think its a beauty. Of course being that its one of my favorite colors helps a lot as well. It can get very large but can be kept in bounds with trimming.

First zuchinni

The first little baby zuchinni's growing.  Yummy.

Helen Hayes Hybrid tea

I do not grow to many hybrid tea roses as I have said before.  I really fell for this bicolor peachie yellow, and horribly floppy beauty.  After a few weeks it bloomed and the smell knocked my socks off.  She smells fantastic, and did I mention she is clean of disease as well.  Since this rose was hybridized in 1956 I consider this outstanding.. Helen Hayes you are beautiful!

Wall of primroses

I was on my sunday jog when i passed this gorgeous wall of pink primroses all in bloom.  Some people may consider these plants weeds,but i have a soft spot for them.  A weed is only a plant growing in an unwanted space after all. 

Frankie (floribunda rose)

I do not get to many blooms from Frankie. I do not know if it is my plant or if it just is not a heavy bloomer in general. When this rose does give a bloom it is pure singles perfection. The single petals on this rose are a beautiful mauve color with deep pink edges. The substance of the petals are way thicker than most singles making this rose an exhibitors dream. So because of its beauty Frankie gets a place in my garden even though it is stingy with blooms for me. Frankie was also bred by one of my fellow San Diego Rose Society members, Mr. Frank Hastings. If you get the chance to buy this rose do it.

Brugmansia

Honestly I have love hate relationship with my brugmansia's (angels trumpets). While they are beautiful and smell absolutely fabulous, they also end up with the worse spider mite infestations you can imagine. This year I have not even sprayed any horticulture neem oil or anything on them. I feel it is loosing battle and I am sure I could buy one of those 200 dollar bottles of spider mite killer but really, that's is overboard for me...
The other downside for these beauties is that they eat and eat and eat. They love fertile soil, so even constant amending of the soil is not optimum for these ladies. I know a lot of people make a special brew of beer, ammonia, tea tree oil,neem oil and fish emulsion. They spray every single day. I tried this last year for about two months. It was so time consuming, so now its the minimum once again. They need to stay moist, so watering is very important. Also anything under zone 9 they must be overwintered in a green house.
You may think oh man these are trouble, but it all goes away after that evening on the porch when that aroma hits you. Its just heavenly.
The yellow picture is jamies monkey business ( It has smaller trumpets that are really cute.
The Pink is a double pink is day dreams
The white is simply called double white

White Meilland shrub roses

This is for you Organic Dreams.

White Meilland is a low growing and spreading shrub. It has magnificent white blooms that blanket over the low growing mound. Mine is actually in a five gallon squat pot and actually rooted out the bottom and is spreading along the ground as well. It would typically be a few inches shorter than pictured here due to the pot. No fragrance at all...

Bees Knees miniature rose

Bees Knees is a pretty yellow and pink bi color miniature rose. It grows in a tall upright manor. No scent but it has good form and is disease resistant. A true winner, so I have 2 of them.