Gargoyle Garden

[bojojoti]

See that tiny red rose in the blue pot?  It's the best smelling rose in my garden.  Francis Dubreuil is far too tender to live here, but I buy him as an annual and keep him on the deck so that I can easily smell his blooms when I walk by.  Our garden smells heavenly this time of year!

But I brought you here to introduce you to the Gargoyle Garden, which you can see in the upper left of the photo.

The show-stopper of the Gargoyle Garden was meant to be Clair Matin.

He is supposed to be a big, robust rose.  I planted him in the back of the bed and encircled him with three petite roses.

I knew the three roses to be small in stature, because I'd grown them for years.  Pure Poetry (left) and Hawkeye Belle (center) grew at our front door for many years.  They both grew about knee high.  For some reason, when we transplanted Hawkeye Belle, she became a monster!  Her canes are as big around as my wrist.  She may be six feet tall by now and she totally has Clair intimidated.


I've had Hawkeye Belle practically since I started growing roses, so I'm not going to uproot and move her, as it's evident she likes her spot.  She's a healthy girl and has fine blooms (even though I think she smells a bit like an ashtray; Heirloom Roses claims she is "extremely fragrant with sweet perfume," but mine isn't).  The only drawback to Hawkeye Belle is her tendency to ball in the rain.  Once we're out of spring, Kansas doesn't have much rain, so it isn't that big of a problem for me.  Also, since she is a creation of my revered Dr. Griffith Buck, she laughs at plunging winter temperatures and her stout canes aren't phased by prairie winds.

If you take an aerial view, you can sort of see Clair Matin peeking from behind Hawkeye Belle.  Next to the gargoyle is the practically invisible rose Fame!  My one-cane wonder is amusing me, because I sing:

Baby, look at me
And tell me what you see
You ain't seen the best of me yet.
Give me time,
I'll make you forget the rest.
I got more in me,
And you can set it free
I can catch the moon in my hand
Don't you know who I am?

Remember my name. Fame!
I'm gonna live forever
I'm gonna learn how to fly--high!

My Fame! is not going to live forever.  It may not make it through this summer.  Poorly named, Fame!  This is why I don't, as a rule, grow hybrid teas--fussy prima donnas.  I don't spray fungicides, and Fame! needs them.

I moved Pure Poetry from the front door, too, and she has settled in but retained her petite stature.  She will always have a place in my garden, because her blooms are stunning.

Sometimes, her blooms are golden, sometimes brilliant orange, and, other times, they're deep pink.  Depending on the time of year and heat, she can be pastel or very bright.

She isn't big or prolific, but I love Pure Poetry.

Mr. Bojo and Bojojr built our shed.  To the left of the shed is the working area of our yard with our compost bins and yard waste.  It's a work in progress.  Maybe we'll see it next.  Thank you for visiting the Gargoyle Garden!

Comments

[jamjar-girl.livejournal.com]

Beautiful! Thank you for sharing your Gargoyle garden :)
Have you heard of the book "Macoboy's Roses"? It's a fabulous book for rose lovers. My hub bought me a copy many years ago and I still love browsing through it now and again.

[bojojoti.livejournal.com]

I have some wonderful rose books, but I don't have that one. I wasn't familiar with Macoboy, but I see he is "the" Australian flower expert. If I had one of his books, I'd only be able to drool over the selections, as I wouldn't be able to grow many of them due to our winters. My poor roses have to be able to survive heat, drought, flood, hard freezes, and gales of wind. It's a tough life for a rose. There are roses that like the heat, and there are roses bred in Canada that can take the cold, but it's asking a lot for a rose to do both and more, besides!

My roses thank you for looking!

[bojojoti.livejournal.com]

I love the work. I wish I had more energy. Back in the day, I could stay in the garden until after dark!

[e-musings.livejournal.com]

another visually delightful post! Thank you!

[bojojoti.livejournal.com]

You're quite welcome!

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

What do you feed your roses because they obviously love the diet!
:)
Pure Poetry really does live up to that name.
I love how you've divided your garden into named sections.

[bojojoti.livejournal.com]

When I plant my roses, I put a handful of triple phosphate at the bottom of the hole and cover it with a layer of soil. Thank goodness they have that to "snack" upon, because I've been very remiss in giving them anything the last three years. My oldest roses--the ones that are thriving--were accustomed to received an annual dosing of alfalfa tea:

http://www.ars.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Alfalfa-Tea.pdf

I would advise against keeping a tight lid on things. It seems to me pressure would build up, and the last thing you'd want is an alfalfa tea explosion! I put my lid on loosely, if at all. I would also warn you against adding anything other than the alfalfa during the "cooking" phase. Trust me, the alfalfa will smell enough. Once, I was daft enough to add a bottle of fish emulsion at the beginning of the week. At the end of the week, I could barely approach the container, and I half-heartedly wretched while applying the concoction to my roses. Oh, and it had maggots squirming in it. So, forewarned!

Water your roses well before applying so the roots won't be burned. Apply, and water again. Then step back for the new growth!

This is neither here nor there, but I have a long metal pole with which I stir my garbage can of brew, and I recite:
Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and caldron bubble.
I'm not making any claims to the efficacy of the chant in making the concoction work. I'm also not remarking on the effect this may have on your neighbors.

Speaking of neighbors, when I first began brewing alfalfa tea, I set it up in an obscure area of the yard--off the end of the deck and on the side of our house where it couldn't be seen from the street. Imagine my embarrassment when I noticed our neighbors frantically scrubbing out their garbage carts in an effort to rid themselves of the obnoxious odor! I moved my brewing location to the far side of the house after that! I did eventually get up the nerve to tell them that their garbage carts hadn't been the culprits.

My husband manages to lose me in the yard, so it simplifies things if I tell him which garden I'll be in!

[modmerseygirl.livejournal.com]

What gorgeous flowers! Thank you for sharing your photos!! :)

[bojojoti.livejournal.com]

I love my roses and enjoy sharing them. Thanks for looking!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness - what a contrast between Hawkeye Belle and Fame!

Pure Poetry has gorgeous blooms. I rather like your gargoyle, too.

[bojojoti.livejournal.com]

And to think they used to--all three--be the same size!

The gargoyle--like the swan--came with the property. No one wanted to move them, and I'm glad. I just wish they'd had a heavy birdbath, too!

[auntconi.livejournal.com]

Beautiful yard with so many glorious blossoms... I love it!
Perhaps you should move Clair Martin "out of the corner"...
before Hawkeye Belle takes over the entire space... just a thought...

Your yard is lovely and I know this requires a lot of work,
but it must be so rewarding to see it all blooming...
and "looking good!"

[bojojoti.livejournal.com]

It's very rewarding. I know there are beautiful rose gardens on the coasts, but there is something special about having your own pretty little spot even if it isn't as spectacular or grand.

Clair Matin is a climber, and they are notoriously slow in getting started. I'll give him five to ten years to get going. I'm very patient with my roses!

Thanks!

[auntconi.livejournal.com]

I had a problem with Japanese beetles "eating my roses" ... the plants were skeletons, almost overnight.
I just couldn't seem to get rid of them... finally had my son dig out the roses.
Now I have no problem with Japanese beetles... but I also have no roses... boo-hoo-hoo
I hesitate to plant more as I don't want to bring the bugs back... I wonder if was just something that year...
Have you ever had a problem with "bugs" on your roses... and what did you do?

[bojojoti.livejournal.com]

I've heard that Japanese beetles are a nightmare. I'm so grateful they aren't here yet. The only thing I've heard that people do is knock them off into soapy water, but that would be a full-time job in some locations.

I'm fortunate that I have lots of birds and beneficial insects that take care of predators. I may squish some aphids by hand, but that's about all I have to do. We also are home to a family of skinks, and they keep the garden patrolled, too.

[julia-here.livejournal.com]

I envy you the tidiness, and the time to take photos; aside from documenting a huge overgrown peach branch currently looming above my lilacs, quince tree, and Russell's Cottage Rose I've got twenty pounds of work in a five pound bag right now.

Julia, must document chicks, but no time, no time!

[bojojoti.livejournal.com]

I don't have living things that need to be cared for on a daily basis! If I don't touch my roses for the rest of the year, most of them would do just fine.

I don't photograph the untidiness. The bindweed encircling most of my plants is enough to discourage anyone. I also don't have the acreage to cover like you--just a city lot.

[jazzyglo.livejournal.com]

Wow, Pure Poetry is GORGEOUS!!

I love all the color in your yard. It's really a feast for the eyes.

I didn't see one range picture in the bunch, though. Just sayin'.

;-)

[bojojoti.livejournal.com]

I do love that rose. Each bloom is a surprise and a masterpiece.

I'll see about shooting the range tomorrow!

[embrace-2012.livejournal.com]

And thank you for the tour. Great yard!

[bojojoti.livejournal.com]

Happy to have you along! Thanks!

[bluiidmommy.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the tour!

I love that roses don't always look the same. When I was a kid, I thought they all had blooms like Hawkeye Belle, but I have seen they don't , and that's part of their beauty. I know I like roses a lot more since becoming your friend and being introduced to so many different types.

[bojojoti.livejournal.com]

Roses are so varied! The full blooms like Hawkeye Belle are pretty, but they don't stand up to the rain well at all. The single blooms don't care about rain or wind. The rose comes in so many colors, sizes, and shapes!