Roses in full swing...

So I definitely have a green thumb for those of you who do not know me well. Gardening is another way that I find artistic satisfaction in life. However it is very challenging to grow things that will survive and thrive through our rough 100 degree summers here in Texas. And I am not a gardener who will babysit a plant it's entire life. I don't mind talking sweetly to it for the first year, but after that, you either make it or you don't. So that leaves me to be very waterwise and use well adapted, native varieties that are drought tolerant if I want to have a happy garden here. With that said, I have some roses that just don't stop! Every year they get happier and happier, despite the harsh summers. Here are some pics I snapped this morning of my roses. They are in full blooming swing!

This was one of the very first plants I planted when we moved to our house. There was zero landscape so this baby has lasted the longest.


Here are some buds from that same bush that are just gorgeous...



It is a tiny specimen that works well as cut flowers for little girls! hehe.

Next is a climber rose that is in my back yard. He is wild and unruly and I have to give him a stern haircut each year since our backyard is small. But he blooms profusely several times a year and that makes for a great view out of my back door. :)



Next is a super fragrant rose that is the typical rose shape most people are familiar with. I rescued this beauty from a jobsite where my dh was working. It was going to be ripped out and thrown away, but I brought my shovel and rehomed her. She's so pretty that my next door neighbor went out and bought one too. Because this one was so neglected for years at a vacant old home, she requires very little attention, despite her gorgeous show. My kind of plant. hehe.



And finally the new kid on the block is showing she is happy as a lark in my garden. I received this plant as a gift last fall and it took me almost a month to get her in the ground. lol But once I finally put hand to shovel, I put her next to my favorite bird bath. She's blooming up a storm, despite the many hours of shade she gets. I'm sure she will appreciate the shade here in a couple of months. I know I will ;) Seems she likes cluster blooms as you can see...





Here's a pic to show you how profusely she's blooming despite her size. E always loves getting in the flower bed there and playing in the bird bath water. So I finally put some smooth (native) sandstone rocks there so she wouldn't squish other plants. Oh and that's a single layer wool skirtie of mine that she's wearing.



And finally, here are a few pics today that I thought I would add. The iris don't like that I'm talking so much about the roses b/c they are happy and blooming right now too and feel a little jealous.



Isn't this step railing pretty? I live in a historic little neighborhood and just love this railing so much I wish it was mine. *sigh*



And here is A with her daily roly poly find. She loves finding these guys and has a little roly poly playground that I got her for christmas. Fun way to watch them in the house.



So that's a little gardening fun for you. I need to get some dried molasses to rid my yard of fire ants for the season! Always a battle here in TX. grrrr!!! Happy green thumbs to all of you :)