ROSES-ROSES-ROSES

As most of you know,  we have 57 different Rose Bushes in our yard.  We grow Hybrid Teas and Grandifloras.. WELL--I guess I should say that George grows them (they are his 'babies') and I ENJOY them.

Anyhow the first batch in spring is usually the prettiest blooms of the year (although they bloom off and on until late Fall).  This past week has truly been a rose show --in our own yard!!!!!   (Who needs Biltmore????? ha)

These are pictures I took last Friday morning --after a tiny bit of rain.  The one above is our big rose bed near the garage.  You can also see some Sempervivum growing along the edges.  Below are more pictures.

This is the smaller bed on the other side of the driveway near the flagpole.

We have 18 container roses---all along the driveway,  on both sides.  You might ask why do we have so many in containers.. WELL---George can tell you that the soil here is very rocky (dig down about 5-6 inches and you'll hit solid rock)... That is why we have 'built-up' flowerbeds,  plus the container roses.

Above is a picture of some of our container roses.  The only problem we have is that they become top-heavy and the high winds we get here will knock some of them over at times (or try to)!!!!

The picture above shows one of the rows of container roses.  They do almost as well as the ones planted in the ground--but George has to water them more often.

We used to have several rose bushes along the upper side of the house in that large 'side' flowerbed --but it's too shady for them there.  So --now they are all in front,  which is the only place we have abundant sunshine!!!!

George and I both have lots of 'up close and personal'   pictures of most of the roses (with their names included)--but that will be another blog.. Today,  here's a sample of the beauty!!!!

Here's a picture of the 'road' flowerbed (which I have shown several times this spring).  It certainly looks different than it did a month ago,  doesn't it???  Most of the Irises are gone --but the Roses and soon, the Lilies will put on a show!!!!

Finally,  here is a picture of 'almost' the whole thing!!!!!!  Wish you could come and see our yard now---and see the Roses!!!!!

Hope you enjoyed seeing our Roses today... Can you smell them?????  Most of our roses have a really wonderful fragrance, because when George orders new roses,  one of the criteria is that it delights the nose as well as the eyes.

Hope you had a good weekend.  We had a visit from my son, Jeff, yesterday... I had worked ALL week to powerwash the deck and deck furniture so we could sit out there yesterday... HA---Winter came (along with some rain).. SO--we sat inside with a roaring fire in the fireplace.   Can you believe this --on May 15????  Anyhow--we had a wonderful time.  I'll post pictures soon.

Hugs,

April Backyard Birds

After eleven posts,  I have decided to give "Let's Talk Friday" a break... I may bring it back sometime--but right now,  I have too many other posts to do!!!!!   Today I'm sharing a few of the backyard birds which I saw at my feeders during April.  Above is always a favorite of mine,  the PILEATED WOODPECKER.   Here he is sitting on the rail getting ready to pounce on the suet feeder...

I heard Mr. PIleated say:  "Okay--now that I'm here,  what do I do next?????"  ha ha... Silly bird!!!

"This is better" he said!!!!  "YUM---how I love this delicious suet.."

We have lots and lots of finches this Spring.  We have Goldfinches,  House Finches and Pine Siskins...  I enjoyed watching the male Goldfinches change colors from one day to the next during April... NOW (not when this picture was taken)---they are just gorgeous in their bright yellow and black colors.

How many finches will fit on one plate feeder????????ha

Here is the beautiful bird which visits us every spring and fall --as they migrate.  He is a male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK.   Luckily,  we had several males aand females visit us for a couple of weeks during April. They are so gorgeous...

Here is the female ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK.  She is beautiful also--but looks very different from the male.

WELL---this is just a sampling for all of the birds that visited our feeders during April.   Besides this group,  we enjoyed seeing our Eastern Bluebirds (which are nesting in our nestbox nearby),  Cardinals,  Tufted Titmice,  Carolina Chickadees,  White-breasted Nuthatches,  Carolina Wrens,  Mourning Doves,  Brown Thrashers, Bluejays, Robins (YES--they like the suet feeders also),  and our resident woodpeckers (Red-bellied,  Downy, and Northern Flickers).   I have also seen a few Hummingbirds --but haven't gotten any pictures yet.

Hope you enjoyed my Backyard Birds!!!!  Have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you on Monday.  Hope Blogger BEHAVES itself now..

Hugs,

P.S.  Be sure and look at yesterday's blog showing some gorgeous Azaleas (if you missed it yesterday).  I had about 30 comments before Blogger went down---but lost them... Had to republish that post...  (Even lost a post I had in the 'hopper' for next week....Darn!)