Favorite June ROSES in our Yard-- 2014

Touch of Class Rose--taken 6/4/14

It's hard to believe that it's JULY now... Do you like my new header and color scheme???  I love those Wild Horses Daylilies since the colors are so pretty....  Happy July to all of you!!!

I decided in May to do a "Favorite Roses Blog Post" each month this year, until all of the roses are gone by the end of Autumn...  IF you missed the May rose choices,  click HERE.  In that post,  I decided to feature 10 of my favorite May roses--plus an extra one, which was special for another reason.

WELL--since I made my own rules,  I guess it is okay to break them... Since JUNE was a HUGE month for Roses  (I photographed 624 pictures of roses in June --which came from 54 different varieties),  I decided to feature 15 this month instead of 10, plus one more special one.  AND--choosing just 16 was HARD since these roses (being the first blooming  rose groupings of the year) are some of the prettiest we have all season.

BUT--I did it (chose 15 instead of 10),  so I hope you enjoy seeing them today!  Be sure to click on the photos for enlargements.  Sit back and enjoy the beauty... I only wish you could smell some of these beauties... We buy Hybrid Tea and Grandiflora Roses ---and try to buy the 'fragrant' ones when possible....

Soft Whisper Rose -6/7/14  (new rose in our yard this year)

Summer Nights Rose -6/7/14

Milestone Rose -6/8/14

Radiant Perfume Rose -6/10/14

Alec's Red Rose -6/13/14

Moonstone Rose -6/13/14

Sweetness Rose -6/16/14

Dolly Parton Rose -6/16/14

Tahitian Sunset Rose -6/17/14

Elle Rose -6/17/14

Summer of Love Rose 6/19/14

Ronald Reagan Rose -6/21/14

I need to tell you about Ronald Reagan Rose.  This was one of my favorite roses all last year.  Due to the severe winter we had this past year,  this rose was struggling --and acted as if it were dying... George moved it to a container,  gave it some of his special "George Love and Attention" ---and guess what????  Ronald Reagan has bounced back BIGTIME.  What a beautiful rose!

Francis Meilland Rose -6/26/14

This beautiful Rose is one of our NEW ones this year.  We saw it last year while visiting Biltmore Home and Gardens.   We loved it there ---so we ordered it!!!  Isn't it a beautiful rose?

Chicago Peace Rose -6/11/14

This was my FAVORITE rose of the month.  This rose (like another one I featured in May--Peace Rose) stays beautiful for a long time --changing colors as it ages... Isn't this one pretty---with the raindrops on it?

Group of Love and Peace Roses -6/9/14

Finally,  this is my extra one this month.  I could easily have featured it individually---but wanted you to see how pretty it was showing it to you in a group.  This little beauty has bloomed and bloomed this month.

Since Friday is the 4th of July,  I will not blog that day...  However,  let me take this time to tell you  to enjoy the holiday ---and have a wonderful weekend.  God Bless America --and God Bless YOU....

Please take some time to read my new QUOTES on the sidebar this month... Some (or many) of them will speak to you I'll bet!!!!!

Hugs,

Emoticons

How do Two OLD People Celebrate their Anniversary

Us at an overlook at Grandview,  at the New River Gorge National River, West VA-- 6/23/14

George and I celebrated our 13th Wedding Anniversary this past week---with a great trip to one of our favorite states,  West Virginia.... Our reasons as to why we chose West Virginia:  1. not too many people around (except for one day);  2.  mountainous area where it is not too hot;  3. area more rustic and not so 'touristy';  4. place where we could do some hiking AND see some waterfalls---PLUS a really special day (which I will blog about on another day)!!!!!

First,  I will show you some of the things we did on our actual anniversary date,  June 23rd...  Be sure to click on the photos for enlargements.  Hope you enjoy seeing them!

George and his new Tripod

As most of you know,  George gave me an incredible photo of Whitewater Falls,  North Carolina (made into a huge poster to hang above our fireplace).  Click HERE if you missed that post.   SO----I'll have to show you what I gave him this year.  This is George's new tripod (A MeFOTO A1350)  It does everything one would want --except maybe cook dinner for us!!!!  It folds up to 15 inches --and he carries it in the case shown above in the picture.

George's new Tripod--which folds up to 15 inches

Beautiful view of the New River Canyon area

We hiked the Canyon Rim trail and stopped at several overlooks in order to get some great photos.  (We also hiked another trail to see a tunnel --even though the tunnel was closed.  BUT--we finished the day with about 5 miles total on our pedometers!)

This is George on the trail.  The trails were well-maintained overall.

Some very smart people had built steps among the rocks and rhododendrons in order for us to climb higher to the last overlook.    

Amazing area as we hiked to the TOP

We made it up those steps!!!!  George is on top of the world here!!!!

She's still smiling --after reaching the top of the world at Grandview!

Have you noticed all of the 'stuff' we carry???  We are prepared for sure:  our cameras and lenses;  my headband and 'sweat' towel;  my clip-on bug repellent thingie;  my jug of water;  AND a bag with other little things--protein bars, gum, tylenol, etc.... I was PREPARED!!!!! ha

Not only did we see deer along the way,  but we also enjoyed seeing many Rhododendrons and other wildflowers in bloom here.

How can an almost 72 yr old woman have more fun than this??????

After those long hikes,  we had some lunch and then we PLAYED!!!!!

Not to miss out on all of the fun,  George had to play also!!!!!!!   YEAH!

White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake from Olive Garden

Finally---after all of that hiking,  we were HUNGRY!!!!  SO--we drove into Beckley and went to one of our favorite restaurants,  the OLIVE GARDEN.  We enjoyed dinner ---AND we split a slice of that delicious cheesecake pictured above.  (NOT my photo since mine didn't come out).... YUM YUM YUM....  What a great way to end a wonderful day!!!   (AND ---I didn't even gain weight this week... I even lost a tiny bit!!!)

Can you see how HAPPY she is???????

I'll close with this photo George took of a VERY HAPPY GIRL ---enjoying a wonderful day and trip with the fantastic man in her life.... Thanks, George, for a marvelous Anniversary!!!!

Hope all of you have had a good week.  I will 'try' to catch up with your blog posts as I have time!!!!!  (There is always lots and lots of yardwork to be done!)

Hugs,

Emoticons