My Love Affair With Roses

My last home had 23 rose bushes, most of them from Jackson and Perkins. They were beautiful! This new home has 3, so I am going to have to create a new
rose garden. I took this photo at the Belagio in Las Vegas..they have a great greenhouse.



My dream garden would include a raised vegetable bed 'cause I love home grown tomatoes...and really any kind of vegetable.


...and a shade garden for impatiens and tender flowers. We are at such a high altitude, that the sun burns most blooms and dehydrates everything in site.


Fortunately roses, love the sun and do really well here. The soil is a little alkaline so you have to add lots of stuff to correct it. Every Spring I add cow manure and 1/2 cup epsom salt. During the growing season I put chopped bannana peels, egg shells and coffee grounds on them, and once a month a scoop of Miracle Grow.



This is my white rose "Iceberg." It was the only white rose I have found that does not fade with the harsh sun! This was usually covered in blooms from Spring to Fall. Behind it is a pink tea rose...you can see how much better the Iceberg did. It's a floribunda and they do better in our conditions.

Planting usually starts after Easter...I'll be dreaming of my rose projects all weekend.

Liz

Why Start a Blog?

I recently lost my job with a national company that was having problems, and as a result I sold my house and down-sized. Yes I actually sold my house in this economy, and I attribute it to how it was decorated...my favorite past-time. Actually, it was the best thing that ever happened to me. My 2 kids a are grown, so my husband and I could do with a smaller house. We live in Albuquerque, at the base of the Rocky Mountains in the high altitude, and found a 10 year-old track house ready for transformation.

I want to invite you to come along with me while I try to accomplish it! Hopefully I can do it with things I already have...but I'm going to hit the thrift stores, estate sales and flea markets too. Whatever it takes to do it within a budget, but with the beautiful things I love! I hope I can do it!

I have a great collection of silver, linens, glass and ceramics, and I am hoping to use them, instead of keeping them up on their shelf! During my scouting maybe I can add to those collections. I love several decorating styles...Tuscan-French-Mediterranean is a big one. But I passionately love "White Romantic" rooms too! And of course I am in the Southwest, so there is a bit of that!

Hopefully I can show you what a great place Albuquerque is! It's on route 66...so It's historic with lots of cool collectibles. Baking and gardening are a challenge because of the altitude, but are easy to conquer! And the food...well, the food! I'll just have to share some recipes with you! Along the way, maybe will take some side trips to Santa Fe or Taos...looking for decor!

I have lots of other blogs I follow, and they all have great ideas. I'll share those with you as we go along!

Thanks for reading!

Liz