Several years ago, I converted a small storage area outside my office into an enclosed patio. Sloat Nursery had the perfect fountain on sale and Sunnyside offered two oversized clay pots. But with northern exposure and a ten-foot fence, the lack of direct sunlight was a major concern. I chose two ‘Sally Holmes’ and have […]
Good White Roses for Marin – Sally Holmes Read More »
Bareroot roses are dormant plants supplied without soil around the roots. They have no foliage or flowers that makes transportation easier and much less expensive. This time of year, nurseries are brimming with bareroot plants – roses, trees and vines; it’s a great time to shop for plants as the selection is at its best.
So, what is a bareroot rose? Read More »
American Garden Rose Selections™ was established to recognize and recommend the best garden-worthy rose varieties for the various regions of the United States through testing. The goal is to provide objective and reliable information to rose gardeners. AGRS™ is a true national rose trial in the United States that tests the same roses in gardens
Meet the 2025 AGRS Winners! Read More »
Big-eyed bug adults and nymphs (immatures) are oval and commonly black, brownish, gray, or reddish, with a wide head, prominent antennae, and as their name implies, big bulging eyes. Adults range from about 1/8 to 1/4 inch long. They walk with a distinctive “waggle” and emit an unpleasant odor when handled. Found mostly on low-growing
Meet the Big-eyed Bug! Read More »
Resplendent – shining brilliantly: characterized by a glowing splendor. What a definition! And you can bet that any rose that has that description is one you want to consider for your garden. Welcome to the world of hybrid rugosa roses. Rugosa species are native to northern China, Korea, Japan and the far north Pacific Rim
Resplendent Rugosa Roses Read More »
Deer got you down? Silently tiptoeing through the garden and munching your prize-winning roses can be frustrating and difficult to manage. As housing and commercial development squeeze these graceful marauders out of their native habitat, they’re likely to show up anywhere there’s vegetation and water – and that just may be your garden. Deer browse
Good things often come in small packages and that’s true of miniature roses. These little jewels have the great attributes of their full-sized counterparts on a petite scale. Ranging in height from 15 to 30 inches with well-proportioned stems, leaves, and blossoms, most are grown on their own roots and are hardy in our climate.
Marvelous Miniature Roses Read More »
Soldier beetles are predators to a host of bad bugs including aphids and other soft bodies insects. Also known as leather-winged beetles, adults are less than half an inch long, and straight-sided with a red, orange, or yellow head and abdomen. Larvae are elongated and cylindrical except flattened on top, and have distinct, rounded segments.
Really Good Garden Guys Read More »
You’ve heard the term shrub, and you know what a rose is, but what in the world is a shrub rose? Aren’t shrubs those plants that you grow as hedges to screen you from your neighbor? Or some type of woody plant? Sunset’s Western Garden Book describes shrubs as “woody plants that live for many
Sumptuous Shrub Roses Read More »
With the last substantial rains being a distant memory, summer temperatures and low humidity are ideal conditions for spider mites – a scourge of the season for roses and lots of other plants. Spider mites are related to spiders and ticks. With eight legs and an oval body 1/20 of an inch-long, they look like
These pests love dry and dusty! Read More »