No such thing as a small miracle

All miracles are the same size. And a plant growin' from a seed is always an awe inspiring miracle. Add to that the prospect of cross-breeding two plants, such as roses, with the intent of makin' a unique, new creation of your very own and you have somethin' mighty special indeed. 

I spent all last season (summer) pollinating my different roses by hand and  stressin' and prayin' and fightin' hungry deer and I thought I was completely unsuccessful until...

my very own miracle! Also my very first rose grown from seed. We all here at the farm are just stunned. We have extremely  special feelings about this little guys future. We honestly feel like we are like Moses when he confronted the burning bush, like we should remove our shoes for we are on Holy ground. Like we were given this gift by His grace for a reason.

The cross was between a double 'Knockout' and the seed parent was my wonderful 'Apothecary's rose' or r. gallica 'Officianalis'. A rebloomin' gallica type or a fragrant 'knockout' type is what I was attempting, but this miracle and it's purpose for our nursery and my journey will be a progressive revelation. God is the great gardener. Thank you Father.

Tangible history

This year is goin' to be an amazin' one for growers like me. It has been such a one already; my peonies almost beat the redbuds to bloom! They are a month early. And the good news is that they will bloom and be done and safe to face our last frost.

So now the roses we grow on the property.

This is 'Sally Holmes' newest to the rose garden and our lineup.

The ubiquitous 'knockout', this is the double red, although a dark pink.

Another 'Knockout' double pink, which I got for breedin' purposes.

'Dorothy Perkins'

This is an heirloom plant given to me by my grandmother, confirmed to be almost 200 years old. Also from her that day I got a black hollyhock.

We live in a place where history can be reached for and actually touched. Tradition is handed down to family and neighbors and taught like old songs.

I left out photos of the hybrid teas, but they will not be propagated and offered except by special request.

Also, I moved 15 'Annabelle' hydrangeas into pots as well as right oakleaf hydrangeas and seven R. gallica 'Oficianalis' or 'Apothecary's rose'.

Notice too that we use leaves as mulch, unless the plant wants acidic soil then we use pine needles, in our continuin' efforts at sustainable farmin'. 

The hillbilly's hydrangeas

This past winter season was not as brutal as what a lot of the country experienced the winter before but, a measure of anxiety has been creepin' up on us leadin' to a fair bit of dread regardin' this growin' season. Now that it's here we take a deep breath, a hard swallow and do our rounds. The rounds are mine, specifically, but I usually walk hand-in-hand with one of my girls. The plants I worried over all winter were new. When I say new I mean plants that I grew, either from seed or vegetative propagation. None of them were purchased with anything but sweat. And after losin' my entire supply of roses last year I wanted to make it with every hydrangea I could.

A lot is ridin' on the fate of our stock. The end result will define us as a farm and nursery. The plants that make it will have proven their hardiness and suitability for our area and they will decide for me what we specialize in. I have my druthers but as a farm we can not waste time growin' somethin' that will not be happy growin' here. 

So, the day has come...

This unknown hydrangea is the one that started my obsession. A nurse friend gave me part of her large bush and I thought I killed it. I planted it during a week long streak of 100 degree heat out in full sun! Needless to say I was ignorant to the way of the hydrangea. So after it was dead I googled it to see what I had done wrong and the rest is history. I learned about somethin' called propagation and obsessed over photos of hydrangeas, went out and bought all that this small town had to offer and relocated this plant just to see. The tough little princess came back the next year. This year it will bloom and we will have a better idea which hydrangea it is. Big leaf, mop head  is all we know for sure; and apparently not remontant.

Forever and ever 'Early Sensation'

Upon purchasin' this one, a love affair had officially begun. 

Panicled hydrangea 'Limelight'

Pretty sure this one is 'Limelight'. All the landscapers use this one, almost as much as crepe myrtles. And, praise The Lord, this one likes full sun!

Endless summer 'Twist and Shout'

Lace cap variety which switched to blue last season on it's own.

We got this one at a big box store and it was poorly marked, to say the least. It just said, 'Premium Hydrangea'. It has the largest blooms I have seen to date. Luxurious.

I suppose everyone has one or more of these 'Annabelle' hydrangeas. We have plenty if you are lookin'.

Peegee hydrangea 'Pinky Winky'. Another that tolerates full sun, and that's good, because that's about all we got.

'Invincibelle Spirit' was a Father's Day present. Now I have more than enough for everyone. 

Endless Summer 'The Original'. In my experience, the Endless Summer rebloomers are better performers than the Forever and Ever brand. Probably depends on location.

'Nikko Blue' is a classic.

'Beulah' is actually an unknown hydrangea that my mamaw could not get to bloom. So I made a bunch of them and they are comin' right along.

I always do this; I say they don't need tags and I always forget. 

Oakleaf hydrangea 'Ruby Slippers' is the only oakleaf we offer, but we hope to have more soon. 

These are just to show the plants hardiness. I made cuttings last season and put them in the ground to protect them from fungus gnats and they survived the winter just fine.

Endless Summer 'The Original' is vigorous and gets full size quick.

'Merritt's Supreme' is almost purple so I could not walk by it and not pick it up. Most of these were rustled not bought. I mentioned the size of where I live; options are few. Like the rose rustlers of yesteryear I don't leave home without my clippers. I have brought home quite a few roses that way but more hydrangeas. Bad thing is, I'm tapped out. Now I am collecting old garden roses or antique/heirloom roses. 

Pictured was just an example of each variety of hydrangea we stock. Not indicative of actual numbers we have in the field. Next post I will show the roses and how they handled the winter, and our own, farm-bred and cultivated azaleas and crepe myrtles.