Hello Fellow Gardeners,

I am one of those people who love to browse the internet for what’s new in gardening. I wanted to share with you a couple of sites I came across that I found very interesting!

Gardening in the News

A world seed vault was built in Svalbard Norway in a hollowed out cave. The vault is needed in case of biological warfare, or of other international disaster. The vault is located in a hard-to-reach area, and no need to pay for guys with heavy guns to guard it because Norway is using a free resource- polar bears! How ingenious!

Read more here and here!

Gardening Quiz: What Flower are You?

On the lighter side of things here is a fun quiz for you: What Kind of Flower Are You?

I warn you, you may be surprised by the results!

Gardening Steals n’ Deals

Are you one of those people who wish they were better organized and could stop missing out on some of the really good deals from internet sites or gardening catalogs? I know I am, so when I found this great post by Kathy Purdy for the blog “Cold Climate Gardening”- I was thrilled! Kathy took it upon herself to make a list of all the dates and deadlines of gardening catalogs so you can take advantage of all those wonderful deals and freebies!

Click Here to Get Organized!

I hope you found these links as fun, interesting, and useful as I did!

Happy Gardening,

Marie Suzanne

Hello Fellow Rose Enthusiasts!

David Austin roses have been part my garden for the past 6 years, and I simply love them! David Austin combines old fashioned roses for their shape and scent, and then tosses in disease resistance, so how can you go wrong!?

I highly recommend requesting a free catalog because not only are the pictures just gorgeous (and very tempting!) but there is also more detailed information in it than there is on the internet site. The catalog includes information on pruning, cultivation, climate and zones, and a list of great roses for specific locations such as shade, archways, containers, and impenetrable barriers.

Request a David Austin Catalog here: the link is on the side menu

I had the pleasure to meet Michael Marriott, an ambassador for David Austin roses, while taking a class on old fashioned roses at the San Francisco Flower Show a few years back. He was the speaker and I was quite impressed by his knowledge and common sense about gardening. He travels all over the world and is a renowned horticulturist and garden designer. David Austin is offering (FREE OF CHARGE!!!!) Mr. Marriott’s design services for any size garden! Just send in any relevant information, and try to include pictures. I am definitely going to take advantage of this amazing opportunity, and wanted to share it with you all as well!

Here is a list of David Austin roses that I’ve had a lot of luck with in my zone…

Abraham Darby

Charlotte

Sharifa Asma

William Shakespeare

Graham Thomas

Just as a note, David Austin roses seldomly grow above 4 feet in Zones 3 and 4.

Also, even though Mary Rose, LD Braithwaite, and Winchester Cathedral are recommended as Zone 4 roses, they did not grow for me- they all died within a couple of years.

My daughter surprised me with a wonderful Christmas present this year- Lady Emma Hamilton, a new rose by David Austin. I am eagerly awaiting it’s arrival in the Spring, and will keep you updated on it’s progress!

I hope you love roses as much as I do, and you take a chance on this wonderful series. Roses aren’t as much work as people think, and they bring so much joy!

If you have tried roses and have had good or bad luck with them, share the information in your comments below!  We could all use some new varieties to try, some tips, or warnings on which one’s to stay away from!
Until Next Time,

Happy Gardening,

Marie Suzanne

There are two seasonal diversions that can ease the bite of any winter. One is the January thaw. The other is the seed catalogues. Hal Borland, American Journalist

Winter is upon us in full force, and it’s hard to keep motivated about gardening when everything outside is cold and white. Luckily this is the time of year my mailbox gets filled with those treasures of gardening- the seed catalogs. Bringing with them some Spring cheer, the seed catalogs boast thousands of plants in green, orange, red, pink, every color under the rainbow, inspiring, and allowing me to dream about what I will put into my garden in a few months.

Some of my favorite new flower seeds on the market are…

Fiona Coghill
Shasta Daisy

Penstemon Esprit Mix

Nasturtium Princess of India

Twilight Echinacea

Victoriana Dahlia Mix

I’ve had good luck with the following places on the internet when ordering seeds. They have a large selection, quality products, and prompt service.

Seymour’s Selected Seeds

Seeds of Change: Certified Organic Seeds

Select Seeds: Heirloom Treasures for Modern Gardens

Stokes Seeds: Quality Seed since 1881

Burpee

Underwood Gardens

Renee’s Garden: “…Offers you the finest seeds of heirloom and cottage garden flowers…”

Swallotail Garden Seeds

Stay tuned for an article on how to grow seeds under lights! I’ve ordered my seeds now, and am really looking forward to starting my seeds again. I hope you find it as interesting a process as winter sowing is!
Happy Gardening,

Marie Suzanne