New for 2025 - ordered from Heirloom Roses

Weather has finally "normalized." Last Friday I sprayed for the first time - propiconazole plus Manzate Pro Stick plus liquid kelp. No sign of any blackspot yet although Dr. Huey is showing some powdery mildew - which I am fighting by misting it a few times a day. Next spray I will add the Systemic Insecticide - I noticed some insect damage on a few bushes while watering yesterday. Nothing too bad but time to nip it in the bud. Two days ago, I gave each bush a seafood-based elixir – 50% Fish Emulsion, 25% Kelp and 25% Worm Tea (with a small amount of Super Thrive thrown in of course). I used my hose-end sprayer and gave about 1 gallon of the mix to each bush. Watered it all in well a day later (yesterday).

I'm still seeing the occasional basal cane snap off - primarily due to excessive wind. I have not experienced this much in the past. I thought maybe the base of the broken-off cane must be too soft growth but that is not the case. Hopefully I have seen the last of this phenomenon.

My two maidens have stopped growing. It looks like some midge damage has ruined the growing tips. That is most surprising as there is little to no midge damage in the gardens this year, but somehow my pots are showing midge damage (must be from the potting mix I used). I pruned the burnt growing tips slightly earlier today to encourage new growth. I'm concerned that both maidens - Perfectly Red and Clair Elyse - will not make it to adulthood.

First bloomer was my Lemon Fizz shrub. First full bloom hybrid tea has been Julia. Others currently with blooms/color include Playboy, Granada, Liebeszauber, Pope John Paul II, Savoy Hotel, Fragrant Cloud, Mikado and Peace. The North Garden seems to be about a week ahead of the Soth Garden, which makes perfect sense since it does get more sun. Fathers' Day is in 4 days - it won't quite be a full bloom but it's not too far away. I have several Queen-worthy stems/buds - especially on Hot Princess - they are less than a week away from blooming.

Last, but not least, my Bonica (planted in 2021) is doing very well this year. Bonica is all by itself in the back perennial gardens in between the bird feeders. In the past it has grown and bloomed, but not nearly as much as an 8.3 ARS rating would suggest. The problem? It appears to be rabbits. For some other perennials which rabbits love, I bought some wire cages from Amazon to place around the plants. Last Fall I did the same for Bonica. With no rabbits munching on new growth, Bonica has simply taken off! It has not bloomed yet but when it does it will produce more blooms in one flush than it has cumulatively over the past 4 years. Can't wait!

This is probably my most disappointing winter loss. It was an own root and looked like it had made it, sent up a few leaves, but then those new leaves just died back with a late frost and that was that. I've left it in the ground in case it tries again. It was starting to set leaf buds when we got an ice storm and that was just the end for it.

I liked this one, but I couldn't find any zone information on it. It did not survive winter in my zone 5 yard. We did have a really bad ice storm in March that was probably a contributing factor. For a bit there, it looked like it might make it, but, then browned the rest of the way. If I run into it in the body bag roses again, I would pick up another but immediately try to root an own root cutting of it instead.