New for 2025 - ordered from High Garden Roses

New for 2025 - ordered from Great Garden Plants

The first blooms have arrived! Lemon Fizz is/was the winner, followed closely by Darlow's Enigma and Home Run. Most others are 1-2 weeks away. It's going to be a tremendous Spring Bloom but permit me to complain a little about all the good stems that have been lost to very high winds and perhaps critters? Some of the most promising (biggest) stems/buds are falling over - nearly every morning when I go out into the gardens there is another stem or two which has broken off and is laying on the ground. I don't recall having this issue in the past. Yesterday we had wind gusts of some 40 mph and in general, it has been a very cold and windy April/May with very little rain. The 2025 rain deficit for April/May stands at 3.7 inches. We did, however, receive 0.75 inches overnight which is very welcome.

Last Friday, May 30th, I fed the soil/roses. I used regular Miracle Gro (24-8-16) and Mills Easy Feed Liquid (14-6-4) both at one-half strength. I suppose that balances out to (19-7-10). I also added small amounts of Epsom Salts and SuperThrive. One gallon was given to each bush. Next on the menu will be some Fish Emulsion at label strength, maybe in 3 or 4 days. I also did put down some Osmocote slow-release fertilizer but only for the shrubs and climbers.

Some powdery mildew has appeared on Dr. Huey, reminding me that I need to spray soon.

It took a while, but I think the weather is going to be conducive to a tremedous Spring Flush!

Purchased 5-30-25 paid 25 QT
Planted 6-4-25

https://www.highcountryroses.com/shop/modern-roses/floribundas-small-landscape-shrubs/desert-sky/?attribute_pa_size=onequartpot

History: https://www.highcountryroses.com/shop/modern-roses/floribundas-small-landscape-shrubs/desert-sky/?attribute_pa_size=onequartpot