Rock n Roses

Still working in the yard here.  Finally got to it and cleaned the inside of my house too, since it was being neglected by all the yard work. You won't find a lot of manicured lawns and trimmed boxwood  out here in farm/wine country, but I kind of prefer it that way.  We leave parts of our property natural so the quails and pheasants have some cover, and because we just don't go back there.  I  like to approach gardening with a naturalistic, growing with wild abandon attitude.  Nothing too formal.  But when the crab grass finally took over the planting beds around the pool, I got serious.

I love my new blue wheelbarrow!  Anyway I don't know what is kicking my ass more, hauling these rocks, or pulling the crabgrass out.  My shoulders are killing me, and it's putting a limit on my crochet time. However the backyard is shaping up.

Check out the rest of my wild yard!  Here is the path leading to the garden.

Roses growing into the honeysuckle.  Add the blossoms of the lemon tree and you have the best perfume ever!

And more roses in the corner of my garden.....

This one was transplanted from the yard before we dug the pool.  It was only a couple feet high.  Now it's almost 6 feet.

David Austin roses are my favorite.  This is Evelyn.

This one is called Pat Austin, named for his wife I think.  It's one of my favorites.

This rose is not David Austin, but is called Our Lady of Guadalupe.  I planted it years ago after my Grandma died.  Her name was Rose May Ames and her birthday was in May.

I have Simplicity hedge roses all around the property, either in white, or this raspberry color.  They are really easy to care for.

Now for some disappointing news.  My white crochet blanket is doomed.  I laid it out on the floor to check the progress and look what I found.

 

Obviously some of my yarn balls were from a different lot.  Grrrrrr.  I can't believe I missed that.  The top part is the first three balls, and the rest looks slightly darker.  I am about halfway through, but this is going in the bag until I can figure out what to do.  I had visions of a beautiful white cotton crochet blanket, but now I may just be making a million doilies or dishcloths.
 In the meantime, I found an old quilt block in my stash, and made it into a kind of place mat thing.....

And I finished crocheting a few washcloths with some soft organic cotton.

I'm taking the day of to rest my aching muscles and drink iced tea out by the pool.
Time to stop and smell the roses!