I know I am , while I do not like the extreme heat, I do love spring and fall and winter. However I am so looking forward to spring and I want to see some flowers. I keep looking where my tulips at this point have already shown up a tiny tiny bit. But nothing, I guess it is because of the cold winter here in New York. I also want to plant some more rose bushes. I already have yellow ones, some white and some peach. I was thinking of the lavender small roses, but for some reason I cannot think of their name. If someone could help me I would sincerely appreciate it very much. My neighbor next door they are a elderly couple, they have one room in their home like a hot house. They are already growing tomatoes, peppers, basil and garlic, man they are good, wish I had more time to invest in a full garden. I usually do tomatoes and basil and parsley. Oh well like they say March comes in a like a lion and out like a lamb. But lately New York winters have been so cold and also we have had snow on April 17th, crazy I know. So anyone else itching to see some flowers, kindly share. Peace. Catherine

The rose is called Lavender Meillandina. Yes I'm ready for spring flowers to bloom .I'm also ready for fresh veggies as well. I love the springtime. Everything is so nice and pretty to look at.

Absolutely! I recently moved from Oklahoma to WA state, and we're still getting snow here. Each time my yard is clear of snow, it'll snow again, and the process starts all over.

I've started rosemary, basil, and cilantro inside. We have apple trees and concord grapes that I'm anxious to get busy working on.

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Gina J.

Proud Army Wife and Coast Guard Mom

It could still snow here in Ohio. However, I was looking outside today and I see some green coming up in the flower beds. Some spring flowers are sprouting up. It has been a very long, cold, and icy winter here.

sunsetbeach, first I love your username because of all my shelties, Sunshine, Sunny, Simba and baby Sanibel for Sanibel Isle a piece of small paradise. Anyway the name of the small lavender rose, that name does not ring a bell are you sure. They are small and pure lavender, some how that name is again not ringing a bell in my head. I am thinking hard lol. When I was younger one of best friends from childhood would give me these roses on my birthday, they were not cheap... Omg Sterling Roses, that's it, I just had a small brain freeze. Do you recongnize the name or perhaps you were thinking of something else. Plmk and thanks for your help. peace. Catherine

let me see if I can find a picture of the rose.

BRB
Back here's what I found.

.http://www.nationalflowermart.com/in...ROD&ProdID=562 (this is the sterling rose.)

http://www.meillandrichardier.com/en...f-3650-61.html (this is the Lavender Meillandina)
To me they look the same. Maybe they are but called many different names.

Sunsetbeach thanks for your help and for the links now looking at both pictures they do look alike however the one you named looks more like the ones I remember. They are so beautiful, I would love to have some of them on my property. Again thanks so much. Btw I also have huge sunflowers they are so tall and I love them as well. Too bad flowers cannot live forever. I have kept many of my flowers and dry them out and the yellow roses smell so good even all dried up. Peace. Catherine

Catherine, There's a man a few blocks over from me that plants Sunflowers every year OMG they are huge and so pretty. He plants them on the roadside in front of his house. They are so huge you wouldn't know there's a house there unless you have seen it before the sunflowers.I have been so tempted at times to just stop and ask him if I could have 1 flower for the seeds, But I've never been able to get the nerve up to do so LOL..
My next door neighbors are working on citrus plants/ trees since this winter. She has planted limes, lemons, banana trees, apples and oranges, avocado's and chili peppers. She also does tomatoes and spice native to her county. I wish we didn't have all these blasted trees in my yard. I swear next year I'm getting them cut down, wanted to to it this year but as of tomorrow I'm shelling out $ 2,000 () To replace our field lines. Had it not rained today it would have been today with replacing them. But next year I'm getting them cut so I too can plant something.

Sunsetbeach I know what you mean about the Sunflower some can grow so large. Mine are quite large however I have seen larger. Like I said with my neighbors they have already started with growing vegetables inside. But once spring comes , they will have a full garden going, they grow just about anything. Some people literally do have a green thumb and have extreme luck with the items they grow. I also have a apple and pear tree in my yard. I would also love to have a lemon tree. Growing your own vegetable or friut garden has so many benefits, however it is time consuming. For them its very teraputric and they enjoy it very much. All this talk and I want Spring so hopefully soon all will come back to life from the frozen cold dirt... Peace. Catherine

I think I'm gonna let the kids plant some sunflowers. A few years ago they did and they were so excited that their little seeds grew into something so big,

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Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box.

Ok Please don't laugh, But are the seeds the very same seeds you can buy in the food section of a store (Unsalted of course ). I don't ever recall seeing seeds sold in the garden section of any stores here.Well maybe that is a silly question, the seeds you buy in food sections are toasted are they not ?..
Now I feel really silly asking this.

sunset yes they are, we will be using them in class soon and each student will be given a small plastic cup and some dirt and they will get to plant their own sunflower seed. I have to say some grow so big just the leaves, then we give the cups for them to take home and replant them in their own yards. The kids truly get a kick out of it, because they themselves, put the dirt in the cup , then they make a small hole to put the seed in and then they are given water every few days to water the plants. They get all excited to see their plants growing.. Hey sunsetbeach, do you have many indoor household plants, we have alot, I love them . I collect funky type planters and love to have my plants grow in there. Peace nice topic. Catherine

at one point in my life I use to have nothing but houseplants every where you could see in my home. But since we got our home here there's too many trees and I don't get a lot of sunshine.We have what is called water oaks and they bare year around so even in the winter we don't get sunshine.I do want my trees cut for many reasons other than the fact my yard is a carpet of leaves all year long. Since the trees are water oaks not many things can grown around them including grass. So even outside I'm very limited to the plants/ flowers I can grow.Years ago my mom worked for walmart in the garden section of the store, when their flowers would get less than sell able she would bring me the flats they tossed. She always said I could grow anything including dead plants LOL. I love flowers I would have 100's of rose brushes if I could. Once I get the trees cut down I plan on doing a rose garden near the roadside. It's been a plan of mine for nearly 10 years now.
But I have been known from time to time to just drive around neighborhoods looking at all the yards and flower gardens growing. ( Yes probably is a little weird to do ), But I long for flowers and I also long to have my house plants once again. I really don't care much about non blooming house plants I like blooming ones. Not only does it make your home nice but it smells so good year around.

Hon nothing wrong in viewing neighbor's gardens. I also love the magazine house and garden, again I agree I also could live and be surrounded by roses of all different colors except red, red is my least favorite color. Also roses come in all different colors so so many beautiful colors. Now I may be asking a silly question are there any blue roses you know of. Because I am the blue lady I love all shades of blue so plmk and its been a pleasure talking back and forth. And speaking of spring and flowers, another thought comes to mind, Garage sales I live live for them I love them to pieces. More stuff to fill this ready... French country cottage shabby chic old old home of mine... Boy between flowers and garage sales I am ready ready.. Peace have a wonderful night. Catherine

Yes this has been a really nice thread.

Blue roses.No I have never heard of being able to buy a blue rose brush, But you can "make" blue roses using live ones. You take a white rose,blue dye( powered) or liquid dye and place in the water. But to answer your question about the true blue rose no there are none that I know of. Speaking of using dyes you can use just about any color dye to color fresh cut white roses.

Yard Sale. Oh man before my mom got to the point she was not able to walk for very long we use to hit yard sales every single weekend. I don't however go to many now. I love to go to a bargain center tho. Flea markets I try to stay away from if possible mostly over priced junk thats being passed off as 'One of a kind ). But yes I love to shop and that would include yard sales.

Florigene claimed to have developed the first genetically modified blue rose back in 2004 but it wasn't a true blue color. They've come pretty close (mauve) but they're still working on pure blue. The potential is there now so it's just a question of time before they manage to alter the genes and achieve a real blue. Florigene has made it clear that the roses will be very expensive so dyeing white roses blue will still be the best option for most people.

Florigene plans blue rose field trials - Australian Life Scientist

True Blue Roses to be Sold First in Japan

Our azaleas are in full bloom. The trees have buds on them. We will start our garden this weekend. We have a brick garden next to the pool I love to fill with flowers. Looks so pretty next to the water.

*sigh*, I'm sure as soon as the six inches of snow we got yesterday melts, we'll see signs of Spring! I am so over winter, snow, slush and gunk at this point.

I miss Daffodils/Jonquils. I believe that the Annual Jonquil Festival @ Old Washington State Park in Arkansas should be this week or next week. I miss those Jonquils-- a lot!

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

I can't believe we had 4 inches of snow 2 weeks ago but this week my yard needs mowing

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Brenda

GO #24 JEFF GORDON

I guess it is Spring now here where I live even tho the warm days are sharing the time with cold days. We seem to go from winter to summer (cold to hot) and never have a decent, warm, pretty Spring. And I do not like summer here because it is so HOT and HUMID!

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thanks so much for the link to the blue roses, but perhaps its me they look more purple, perhaps a bit perwinkle, I am going to look up to find if I can anymore information , thanks so much, they are however so beautiful love the color. Peace. Catherine

Oh this would be so cool it they are able to produce true blue roses.
I found out about 15 years ago there were no blue roses to buy or plant, when a friend of mine had her son. Since then people have "formed" ways to make blue roses from white cut roses by adding food coloring, then it was clothing dye. it's pretty simple to do, just cut the stems off fresh flowers and add the color to the water. Sometimes it can take a day or as little as a few hours to get the results of the color.This can be done with any kind of white flower using any kind of dye. I like powered dyes vs liquid. This is a fun crafting idea for kids to do also.

Thanks cougarskies for the links. This sounds promising hope they are able to do it.
The 2nd link showing the flowers doesn't really look "blue" to me but more of a mauve or lilac color.Maybe the picture is just an example of what they are able to do now with trying to make the blue roses. But either way thanks for the links I had not heard about this till now.

YUCK YUCK !! Some of y'all are still getting snow ... This is why I'm glad we have 4 seasons here. Warm, Hot, Hotter, Hottest .. hope your spring comes soon. Hate to know I had to deal with snow, ice and the cold in March- April.

It would be wonderful to have blue roses, especially my favorite shade of blue turquiouse, omg I love love this color. Also as far as garage sale and tags sales, them as well I cannot wait. I miss them so much, you truly can find such wonderful bargains and literally decorate your home with garage/ tag sale items.. Peace. Catherine

You can do the same thing with popcorn seeds. Buy the plain seeds in a bag that people pop in a pan. Give the students clear plastic cups. Stuff paper towels in the cup with the seeds (about 6) along the side of the cup. Keep the paper towel wet and exchange the paper towel with dirt when the first two leaves come out.
They can plant it in their yard to get a 6 foot plant with corn.