Yesterday was another gray, rainy day here in the Glade. We had to go out to run a couple of errands, but mostly we stayed in and listened to the rain on the roof.
Fortunately we had a sure cure for a dreary winter day — the garden catalog. When I was growing up in northern Indiana the winters were rougher than they are here in Tennessee and the garden catalogs were a welcome sign that Spring would eventually arrive. I grew up on a small farm and we had a fairly large garden. Mom and Dad would let my brother and me each pick out something to plant. Oh, how we looked forward to those catalogs.
The garden catalog that brightened our day was the rose catalog from Jackson & Perkins. J&P always has a beautiful catalog, not to mention beautiful roses.
Although I now get roses from a couple of different sources, I’ve grown Jackson & Perkins roses for over 30 years. When I lived in North Carolina and Ohio I even grew test roses for J&P, which was a very interesting undertaking. I would get roses to plant having no idea what they would look like.
I don’t do that any more, but I do still grow roses and wish that I had more room for them. And I still look through the rose catalogs from cover to cover.
We learned about two new Jackson & Perkins roses last October and I convinced Betsy that we had room for both of them. But in looking through the catalog yesterday I discovered FOUR new roses that I had never heard about before.
Betsy — we need a larger lot!!!
Senior Moments 
January 11, 2009 at 8:22 am |
Rain on the roof huh? I grew up in a small house with a tin roof and no insulation in the attic so when it rained you could really hear it and that is still one of my favorite sounds.
January 11, 2009 at 9:09 am |
George: May the roses grow in your dreams at night.
January 11, 2009 at 10:08 am |
Oh,I’m sure you cold make room for four more roses.After all one can never have too many roses.
Blessings,Ruth
January 11, 2009 at 10:10 am |
I love to look at the J & P catalog. The original owner of our home had planted numerous roses and we so enjoy them all each Spring. Roses remind me of my Grandmother. She always grew them and on Mother’s Day, we would stop at her house on the way to church and cut one to pin to our lapel. Sweet memories!
January 11, 2009 at 10:19 pm |
Mildred, I’m glad you enjoy roses so much. Many years ago I got into the habit of bringing a rose bud into the house each morning for the dining room table. I still like to do that whenever I can.
January 11, 2009 at 12:52 pm |
Ruth, I agree you can’t have too many roses — in North Carolina I had over 100. But we now have a smaller lot (darn!).
Mildred, many years ago I got into the habit of bringing in a rose bud for the dining room table each morning. I still like to do that when possible.
January 11, 2009 at 1:56 pm |
Oh, I do love roses too. When we moved from North Carolina, I had several rose gardens and just loved them. I prepared two legal pages of instructions and care, and left all my garden equipment and supplies for the new owner. Her eyes glazed as I was explaining how to care for them and I could read her thoughts, “Yeah, right. Like I’m going to do all that?”
The pleasure they gave me was still worth all the work I put in, although I was so sorry the new owner had no interest at all.
January 11, 2009 at 10:15 pm |
Carolyn, I can understand your feelings. When I went past my old North Carolina home two years after I moved all the roses were gone. If only I could have taken them with me I would have!
January 11, 2009 at 2:35 pm |
Never heard of this catalog but sounds like a fun read! Can’t wait to see your roses this year!
January 11, 2009 at 10:12 pm |
Shelley, you can go online and request a Jackson & Perkins catalog (Google the name) if you would like. And don’t worry — I’ll take many pictures.
January 11, 2009 at 3:05 pm |
although I am British I don’t grow roses, strange eh!!!
Gill in Canada
January 11, 2009 at 10:09 pm |
Gill, I thought growing roses was part of the British DNA.
January 11, 2009 at 3:31 pm |
One certainly can always make room for more roses in the garden! Yes looking at gardening & seed catalogues help ease a cold winter day!
Soon it wil be Spring!
January 11, 2009 at 10:07 pm |
Anna, do you mind if I tell Betsy that we have room for more roses?
January 11, 2009 at 3:38 pm |
Hmmm … today I’d LOVE to hear some rain on MY roof rather than the gusty winds blowing outside ;–)
Growing roses is a joy indeed. I wish you well!
Hugs and blessings,
January 11, 2009 at 4:50 pm |
That is fun that you and Betsy enjoy the catalog. I love roses, at this time I simply enjoy the wild ones that grow around here. Some day I will plant some.
January 12, 2009 at 2:56 am |
George, I was raised on a farm in Missouri and my Mother had around 50 J & P roses. I loved them and like you said, I always looked forward to getting the new catalog so I could help her choose a couple of new ones.
Your Betsy looks like a sweet lady. 🙂
January 12, 2009 at 12:55 pm |
I’ve never ordered from a catalog though I’ve flipped through one or two catalogs on occasion. I’ve neglected my yard of late but when I pull it back together maybe this is something I’ll look into. Hmmm…
🙂
January 12, 2009 at 2:43 pm |
It must have been nice to grow up on a farm!!
January 12, 2009 at 9:38 pm |
Aged 50 is a little late to come into an interest in gardening especially when my ms symptoms will keep me from really doing the hard work..but I would love to have the chance to plant a few more things this next season…
January 13, 2009 at 2:12 pm |
I have a completely black thumb…it makes me look even more forward to seeing the photos of your beautiful flowers this coming summer!