henry and gertrude



here she goes again, more pictures of roses. brother.

how about a little story about the couple that planted this rose garden.
 
henry and gertrude were the couple that lived here for 65 years before we took over.  they raised 3 kids in this house which blows my mind because the two of us trip over each other.  henry was the gardener at the adjoining mansion to this place so whatever was leftover or unwanted was brought home.  i'm told all the roses here came from that estate. gertrude loved her roses and you can tell because when we got here there were dozens of vases in the basement.  she gave roses to everyone and brought them to church every sunday.   there are close to 100 rose bushes and trees here, most of them are estimated to be at least 75 years old.  when we began renovating, you could barely tell this was a rose garden, it was basically dead.  henry had passed away and gertrude had to take care of the place by herself.  so things had fallen into disrepair.  while larry worked indoors i spent most of my time outside watering, pulling weeds and trying to separate what had essentially become a big bramble field.  so now three years later all that effort (and tons more) is paying off.  people are asking me what i'm doing to produce such big blooms, but other than feeding them every 6 weeks during the growing season and digging in home-made compost once a year they are just doing their own thing.  i've always read and been told that roses don't like overhead watering but henry set up a basic system that consists of two overhead sprinklers.  we figure if it worked for them, why change it?  so we deep soak the roses twice a week during the hot summer. right now the garden is producing roses at an astounding rate.  the more i cut the more they bloom.
 this can't last, can it?   every room in the house has roses in it and once they are inside they keep getting bigger.
seriously, what is up with this?



































































































wishing you all a pretty weekend

xo
janet

58 comments

  1. The roses are so gorgeous. Your garden must be spectacular. Lucky you!

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  2. You know what I love...the can you used as a vase. seriously, I love that.

    I hope you know how lucky you are...it's like you live amongst an enchanted garden. I absolutely LOVE the pink ones with the hint of orange. I just can't imagine living in the middle of a rose garden. I wish I lived nearby so I could sneak over the garden gate ~

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  3. Wow, the sent in your house must be amazing!

    I hope your have a lovely weekend too!

    Sue
    xo

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  4. This sounds like a real love story! Henry and Gertrude must have poured so much of themselves into the house and garden, and it is thriving! Lucky you to be able to carry on! I am following you to see future developments! Linda

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  5. Henry and Gertrude did good!!
    Cathy

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  6. Since you have so many bushes, I have to ask...do you hard prune them once a year? (some experts now say it isn't necessary) What you are doing is definitely working! I only have a dozen bushes and that's enough for me. :)

    Linda

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  7. Those flowers are so beautiful. I especially love how you just placed them in an old can. They look stunning! You are so lucky to have those available to bring right in.

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  8. I can smell them right through the screen...

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  9. linda - i've only hard pruned them once - the first year. i had to b/c they were such a tangled mess. now i do a light prune in november and then another one in january. that's it.

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  10. Roses, roses everywhere! Lovely.
    It would have been so sad if you had not saved the old roses that Henry and Gertrude planted 50 years ago!

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  11. Beautiful! You are obviously being a good steward of the garden that you inherited. The roses are thanking you for bringing them back to life! And I use the "tin can as vase" trick all the time too! Have a great weekend! karin

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  12. Way to carry on the legacy of Henry & Gertrude! If gardens could talk..........Happy Weekend.

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  13. I love your can, lady.

    I suppose these are all old-fashioned variety that smell really wonderful. Amazing what you've done with them. I wouldn't have expected them to be resurrected so well. Roses are supposed to love humus. Or is it hummus?

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  14. What a great story and what a wonderful heritage left behind for you to enjoy. I would love to be clipping off beautiful blooms every day and having their glorious fragrance scent my life. xxBliss

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  15. ohhh, I don't think the roses are doing their own thing... I think they have a little help from some garden angels named Henry and Gertrude!!
    absolutely stunning!

    xxj.

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  16. Amazing! I'd love to walk out my door to all those roses....so beautiful. I have several rose bushes here but they don't do that well. They either don't get enough sun or they get to much. I do have one bush of pink fairy roses that seems to be very happy in it's spot. I even gave up on one bush it was in such bad shape I cut it down to the ground...but it's completely come back and will have blooms soon. This post makes me want to plant some more further out in the yard where they will get more sun....hmmm...maybe I will.....

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  17. Hi Janet, What a wonderful story. It's just so great that you and Larry found the 'Gardeners Cottage' before anyone else when it was for sale. And look what you did, you brought it all back to life, and then you share it with us. Thank you Janet. Hugs, Joyce

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  18. lucky, lucky Janet! That garden is spectacular. I bet Henry and Gertrude would be very happy to know that their adored roses are blooming again.

    xo
    Claudia

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  19. 100 old rose bushes - glorious! - and producing those beautiful blooms in april - i am green with envy - thank you for sharing the back story of henry and gertrude - love every bit of your house too!

    pat

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  20. The ornge one is my FAVE Janet!

    xo kelley

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  21. Amazing! I may have to try your treatment on my roses.

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  22. How great that you have the story/history of your house. AND, the beautiful garden. Love the tin can vase too :)

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  23. I'm so glad you kept the rose bushes. Lots of people would have ripped them out to do new landscaping.

    Your house must smell so wonderful - fresh white linens and roses throughout. Lovely.

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  24. I think it is a magical land of roses!
    The composition for your photographs is beautiful. They are just stunning, I feel like I am there.
    Have a lovely weekend.

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  25. What a great story and it's wonderful that you have brought them back to life. I will remember your 'feeding' tips for next spring/summer here. I just posted a stunning rose from my garden that you might like :)

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  26. Ohhhhh....I can almost smell them. Wow!

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  27. Hi Janet - Keep it coming. I never get tired of looking at your roses. Lovely story too about the previous owners of the cottage.
    Deborah

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  28. When I was reading this post I felt like I could almost smell these flowers and their glorious scent. I assume because they are old roses, they have that scent that is missing from so many today.

    I wish I could grow roses, but my shady garden doesn;t seem too hospitable.

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  29. They are absolutely beautiful. Garden roses are so much prettier that florist roses. And, smell so delicious. I am jealous!

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  30. My roses have a plethora of buds, but no blooms yet...can't wait!! Yours are absolutely gorgeous. Thrilled to find and be an email follower of your blog!! Also, loved the peek inside your home - beautiful ~ Hope your weekend is great!!

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  31. Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous! Thank you so much for sharing the beauty that is bestowed upon you. Of course that means not only what is around you but what is within you, dear Janet. It is with your eyes and your heart that makes it so. Lucky are we that you share your world!
    -Suzanne in Illinois

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  32. Oh my gosh I seriously love this. I want roses. The deer eat my roses. I can just smell them now.

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  33. Oh, and what a sweet story. I hope the caretakers who move into my house when I'm long gone appreciate and cultivate my garden - - rose free unfortunately, but lovely nonetheless.

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  34. How delighted Henry and Gertrude would be to know the rose garden has been so lovingly resurrected by your green thumb Janet.
    I can imagine the beautiful scent. Wonderful.
    xx

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  35. Henry sure worked some magic into that soil.

    And now you're working it too.

    Do you believe in magic?

    xo jane

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  36. What a nice story and beautiful pictures to start the weekend.

    xoxo my friend

    Margot

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  37. Your roses are beautiful. I love to see your photo's of them. Actually, i love reading your blog. thank you.

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  38. What a wonderful problem to have...roses that multiply after you cut. Your home is very enchanting!

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  39. First the orchids want coffee, and now the roses want bananas and hummus? Let me ask the orange tree if it wants white or whole-wheat toast for breakfast. :)
    ~ skye

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  40. Sorry to be late at the rose party.....grumpy here as I had some internet issues.....you are so fortunate to have so many classic roses...in a can or in a vase they ROCK Janet!

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  41. You have such a long flowering season - it is terrific! I find my roses lap up pelletted chicken manure - it is very cheap (compared to special rose fertilizers) and you can almost SEE them growing after application. Your photos are terrific and I love the casual arrangments around the house, in tins, etc. Just beautiful.

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  42. Your garden must be delightful at this time of year. All your hard work to restore the garden has really paid off. The roses are beautiful and one of my favourite flowers - I love how you've arranged them around your home.

    Thank you for sharing Henry and Gertrude's story with us - it's made me smile. Now I must go and plant the new roses I bought yesterday.

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  43. HI Janet, thanks for your lovely good wishes, took me a couple of days to simmer down from "back rage" (I'm so lazy I could only maintain rage for one day, too exhausting. Back to normal - with wonky back now.
    I just can't imagine how your 9 months felt - it could only have been devastating, you must have the patience of a Saint!
    You sure earned all those beautiful roses.
    Love
    Louise

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  44. They are truly stunning. Here's to Henry and Gertrude!

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  45. you may post about roses any time you like!!! I love those posts.

    I too am crazy for flowers and post about them every Friday! Love reading your blog and your cottage. Thank you for sharing.

    stylishserendipity.blogspot.com

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  46. Dear Janet,

    What a lovely post! A beautiful story and roses. I especially like the roses one your 6th picture in bright pink and orange.It looks amazing. Never seen one like that before.

    Happy weekend!

    Lieve groet, Madelief x

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  47. Wow,wow can almost smell them over here! ours are just throwing up shoots and leaves.
    Love your home.Happy Sunday. Ida

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  48. Janet,
    Your roses are so beautiful and so is the story that goes with them. I love seeing them in glass jars and cans...they are so gorgeous they do not need a crystal vase. Do you have any before photos of your garden? What a transformation in only three years....both inside and out!
    Xo Annie

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  49. Sorry, I don´t find my glasses... do I see roses??
    have to come back later, well is soooo late that will do it tomorrow... jajaja!!
    see you then

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  50. Your pictures are comparable to the best books of flowers and interior design. Everything is just s o perfect.

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  51. Your shared your love, and now it is coming back to you - tenfold. The roses are spectacular and you have been richly rewarded for your efforts!!!

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  52. you are a saint!

    i've grown all kinds of roses for years, back in alabama and now, here, in indiana. i love them.

    BUT, they are a pain to garden around...weeding, mulching, planting, digging around roses pretty much requires either elephant skin or military grade outerwear. thorns hurt even when you just brush against them.

    i can't imagine having the fortitude to rescue as many roses as you did.

    you're fabulous.

    do you have names for any of the roses in those gorgeous pics you posted?

    nanne in indiana by way of alabama

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  53. I love this story. I am so happy you kept her roses. We went back to Jacksonville, FL in November to visit. While there, we drove by our old house. The people after us removed everything we so lovingly planted and cared for. I was heart broken.

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  54. pretty. a couple that plays together, stays together...
    your images are glorious.
    pve

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  55. Henry and Gertrude would undoubtedly be filled with joy to see what you have done. Congratulations on breathing new life into the garden and house. I'm convinced that you in your own way are making the world a better place by bringing more beauty into it. :)
    Michelle.

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kindness is never out of style.

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