Trellised Roses

We trellised three roses that needed it over the weekend and man, are they happy now!  The Gertrude Jekyll (the pink one) had 18 blossoms on it and the Golden Celebration (the yellow one in the second photo) had 26!  TWENTY-SIX!!  The Evelyn rose (the peachy one in the second photo) is also full of flowers.

We also have a trellis on the Graham Thomas rose that is currently climbing up by the front door-- but I will save that photo for another day.

Mr. Lincoln and Peace (not pictured) are also blooming and for the first year, we think that a bright red rose, named Benjamin Britten, will bloom.  Currently, it has 5 buds on it!  It is in a spot that gets more shade than sun, making the stems and leaves have grown out more than spent time producing flowers.  We trellised it too so it could have more support as it reaches of the light.  Again, you will have to wait for that photo.  I know, I am a rose tease.

I Can See Clearly

 The Screens are gone!

Yes, we are *finally* re-doing the windows in the house-- only 49 of them.  We have picked a nice window that, well, functions!  At this point, our expectations of what a working window is pretty low: does it lock? does it open? stay open? does it prevent leaking?  Yes to all four of those questions-- SOLD!

 They have removed the old storm windows and screens and it is amazing at how much more light is filtering into the rooms.  I realize that once the new windows with full screens are installed, that some of the light will go away.  But for the moment, lots of sunlight is streaming into the house.

 We have to still order the windows, so all of this is preliminary work.  They are taking off the old screens and storms, scraping the frames down, and cleaning up the sills.  The new windows will be here in about 3 weeks. 

We are beyond excited at the prospect of properly functioning windows.  It will be a novelty for us!

Taking Advantage

Stirling and Bartleby took full advantage of the guests at the Derby party on Saturday.  At first, Melissa was just patting Stirling.  Then Bartleby waddled up. Melissa squatted to reach them both.  Stirling sat down; Bartleby laid down. Melissa sat down. Stirling flipped to her side and stretched out.  Not to be out down, Bartleby rolled over completely.  Melissa rubbed both bellies.   Not a nice way to treat guests: suckering them into belly scratches!

Cunningham Downs

It's was a fine day to celebrate the 137th Running of the Roses: the Kentucky Derby yesterday at "Cunningham Downs."  We had a beautiful day and with family and friends, we watched the ponies race with mile and half for the greatest two minutes in sports.

 

 Guests were greeted with jockey silks and horseshoes for good luck.  

 

They placed bets on our Tote Board, with all the information anyone ever really needs when betting on horses: what color are the silks, the name, the trainer, the jockey, and the current odds.

Not being hooked into the off-track betting from Churchill Downs, we created our own odds.  The favorite: Pants on Fire-- lots of people wanting to have the woman jockey be the first to win the Derby.  Second favorite at Cunningham Downs: Midnight Interlude and Dailed In.  Will bet on Shackleford and I had my $2 on Soldat.  At first we were quite excited about our choice of bets, as Shackleford was leading for a majority of the race, with Soldat running a close third.  Quickly, we realized that it would look like we *knew* who was going to win should those horses win and were a little bit relieved that we didn't have to face charges from our guests of knowing the outcome.

I had my tables set with Derby Pies, Pecan Pies (someone doesn't like Bourbon or chocolate mixed with their pecans), Kentucky sugar cookies, and Mammy's Pound Cake.  The main table was set with KFC-- what else could be served for the Kentucky Derby??-- cole slaw, green beans, sweet corn, bread, cheese, fruit and Quinoa salad.  We determined that it was the first and probably the only time that Kentucky fried chicken was on the same table as quinoa.

We also had a the bar fully stocked and open, ready to serve the pre-made Mint Juleps and Pimms Cups-- we have to serve Pimms, with Will being British and all.  Pimms is what he would drink at the races, or at cricket, or Wimbledon, or with the Queen.   Since the Queen drinks it, so should we!

The garden was in fine form, roses and irises in full bloom.  Newly taken grass seed rearing its head.  The sunny beating down on us but with a slight breeze-- even a chill once the sun set.  In other words, a perfect Derby Day.

Guests enjoyed the food, the drinks, the decorations, and betting.  Two guests split the $78 pot-- not bad odds!  And a third guest took another $28 in the "Guess The Official Time of the Race" pool with a dead-on bet of 2.02.04.  The winner, Allison (also known as Bartleby's mom), answered when asked why that time: I like numbers that add up to each other.  Hey-- whatever system gets you the money!

In the end, the horses ran their best race, the guests ate the best meal, and then we all trotted off into the night.  As you can tell, we were pretty worn out after a marvelous day at the races at Cunningham Down.

Happy Derby Day!

Oh the sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home!

It's Derby Day!  137th Running of the Roses. 

While, I am not at the track, my parents are and here is a view from the seats!  Will and I were in DC, watching the race on tv, more about that later, though...

5 Feet and Climbing

We have been trying to grow rhubarb for three years now and finally can claim some success.  Two plants from last year have made it through the hot hot hot DC summer and then the blistering cold, long winter (though with very little snow fall, that is true).

The one plant in the Victory Garden seems to be outdoing itself. Not only are some of the leaves about 3 feet long and 2 1/2 feet wide, but the center stalk is literally 5 feet tall, and full of white seeds-- you can see them in the photograph here. 

We aren't sure what to do with this central stalk.  Are we to cut it down? Shake the seeds off it? Just let it be? If we let it be, will the plant take over that part of the garden, which is fine, but take over to the point that it crowds out the blackberry and golden raspberry bushes, which is not fine.

We have a bunch of gardening books, but non e deal with rhubarb. Apparently we aren't zoned for rhubarb.  Um, those garden experts haven't seen how happy this guy is.  If anyone has an advice (Gardner Harry, we are looking at you), we would be much obliged!  

May Flowers

April Showers have brought us May Flowers!  The roses are about to open and the irises already have.  We have many types of roses and irises, so I am only showing you two-- I have to keep you interested!  Spring is really my favorite time of year since we have planted so many types of flowers and they are all blooming now.  I have actually forgotten what was planted, where.  It is a lovely surprise when something green starts to grow and then a splash of color tops it off.  Ohhhh so pretty!