Updates
Just wanted to update you on a few things today:
Remember the pair of pigeons who were building a nest in our barn?
After they hung out at our place for over a year and finally built a nest, I was so excited and hoping to see babies. Well, after I took pictures of the nest and did a post about them, they hopped it, flew the coop. Gone. Haven’t seen them since.
Mr. Pigeon to his wife: “Crap… paparazzi! Grab your stuff Edna…we’re outta here!”
Me: Sigh……
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And remember the old forgotten rosebush up the road?
Well, I took some cuttings last summer, and did everything I was supposed to to get them to root, but they died. Bit the dust. Keeled over.
Me: Sigh…….
But, I’m going to try again. This time I’ll use older growth stems instead of younger green stems. Older stems are supposed root better. I want at least one bush from this rose, and if I have to rent a backhoe and dig up the entire bush, I will.
Ok, so maybe I won’t. But I’ll try the cutting route again. And if that doesn’t work, bring on the backhoe. I am woman, hear me roar.
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And remember Hazel’s calf and her trip to the vet with an abscess on the side of her face?
After she returned home, she began to heal up nicely. Initially, we thought we would have to hold her and Hazel back when their little herd went to the summer pasture, but when the day arrived, little Hazelette’s wound had healed up so well that Harland let them go too.
Me: “Yay!!”
So on Monday, Hazel, Violet, Clarabelle, Mabelle, Eunice, and all their calves got into the stock trailer and took a short ride to their summer pasture.
The little herd: “YAY!!!”
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Have a great day all!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Suzanne, I tried for years to root a wild Cherokee rose and failed many times. One day someone told me to find a long branch on the rose bush and lay a heavy rock or brick on it making it touch the ground. It rooted itself, tho it took almost a year. You might try that with your beautiful bush.
I love your posts and really love the tweets to let me know there is something new.
XO, trisha
Ok everyone, I’m going to give the branch on the ground technique. Keep your fingers crossed. And Thank you for all the wonderful advice.
My Dear,
The old brick/rock trick is about the best way to root an established old fashioned rose…You mat want to bend the long branch gently and prop it up so only a curved part is on the ground….mounding some earth on the branch also helps….It takes time …but what else have you got???? My Mom rooted many a rose this way….Good luck!
Thank you Martie, I’ll give it a try.
Just stick your shovel in and dig up some of the roots……..simple!
Edith
I’m afraid I’d damage the bush itself. It would just be my luck to kill a bush that’s been there for 100 years. :O
No…it would not hurt the Rose Bush. I dug up roots from Roses, and Lilacs, and other established things and it’s a good way to get some. You have to be careful and water both very good when your done. Make sure you cover the section where you removed some growth with lots of soil. You’ll save a lot of heartache and time this way. Plus the other way will take years to get going. Dig up a good chuck around the base where new shoots are coming up. Use a saw or an axe to cut off large root sections.
Don’t be afraid. And if the tops die back on your cuttings don’t worry…new growth will come out again.
Didn’t know a person could get a rosebush start this way. Hmmmm….
Thanks Edith.
It’s probably not politically correct….ha ha ha blah ha ha tee hee LOL
Haven’t you ever seen root stock in those magazines with vegetables, fruit, flowers,and trees?
Just make sure you water your new root stock everyday until it establishes itself.
Edith
Thanks for the updates! So funny that Mr. Piegon and Edna just took off like that after being there for over a year.
Isn’t that something. Can’t be a coincidence……. can it?
I love that rose bush and that pic is beautiful.
I love that rose too….and I want one…..
I hear the pigeon paparazzi is intense! 🙂
Keep trying on the rose. You’ll get one soon!
Thanks for the encouragement Gardener! I’m going to give the branch on the ground technique a try.
Funny about the pigeons, maybe there is a hawk or owl around? That rose bush is beautiful, and good advice for how to root it from your followers. I will have to try that! Your Cows and calves must be so happy to be in ‘greener pastures’!
I don’t know. Nothing different going on at the barn that I can see. It’s a mystery. Could have been a predatory bird I suppose. They can make short work of pigeons around here.
Suzanne, you’re so talented at inventing what animals are saying. So funny!
I’ll second, third, fourth, that advice about rooting via layering a branch into the soil. I haven’t tried it yet, but have read about it in a gardening magazine before.
The other day, someone was telling me that they add celery salt to their rootings. I think she said she dips her cuttings in it. I’ve never heard of that, but would be worth a try when it comes to roses.
Thank you Mrs. H. I’m full of it aren’t I?
Hey, thanks for the updates…I enjoyed that! I also laughed out loud about the paparazzi comment and the “bring on the backhoe I am woman hear me roar”. You always make me laugh…you have my same kind of sense of humor! You are an awesome person, I can just tell! I’m glad the little calf is better! Oh, and good luck with the new cutting of the roses this time….maybe last year was just too stinkin’ hot! Who knows…I’m pulling for you this time around!
Thanks Bonnie, you crazy girl. I always enjoy reading your blog posts too!
I agree with everything just said.
I agree with Edith. Take a spade and dig straight down, slicing off a section of the roots, then refill the hole with dirt. You won’t kill that huge bush, and it’s so much faster than the “branch on the ground” thing. (Hmm, that sounds like that “pants on the ground” song, doesn’t it!)
LOL….