Chapter 6: The Country Lane

Of all the days we've spent creating this house, this was the most extreme – extreme excitement, edginess, euphoria and exhaustion. At the end of the day, we couldn't think and didn't want to talk.

It was a typical sunny August day in the San Francisco Bay area. We left our home in the hills a little after dawn, driving into the valley for the 70 mile trip across the bay area – from Morgan Hill to Berkeley – during the morning commute – 2 hours each way. This would be our first visit with DSA, whom we hoped were our new architects. Our separate and combined dreams for what may happen filled the space between us – hope, fear, anticipation, anxiety. Once again we were meeting an architect. This time we were prepared, yet that shadow of potential disappointment was there, with the worry that, perhaps, we just wanted this too much. Butterflies in the stomach? You betcha.

We brought a few architectural books with our favorite designs, some pictures of our forest, and a small pile of magazine clippings. One house that we'd been drawn back to repeatedly was the Leonhardt house  that Philip Johnson designed in 1962. Built on Lloyd's Harbor Long Island, it is an interpretation of Miesian architectural style. The glass living room seems to float above the view. We imagined what it would be like to have a house that floated above the forest, yet we also realized this design didn't agree with our goals and probably wasn't suitable for the Sierras. However, it illustrated a design that would entice both of us.

Our simple goal for this meeting was to find out if we could all work together, and confirm we would hire DSA. We didn't expect to design the house at this day and weren't sure how the things we were bringing would be used. Yet we brought them.

The DSA office impressed me as a serious place of work – shelves of books and drawings with computer workspaces and drafting desks between them. It was in an older industrial building with a concrete floor, open ceiling, no frills, but comfortable. We liked it there. We quickly learned that DSA had loaded our survey into their CAD system. They quickly made copies of our papers, while we drank tea and coffee and wandered around, absorbing the sense of being there. Just remembering this almost makes me want to do this again. Almost.

At the table at DSA

Dan placed us at the table opposite him, with Dietmar at his side. Dan Smith (principal architect at DSA) introduced Dietmar Lorenz who would be in charge of our design. Dan rolled out a large survey map of our property on the table between us (upside down to him), grabbed a roll of transparent tracing paper (vellum?), and said he liked to draw things out and deal with them visually, which was exciting for us to watch.

Dan knew we had had problems with a potential garage location. He started by saying he liked to have an overall vision of the site and then to design components within that vision. I remember this so clearly, because what he said both puzzled and delighted me – One way of thinking of your property is to visualize a country lane with several buildings along the lane.

To illustrate, here is what the initial site plan looked like when they drew and sent it after the meeting. 

 Our final plan, which was then months away, moved the garage a little further from the house and worked better with the slope (less dirt to haul away) as well as preserving a couple of important trees.

The lane starts at the bottom of our driveway (at the entry from the road). On the survey map the grade lines depict the slope of the hillside. Every line equals an elevation change of 5 feet from the previous line. Where they are closer together, the hill is quite steep. Uphill is at the top of the map, ~north (the mountain ridges in this area generally run west/east, and we are on a south-facing slope).

Today if you come up our drive, the first thing you encounter is a flat area on your right (accommodates a fire truck), followed immediately by the garage. Just beyond and on the other side of the drive is our house, and the drive now twists to your right and up the hill. Next you come to the garden area, a flat bench on your right, about the height of the garage roof. Assuming you don't turn off to enter the garden, the driveway continues uphill just a bit more and ends at Ron's workshop (former cabin). The country lane vision helped me to see our property this new way, and it made right so many things we had debated for years.

Beyond the Site Map

Dan said, I like to start with bubbles; they're easier to change. So now within a large circle for the house, he started drawing circles for where various rooms would be, working on two floors and then trying out a third (pop-up, or partial floor in the NE corner of the house). Kitchen here, living room here, etc. We'd react and he'd tear the sheet away and do it again. And again. And again. I remember one time when he tore a sheet away that we'd both liked, and we wanted to snatch it out of his hand. Seeing our alarm, he said, don't worry, we're not discarding it, but stay with me and let's try a different approach. From each of these he was learning about us, and he was making sure the our initial choices were optimal for us.

We spent time on the kitchen. I had visualized it at the back of the house, overlooking the forest and canyon, but Dan had good reasons for putting it at the NE corner, near the drive. This is where it is today, and I like it. It's a natural location for everything we do in a kitchen, and it has a spectacular view out a large window on the east, where sunrises entertain me daily. I've grown quite attached to this up-canyon view.

One of our desired rooms was an area for me to quilt that could also double as a family room. In our Morgan Hill house I was quilting in the living room – not optimal for anyone. Dan introduced the idea of a pop-up – a room at the third level (above the kitchen) which is partially embedded in the house (the rising living room ceiling goes around it). This is architecturally interesting and it enabled the drama of our central stairs, while also creating a room with southern clerestory windows – excellent light.

Meeting Dietmar

Throughout this several hour meeting, Dietmar sat upright on the edge of his chair, looked very focused and intense, but he rarely spoke. Those who know Dietmar will find this description surprising. We didn't know it at the time, but normally Dietmar has no trouble sharing his great wealth of knowledge and opinions. It was later obvious to us that he had corralled his excitement and ideas in this first meeting. Dan had told us that Dietmar had been eager to design a straw bale house using a contemporary design; I think he was actually as excited as we were. His creative and passionate work on this project is a major reason that we are so happy with it today.

Meeting Dan

Dan was calm, professional, enthusiastic, and visionary – creating sketches that led us through a careful process that worked so very well. Both Ron and I left the session excitedly committed to working with DSA. Both of us felt we had been heard, listened to, and that there was a meeting of the minds between DSA and us.

As I reflect back today and compare this experience to our earlier ones, I realize there were two reasons this was so successful. One was the match between our aspirations and Dan and Dietmar's work. Yet as important as that was, an equally major contributor was how well Dan Smith managed the meeting. He (and Dietmar) were extremely well prepared, had obviously considered our property's issues and opportunities, had reviewed everything we'd sent them, were eager to understand our ideas and suggestions, and had some ideas and concepts to test our response. They were focused on understanding what we thought and felt. Dan facilitated the session such that each of us had the opportunity to share and know that we were heard. Wow.

Next Steps

Dan described the future design stages as:

1. 
   
   
   Schematic Design
2. 
   
   
   Design Development
3. 
   
   
   Construction Documents
4. 
   
   
   Construction Services

It would be important to thoroughly complete each phase before moving on, as there is more detail and therefore more work as you get closer to building. And things become more difficult to change. Although Dan provided a list of what each phase entailed, I don't think I understood the distinctions until we experienced the process (and probably still couldn't describe some of this well).

Dan and Dietmar said they would send some first schematic designs to us, and warned us that these were additional feedback documents – we shouldn't expect them to be it. Here are 2 of the early ones to show the types of changes that evolved (and none of these are exactly what we ended with when we finished schematic design).

Soon to come would be a site visit when we would all walk the property together.

Summary

I believe that wisdom comes not necessarily with age, but from the realistic examination of misguided choices to uncover the underlying truth and learn. From analyzed experience. When I'm aware of misguided choices, I especially try to learn from them. Our first architect firing us made us face several realities, including recognition of our flawed process, and that we had continued despite an obvious mis-match. Examining that process yielded a different solution, which brought us to Dan Smith, Dietmar Lorenz, and DSA. A great ending to what had been a troubling part of this journey and a great beginning for our house design. We were off!

Forest Living: Snow Scenes

Snow started falling Sunday evening December 6 and we woke to a cold white world.  This storm brought more snow and colder weather (23 F) than we've experienced since living here (or when building).  Judging by the snow depth in the upper garden, it brought us 8-10 inches of snow.  On Monday this was a fluffy wonderful powder.  Tuesday was crunchy.  Wednesday and Thursday were treacherous ice.  The last of the snow is dispersing today in the rain (and a much warmer low, 37 F). 

As seems to be the norm, this unusual storm caused power outages throughout California; we were without power Monday day and Tuesday day.  The house performed very well, and I learned to heat some things (tea, cider, chocolate, scrambled eggs) on a wood stove.  My "free" time was spent taking pictures (too many), frolicking with pets, turning off water systems outside (learning), tending the wood stove, and catching up on filing and reading.  The fantastic light in our pop-up (quilt room) also allowed me to do some quilting. We limped along with kerosene and battery lanterns from about 4 pm on, which became tedious. 

I limited the number of pictures in this post, which was hard to do. I think I have over 200 after discarding about 50. Previous snow storms have quickly melted away, so I started taking pictures during the storm.  There is a second post (earlier today) with some of the pet shots; this post is more-so focused on the beauty.

These are mostly sequential, and mostly from Monday.

From below our house on our forest path.  You can sort-of see our cat Homer on the right side, and that is the south elevation of our house up there.  It was still snowing when I snapped this one.

Our north elevation, taken a few minutes after the other shot.

Looking down our driveway from the house.

Candidate for our Christmas Card; looking up the driveway toward the house.

Looking back at our house, from a little further up the driveway versus the last shot.

Walking down our road.

That little orange-brown bump on Ron's left is Homer-Kitty.  He loves it when we include him in dog activities and thinks he should get whatever the dogs get (except car rides).

Snowy house front (north elevation).

The greenhouse and upper garden.  The brown to the left of the tool shed is the top of a retaining wall.  The green bumps to the right of the greenhouse, well, they were tomato plants.  I kept them longer than was practical, but they were still slowly producing some tomatoes.  Guess what I'll be doing this weekend!

Lilac bushes, above the large turnaround retaining wall.

What good is snow without some frolicking?

A Manzanita that was just too artistic to remove when we cleared this area.

The Forest King

Uphill from the house, our former cabin is now a workshop.

This was taken late Tuesday.

Sunset, Monday, December 7, 2009

(partial view from our living room - taken standing outside on the deck)

Sunset, Tuesday, December 8, 2009

(much of the snow was still there; from the living room again)

Just Photos: Snow Frolics! December 2009

This post is for pet/animal lovers.  Refer to the post after this one, Forest Living: Snow Scenes, for the details about our storm. 

Everyone appreciated the snow, although some had to adapt.

• Connor -- adapt?  You just have to love it.  He raced around the hillside and forest, and was in motion so much that I had trouble taking pictures.
  
• Ripley, our blind Australian Cattle Dog, was disoriented at first, and we had to shift to some older toys.  But she liked nosing it, sniffing it, and eating it.
  
• Homer-Kitty's fur was useful for something other than weed-gathering. He accompanied us on our walk down the road, and went outside every time I took the dogs out.  He rolled in the snow, skated on the ice, climbed the trees, and generally frolicked.
  
• The twins (18 month old kittens) were new to this, but that didn't stop them long.  They had great fun in the powder stuff.  Whiz (WYSIWYG), in particular, would have mad moments of rushing around grabbing armfuls of powder and looking insane.  Then when it iced over, it became a skating rink.  Worried about falling?  Not them.
  

Homer-Kitty likes pedestals.

(He's the stray kitten who wandered onto our building site; we think he is 2.5 years now.)

On the walk, Ripley & Connor on flexi's, Homer in the ditch on the right.

Ripley (12 years old), little blind trooper.  Doesn't let disabilities slow her down.

Busy busy busy.  Homer has so much personality that it is sometimes odd to realize how small he is.

Ripley with her old pre-surgery toy. When she was blind but still had her eyes, this was the only toy she could handle. I could throw it, it has a repetitive song, and she could find it and retrieve it. After she recovered from her surgery early this year, she refused to play with this anymore, and went back to the more "technical" hard rubber balls. I think the surgery to remove her eyes also removed her pain.  Today I throw balls along the ground (sometimes bouncing) and she retrieves. She's amazingly quick and it is hard sometimes to remember she is blind. However, the powdery snow meant we had to go back to this toy.  But as soon as it was icy, she rejected it again.

Wysiwyg (whizzy-whig), next to my lemon tree (which seems to be okay). 

Can you do this?

(It has to be such fun to be a cat!)

Grabbing armfuls of powder, a new sport.  Whiz cavorted in circles, sliding down the hill.

In Connor's defense, here is the proof that he doesn't always start these things!

BCOS (Black Cloud Over Snow), little kitty, so hard to get a picture of him in the snow.

In most shots he looks like a black rock.

When I shot this one, Homer had just started to move.  The next shot would have shown him peacefully sitting on a boulder, after alluding Connor with a zig-zag trail that bounced off at least one tree.

So much to watch.

Blind Cattle Dog roaming cross-country.  Independent?  You think?

Forest Living: Fall Roses, 2009

Acorns thwack!

Red toyon berries

feed the wild

Oak leaves glow,

dawn to dusk, bright gold

amidst green

Sharp, breezy

wet pine turns the air

fresher yet

Cold and crisp,

where's my jacket and

where's my hat?

Apricot,

red, pink, buff roses

pretend spring

Ah fall, long

awaited changes

come again!

Forest living and roses! Yes.  At one forest edge where house meets forest we have a rose garden, and also a few rose bushes in the orchard (above the garage). Although not exactly permaculture(!) I enjoy these human-engineered plants.

My love of both forests and roses began with my parents' love of the same. Born in Nova Scotia and raised in Massachusetts, my Mom embraced the Southern California climate with expectations of rose gardens. My parents added to their rose garden during my mother's life. When I created my first rose garden my Mom gave me a Cherry Vanilla Hybrid Tea, which I recall with particular fondness. When I started my garden here (Spring 2008) I searched for and found it (not easy) and I learned more about the abundant classes and varieties of roses today.

The back of our home faces south, specifically designed to favor full sun for the solar panels on our roof, and perfect for roses. The house is at the top of a hill where we had removed mostly dead manzanita shortly after we bought the land. When the graders cut into the hill to create the foundation for the house, they created a ledge extending out beyond the house, and today that ledge is this garden. It has been fun to watch these roses grow in full sun, after my years struggling to grow roses among the Morgan Hill trees and fog. The blooms outside our lower floor (master bedroom, bathroom, and office) frame our forest view, greet our morning walks, and invade our summer evenings with their scent.

Here is a crude diagram of the garden layout (using a spreadsheet – my inexpensive design software). South is at the top, west is right, and east is left. Light green shows the garden. Gray depicts concrete patio, walks, and, at the far left (east), the gravel path that heads down into the forest. Peach is the house. Brown is our secondary mechanical and storage room (below our screened porch).

From the east edge of the garden to the fence on the west spans 95 feet. The deeper, app 20' squarish garden on the west (right in the diagram) has a newly planted gala apple tree in the middle, a young cedar tree at the forest edge (fence), and a path full of chipped wood. There are only 3 rose bushes in this corner garden; most of the roses are planted along the southern edge, starting near the patio and moving eastward. Below the roses (on the bank of the hill -- not shown) we have cascades of ground-hugging bee-attracting rosemary and periwinkle.

This fall it became a rose garden, with huge blooms easily trumping last spring. Partly this was the cooler weather -- each flower lives days longer than in the heat when I would sometimes see a bud at dawn that was overblown by sunset. But the bigger factor is age. While one of my rose bushes is over 20 years old (confined to a pot for most of its life), many were new bands (essentially 6 month old cuttings) this spring or last fall and have just become bushes.

The picture below shows the back of the house -- you're looking northward up the hill – the reverse of the diagram.  West is on the left and east on the right. The screened porch on the right is above the secondary mechanical and storage room which were brown in the diagram.

Here is how it looks at the level of the garden, pointing westward (with Connor waiting as guide). Amongst the roses are several other flowering plants, including sweet allyssum, asters, chrysanthemums, delphinium, geraniums, marigolds, lobelia, and petunias. This fall I added a few tulips and iris that I expect to see in the spring. A drip system and timer take care of the watering, and the chipped wood mulch mostly takes care of any weeds.

The rose garden is inside a fence that encloses the forest immediately behind our house – an app. 300' x 150' area. The southern and eastern fence boundaries are somewhat curved to follow the road cut (the road that bisects our property). This is Connor's domain (a dog door gives easy daylight access); he diligently warns off any potential intruders. So far this means the deer have stayed out of here, even in our highest late summer traffic. (This fence is only 4' high – deer could easily jump it.)

The view from our bedroom window looking southeast ... 

The Individual Rose Bushes

Today there are 34 rose bushes in the garden behind our house, and 5 others at the orchard ledge (above the garage and north of the house, another nice sunny slope). Here is a list in alphabetical order, with pictures of several – my 2009 rose guide!

Angel Face, Floribunda, Lavender, Strong Scent, 1968, Swim & Weeks, (1)

This nice pale lavender rose began to bloom this fall after planting Spring 2009 as a band.

Anjelica, Floribunda, Bi-Colored Deep Pink and White, Light Scent, 1984, Kordes, (2)

Planted as bands in Spring 2009 at the far western end of the garden. I'm expecting to get a lot of blooms from them, but haven't had many yet.

Apricot Moon, Floribunda, Apricot-Buff, Intense Scent, 1995, Lowery/Elsen, (1)

This one intrigued me, a white bloom with a yellow to apriot center. The fragrance is also wonderful; planted as a band Spring 2009 and producing well.

Ausire (aka (Ausquire), English Rose, Crimson, Strong Scent, 1977, David Austin, (1)

Deep velvety crimson flowers of the interesting English Rose class, this band was planted Fall 2008.

David Austin has bred English Roses with the intent of combining the character and fragrance of old garden roses but with the repeat-flowering ability and wide color range of modern roses. English Roses are a new experience for me. I planted 2 in Fall 2008 (the other is Tamora) and I love their intense colors and scents and abundant, tightly-packed petals.

Blush Noisette, Noisette, Blush Pink, Intense Scent, 1814, Noisette, (1)

Planted as a band, Fall 2008, it is located near the gate to the orchard (upper garden) and next to the blueberry bushes. These older roses have interestingly different charms – this one has clusters of light pink flowers.

Bubble Bath, Hybrid Musk, Blush Pink, Intense Scent, 1980, Matson, (1)

This is my first experience with a hybrid musk – had never heard of them. As it matures it will be a fairly large bush with arching long canes and clusters of smallish intensely fragrant flowers. It was a Fall 2008 band, planted in that western corner garden, opposite the apple tree and just outside our office door.  Nice blooms in spring, but hasn't repeated the performance.

Cherry Vanilla, Hybrid Tea, Cream to Red-Pink Picoteed, Strong Scent, 1973, Armstrong, (5)

This is the one my mother had given me that started me on my search for vintage roses. I ordered one as a custom root, and then was able to buy several bands at a lower price, so bought quite a few and also gave some to one of my sisters. I've seen a few blooms; looking forward to more. Planted Spring 2009.

Della Balfour, Large-Flowered Climber, Golden Apricot, Strong Scent, 1994, Harkness, (1)

Planted as a band Spring 2009, this climber is near the gate to the orchard, in front of (hiding someday?) the compost piles. It has been a little slow to develop, so I haven't let it bloom yet. It is opposite the Blush Noisette.

Evelyn, English Rose, Peach, Unknown Year, David Austin, (1)

My cousin Jan gave me this rose bush this summer, in memory of my mother Evelyn and our Aunt Evelyn. Planted this Summer 2009 in the orchard on the west side of the green house. I haven't seen it bloom yet, but I've seen a picture and am expecting some lovely peach English Roses.

Fragrant Cloud, Hybrid Tea, Red Coral, Intense Scent, 1967, Tantau, (2)

One of my favorites, I bought one of these when I lived in Morgan Hill and it suvived in a pot on the deck until I moved here, where it is immensely happy! I like the blooms and scent so much I bought a second one, bare root, planted Spring 2009 and blooming away already!

Gold Glow, Hybrid Tea, Gold, Strong Scent, 1959, Perry, (1)

I just had to have at least one yellow rose. Planted from a band Spring 2009, it has just started blooming this fall.

Grand'mere Jenny, Hybrid Tea, Gold tinted scarlet, 1950, Meilland, (1)

Related to Peace, this rose is another by the French Meilland family. I don't know the history of the name, but wonder if it is named for someone in that family? The rose is more likely to show apricot color than Peace.  The buds have the scarlet on them, but so far the blooms are more subtle.  Planted Spring 2009 as a band, it has only had a few blooms for me so far..

Hadley, Large-Flower Climbers, Dark Red, Intense Scent, 1927, Teschendorff, (1)

Planted as a band Spring 2009, this climber grows on a trellis at the back of my garden work bench on the east side of the green house (in the orchard garden). It has bloomed a few times this year, an incredibly large fragrant deep rose bloom. I can't wait until it covers the trellis!

Intrigue(?) Floribunda, Purple, Light Scent, unknown by me, (1)

I'm not sure of the name. Son Michael gave this bush to Ron and me when we married. It lived in a pot in Morgan Hill where it produced pale lavender unremarkable blooms and limped along. After being planted here in Spring 2008, the blooms became a deep lavender, purple, cerise? and the bush is huge and very productive.

Kimberlina, Floribunda, Light Pink, Strong Scent, 2009, Jackson & Perkins, (1)

Planted bare root Spring 2009. Initially I was disappointed by this rose – had pale, almost white flowers with few petals – but once it was established the blooms are quite lovely.

Little Darling, Floribunda, Apricot-Buff Picoteed, Strong Scent, 1956, Duehrsen (1)

What a name for a rose! However, I guess I get it since this one has an abundance of fairly small blooms, and they are beautiful and fragrant. The bush is currently located between Mister Lincoln and Peace; they both tower above it. Planted as a band, Fall 2008.

Lovestruck, Floribunda, Dark Pink White Reverse, Spicey Scent, 2008, Jackson & Perkins (1)

Planted bare root Spring 2009, this rose will get replanted after they're dormant as I goofed and it is a tad close to two others. It came with a group of other roses I wanted, so part of the package deal, and it hasn't bloomed well yet, so I'm still waiting to see what it will do.

Mister Lincoln, Hybrid Tea, Deep Red, Intense Scent, 1965, Swim & Weeks, (1)

My oldest rose bush, this one lived in a pot for at least 20 years before we moved here. It was my Dad's favorite. I originally planted it bare root in a pot when I lived in Southern California. In Morgan Hill it was gradually declining, producing only a few blooms and lesser foliage. Here on this sunny hill it is app. 6' high, prodigiously producing fragrant blooms right outside our bathroom window seat.

Nocturne, Hybrid Tea, Dark Red, Strong Scent, 1947, Swim, (1)

Planted as a band, Spring 2009, between two of the Cherry Vanillas, this one is still pretty small and has only had a few blooms.

Oklahoma, Hybrid Tea, Dark Red, Intense Scent, 1964, Swimm & Weeks, (1)

Planted Fall 2009, this one has just started blooming this fall. Deep red (almost black) velvety blossoms. Ron and his Mom were born in Oklahoma, so just had to have one of these.

Old Gold (aka McGredy's Sunset), Hybrid Tea, Bicolored Gold with scarlet edges, 1913, McGredy, (1)

Planted this band in Fall 2008, but it has been slow to develop. The bush is now looking fine, and it had a few blooms this fall.

Outrageous, Floribunda, Light Orange, 2000, Jackson & Perkins, (1)

This rose also came with a group, and I wasn't sure what I thought of it, but I have loved its blooms. Although listed as an orange rose, in my garden it starts with an orange bud and then gradually lightens into a pink/peach color. Really interesting when buds and various aged roses are all in bloom together.   Planted bare root Spring 2009

Pariser Charme, Floribunda, Salmon, 1965, Tantau, (1)

A lovely rose although I confess I had no idea what to expect with the color “salmon.” Has been particularly lovely this fall with blooms that last well after cutting. Planted Fall 2008.

Peace, Hybrid Tea, Gold/Orange to Cream/Pink, Intense Scent, 1945, Meilland, (2)

Peace was the last rose bush to be air lifted out of France before the Nazi invasion. At that time it was unnamed, and it remained so until the end of WW II, when it was named Peace. This was one of the first rose bushes I remember in my mother's garden. It is a prodigious bloomer and intensely fragrant. One of mine came here in a pot where it had lived for some time in Morgan Hill; it is now outside our bedroom window and huge.  The other is a new bare root planted this Spring 2009.

Perfect Moment, Hybrid Tea, Red & Yellow, Citrus Scent, unknown year, Jackson & Perkins, (1)

Planted bare root Spring 2009, in the orchard near a peach tree. I wasn't sure this one was alive and it took some time to leaf out; however, today it is very healthy and its abundant blooms can be seen from the house even though it is in the upper garden above the garage. Very bright rose.

Rio Samba, Hybrid Tea, Orange, light scent, Jackson & Perkins, 1993, (1)

The literature calls these colors sizzling and I agree. I had one of these in Morgan Hill (planted in the ground) and was happy to add one here. Planted bare root Spring 2009, and blooming well, notice the difference in the color of the roses as they mature.  The buds start out deep orange and red.

St. Helena Texas Centennial, Hybrid Tea, Peach Pink Painted, Intense Scent, “found”, (1)

This was a rose that was found, so developer and date are not known. I planted a band in Fall 2009 and it has just started blooming.

St. Helena Cemetery, Hybrid Tea, Blush Pink, Strong Scent, “found”, (3)

Another odd name for a rose, this one was found at the St. Helena Cemetery. Although it is classified as a hybrid tea, my 3 perform more like a floribunda, and further the blossoms don't look like a typical hybrid tea. Not that I'm an expert of course, but I question this one. I love the way the pale buff petals droop in a bouquet, reminding me of renaissance paintings. I liked the first one so much I bought two more, so the oldest was planted as a band Fall 2008 and the other two this last Spring 2009.

Tamora, English Rose, Apricot-Buff, Intense Scent, David Austin, 1983, (1)

Planted as a band, Fall 2008, this English Rose was slow to develop, but it has beautiful apricot blooms worth waiting for -- I hope I'll like my other tardy roses as well!

Tuscan Sun, Orange/Apricot, Floribunda, Light Spicey Scent, Jackson & Perkins, 2005, (1)

Planted as a bare root Spring 2009, the orangish buds produce coppery blooms that gradually turn a lighter coppery pink. These blooms also keep well in bouquets. It is planted between two of the Cherry Vanillas.

That's my rose garden today!