Learning How to Garden...The Northern Way

This spring, when we were re-landscaping our front area, I just had to have roses. I love everything about roses and wanted a couple of rose bushes of my own, that I could cut flowers an place on our table, and that I could simply enjoy for the couple of months that they would bloom. They grew quite a bit this past season, but I need to keep them alive (and warm) for the winter. This weekend it is supposed to snow, yes SNOW, so I had to get a move on trying to keep them alive. After many questions and research as to how to keep them alive I went to work yesterday. Here is what one of my beautiful rose bushes had grown into.

Then, came out the gardening shears. I had to clip all of the buds, which are now in our house decorating our dining room table. Then I had to trim the plant, so all of the fairly new stems were gone, and it looked a little healthy. After that was finished, I began to pull all of the leaves off of the stems! After being pricked with the thorns several times, I finally finished! The end product was rather bare and a little depressing knowing that winter is approaching, but I felt very accomplished as well. If I can keep these roses alive, I will be able to say I can garden!! Too bad I won't be able to tell until next spring...Until Next Time...