pruning roses

[jimtx]

Well ... calender says it is Feb. ... guess that makes it official. Was told to wait until then to prune my roses (Hybrids). .... is it time?

Have my Mantis tiller running well ... unfortunately ... it can't swim and that is all it could do now.... communist plot to keep me out of the garden/lake/pond/tank ... well .. where the yard use to be .. I know it is down there someplace.

Hope my plants can swim ... too much rain .. way too much rain.

Jim

[Ann B.]

Yep, my Friend! It is time to get out those pruning shears. If any went dormant, prune them lower. For those that didn't, just prune to you eye appeal. Try to make the cut just above the newly forming buds that are pointing in the direction you would like to see the next branch growing. I like to keep mine bushy, but airy.

Now, Jim, you should also be thinking about starting seeds. I know you have been really busy with your ministry (I am impressed, and Bless You for what you are doing), but a few minutes here and there will be well worth it this spring.

I think this is the very first time that I have heard a Texan so far from the Gulf Coast complain about rain.

Enjoy it while you can!

It's good to hear from you again...

[jimtx]

didn't mean to complain about the rain ... that is a hanging offense in some parts of TX.

Got all sorts of seeds and seed starting cells .... just have to get going ...

can't get motivated .. too nasty ... I am not a cold and rainy person. Give me snow anyday ... but want to skip the slush and go directly to sun and dry. Got to get my Jet out of the Cracker Jack box and fly to a warm dry climate and recover. Have cabin fever ...

Jim

[Ann B.]

Stay tuned, Jim, you are about to be motivated...

I know what you mean about the cold and the wet. The light, cold rains arrived here this afternoon. Just checked the current weather it is 37, so I rushed out to the greenhouse, and sure enough it was 35 in there (always 2 degrees lower in our microclimate). I turned on the flood lights, grabbed the ceramic heater, plugged it in and hopefully that will be enough for tonight. It is not supposed to get much lower than 37 (Hah!). They have been wrong so much this year.

Now, Jim, I am going to save this post, so that when the summer heat hits middle Texas, I will have proof of your words...

Hang in there, and hopefully, I'll generate some motivation soon!

[Ray]

Ann and Jim,

It's cold here (37 degrees just like at Ann's place) Ann and I are on about the same latitude. Rain, Rain, Rain. I have sagos that were knocked over by the wind and now they are swimming. The good thing is they have roots about 10 inches long that follow after them.

I haven't visited for awhile because we got a new toy-a new computer. I had to ask Ann for my passwords. Thanks for sending them, Ann. If you didn't send them, thanks for setting up the website to babysit the folks like me that don't write their passwords down.

By the way, there is only 44 days left until Spring. I really thought it was spring last thursday and friday, and then it went back to winter on Saturday, then it was spring on sunday, and then yesterday in the morning it was spring, and in the afternoon it was winter, then today it was winter all day.....My plants need a psychiatrist. Maybe I need one to tell me what season it is. Even my paperwhites don't know whether to bloom or just keep putting up more green shoots.

Have fun ya'll. Blue skies and new plants are on the way!!!

[Ann B.]

Oh, Ray!

That sounds like music to my ears, 44 days. Do you hear that, JIM? Just 44 days. Gee, I'd better get monivated to get some annual and vegetable seeds started, pronto...

Actually, my paperwhites on the east side of the greenhouse have been in bloom for a couple of weeks. Some are going to seed already. I have some yellow miniature daffodils in the same bed that are in full bloom and absolutely refreshing to see this time of the year. A few of the daffodils have bloomed, but still lots more flower buds to pop up yet.

Sounds like we do get a lot of the same conditions. I may just follow right behind you, though, as these rainy spells always seem to be in Texas 1 day before we get them. Do me a favor and send me an email when you get down to 32 or below, that way at least I will have 8 hours advance notice.

Take care and Enjoy!