THE TEXAS SCRIBBLER

This is Upper Michigan not Central Texas. There’s no snow on the ground here at all. But it feels like the picture because it sure is cold. The elephant ears in the front yard at the Rancho are turning black, like rare reader Diller’s ladyfinger banana plants. He’s a farmer in the West Central Florida [...]

This was one of the first antique roses I planted at the rancho. To commemorate my Mississippi great great grandmother who had one in her dooryard. But I never took a decent shot of ours, and a neighbor’s use of too much herbicide, apparently, wiped it out last summer. Having to use this Australian site’s [...]

Something to brighten the day. The Bourbon antique Zephirine Drouhin at the rancho.

Mrs. Charm heard about these Radrazz beauties from a favorite local radio talker and planted two of them next to a couple of tall Mr. Lincoln hybrids in the back forty. The hybrids, oddly enough, have a scent, whereas the Knockouts, although also repeat bloomers, do not.
Still, with six fragrant antiques (Old Blush, Ducher, Louis [...]

The mosquitoes, however, are hanging on, even in the mid-day. I planted a new Bourbon, the Souvenir de Malmaison, shortly after noon today, and wound up with four mosquito bites for my trouble. Hey, it’s already October, and the nights are in the upper fifties. So where’s the fall we usually get around this time? [...]

The mosquitoes, however, are hanging on, even in the mid-day. I planted a new Bourbon, the Souvenir de Malmaison, shortly after noon today, and wound up with four mosquito bites for my trouble. Hey, it’s already October, and the nights are in the upper fifties. So where’s the fall we usually get around this time? [...]

A reliable repeat bloomer at Rancho Roly Poly, a hybrid developed for disease-resistence and drought-tolerance at Texas A&M University. It is relatively immune to black spot, fungus and mildew. The colors obviously vary.

A reliable repeat bloomer at Rancho Roly Poly, a hybrid developed for disease-resistence and drought-tolerance at Texas A&M University. It is relatively immune to black spot, fungus and mildew. The colors obviously vary.

The wildflowers were up and blowing a month or more ago, but this Bourbon, Zephirine Drouhin, has just figured out the season. It’s been in the ground almost five years. So the display should be better than ever. I thought, last year at this time, that it was established enough to produce some summer and [...]

…tends to die at Rancho Roly Poly, where only the Chinas, like this Ducher, thrive. We have not decided how to pronounce the name but love the white roses which bloom and bloom, in spring, summer and fall, and occasionally in the winter when it’s warm enough. Chinas are just plain hardy, while the other [...]