Monday, May 23, 2011

I Beg Your Pardon...and a Giveaway


I never promised you a rose garden...oh wait, I kind of did, so here goes!  Oh, and be sure to scroll ALL the way down to the bottom of the post to register for my latest Giveaway!




If you read my last post, then you know that I spent last Friday with my blog pal Connie from Hartwood Roses.




It was a perfect day to visit her beautiful home and gardens since it was a little on the overcast side and not too hot.  When it's sunny, it makes it much harder to photograph flowers during mid day, so we were both hoping for clouds on Friday, and we got our wish!




Visiting Connie's yard and gardens is a little like walking in to a fairy tale.  As you wander the rose gardens, you can't help but feel like a princess from a story book and it makes you want to break out in song and don a frilly frock.


 

Because everywhere you turn there is color, fragrance, and beauty, the kind that illustrators have tried to capture for years.




And perfumiers and candle makers long to recreate the wonderful unique scent of a rose so that we can enjoy it year round.




As we wandered around, Connie gave me lots of info about roses, she's a wealth of knowledge when it comes to heirloom and old fashioned roses...you might even say that besides her family and pets, it's her passion!




Until I met Connie, I was a bit of a rose dummy, preferring Knock Out brand shrub roses that seemed to grow on their own.  I thought that growing "real" roses would require me to purchase a wide brimmed hat, gloves, and spend hours on my hands and knees out in a rose garden treating things like black spot and Japanese beetles.




Now don't get me wrong, I love my Knock Out roses and they make great border "shrubs" as Connie likes to say, but they never gave me the rose smell and look that I envision when I think of roses.




I've long been a fan of old fashioned flowers and cottage gardens, the kind our grandparents and great grandparents planted without giving much thought to it really.  Those were the roses I longed for, and I kept thinking to myself, that those hardy farm folk didn't have time to sit outside tending roses all day, so there must be a rose that would give me the look and the fragrance I was after without becoming a full time job. 

Thankfully, becoming friends with Connie has shown me that I can grow roses successfully and she's turned me in to a rose lover too, and I can't thank her enough for that!




When I met Connie I was immediately taken with the fact that she fearlessly began a rose business in spite of a down trodden economy because she simply loved finding and preserving the same roses I recalled from my childhood.

On Friday, Connie showed a little more of that fearlessness as she mocked Mrs. Mockingbird and peeked inside a rose bush to get a shot of her babies in their nest.  Mrs. Mockingbird, who you can just make out sitting on the cement fence post, was NOT amused, and you can see pictures of the babies in this post on Connies blog.


 

Wouldn't living in a rose bush be the most wonderful thing in the world?  Well that's kind of how Connie lives, with all of the gorgeous roses she is surrounded by much of the year.




As we walked around, Connie told me that what she does to remember the roses she is photographing is to take a picture of the flower followed by a photo of the plant marker beneath each rose.




This is a great idea, but by the time I started that method, I had already snapped a lot of photos, and then when I was looking through the photos I took to decide which ones to use, I couldn't remember if I snapped the picture of the flower first, or the name first!  So you'll have to visit Connie's website where she sells roses to identify the names of the flowers I've featured.




Along with speaking at various rose functions and running her heirloom rose business, Connie has been busy this spring planning the wedding of one of her daughters which will take place right on the property!

This is a view from the pavilion where her daughter and future son in law will tie the knot.  While I was there visiting, Connie's husband was busy getting things ready for the big day.  So far, they've mulched, weeded, laid sod, and reconfigured the entire pavilion where the bride and groom will say their vows as the lucky guests watch on from the lush green lawn.




And what flowers will they be using for the wedding...well roses from the property of course, plus some other flowers!




And with hundreds of varieties of roses to chose from, there are more than enough roses to go around.




Can't you just imagine how beautiful the pictures will be with a setting as pretty as this?




This beautiful blush pink rose would be so pretty in a brides bouquet don't you think?!




And here is an example of the signs Connie uses to identify each and every rose in her garden...that's a lot of signs folks!




Even the roses that aren't yet in bloom are beautiful, like this one along the back fence line.




On the back portion of the property is where Connie's biggest rose garden is, and oh my, what a garden it is!




There are roses of every color, size, and variety...something for everyone.




And it's simply a magical place to be.




Connie apologized for the weeds which have taken hold of this part of her garden...but I simply looked at her and laughed.  She has HUGE amounts of gardens to tend to and goes a million miles an hour with everything from raising money for cancer research for canines, to planning a wedding...so I told her that she should cut herself a little slack.




If she could only see my flower beds right now, which are dwarfed in size by hers, she wouldn't have been apologizing at all!




This little shovel is evidence that both Connie and her husband have a never ending job tending to this historic property.




Weeds or no weeds, this garden is a magical place full of the most beautiful colors...I could sit here all day and drink it in.




Everywhere you turn there is color, and each rose is more beautiful than the next, making it hard to pick a favorite.




And who would want to choose anyway...when like Connie, you can have them all!




There are delicate peachy pink roses...




And vibrant pinky red colored roses full of petals.




And there are climbing roses which soar skywards.




These ruffle'y magenta colored roses were so colorful, they were one of my favorites!




This is a view of Connie's yard looking back towards her house from the large rose garden.  You can see the pavilion where her daughter will be married in just 2 weeks.




If I had to pick just one rose as a favorite from last Friday it would have to be this one.  It had petals which looked like a beautiful summer sunset to me, and I loved how full it opened as if to say, lean over and smell me!

It truly was a magical day to be surrounded by such beauty, and I want to thank Connie for inviting me to come and take pictures of all of her hard work!  I even came home with four new roses of my own!




So now, after being ever so patient, I'd like to announce this rose inspired giveaway!  Awhile ago, my friend Doug Vogel gave me a wonderful CD that shows you how to take roses and create several arrangements with them, so that is the first part of my Giveaway.




Doug also gave me this great book created by his friend Dottie Harrigan.  Inside the book you'll find lots of charming flower quotes!  So that's part 2 of my Giveaway.

And the 3rd part is that I'll be giving away one of Connie's beautiful rose plants!

The Giveaway is open to EVERYONE...so, in order to be entered for a chance to win here's what you need to do.

#1.  Visit Connie's Hartwood Roses website by clicking HERE and then come back and leave me a comment telling me which rose you would like to win!  (if you live in a state that won't allow the shipment of roses, or if you live outside the US, I will substitute something else rose themed instead.)

#2.  For a second chance to win, simply become a follower of Low Tide High Style, and if you are one already, simply leave me a SEPARATE comment letting me know that you have become a follower or already are one.

#3.  For a 3rd chance to win, you can tweet, Facebook, or blog about the giveaway.  Just be sure to come back and leave a 3rd comment letting me know that you did one of those things to spread the word!

The Giveaway will be open until Midnight PST, May 29th, 2011.  The winner will be announced on Monday the 30th.  Good Luck!

44 comments:

  1. Her garden is absolutely amazing!! I am so glad that you shared it with us ~
    I want to grow beautiful roses but just totally stink at it ~
    My mom grows gorgeous ones too and I just LOVE them !!
    I would pick anything pink ~ I already forgot the name but I think my favorite was the Bellemere one ~

    Thank you again for sharing!

    xoxo
    Lori

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  2. Kat, what a beautiful post!! Those roses are just amazing and I plan on ordering some!! I love the Alie Beauvillain rose the most!

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  3. I am a follower of yours for sure!

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  4. I blogged about your giveaway. It is on the right side bar of my blog! I hope I win, gardening and especially roses are my passion!!

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  5. What gorgeous gardens, images, and what a wonderful giveaway!

    Oh, to be able to grow beauties such as those!

    XO,
    Anne

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  6. Sarah Van Fleet hybrid rugosa. I wanted a miniature climber but I saw they were sold out.
    Wow is all I can say, Kat. This post had me drooling.

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  7. ps ~ was surprised to see I wasn't following. I fixed that.

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  8. Oh honey, I wanted to stop reading and run to my closet and "don a frilly frock" before I reached the end of this post. Stunning! I swear I could smell Connie's roses through my monitor.

    What a wonderful way to spend the afternoon with a dear friend. I already loved Connie's heart for posting a pic of my Sheldon on her Memoriam page and for all she does to raise money for canine cancer research.

    Okay, I went and drooled over all the roses on Connie's website and if I were to be the lucky one I would like the John Hopper rose. It's color would go so beautifully with my plumeria.

    Thanks for hosting such a "rosy" giveaway!

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  9. Love you both.
    Thanks for this
    scent-sational
    stroll through
    Connie's roses!
    We won't have roses
    here for a while,
    so it was fun to
    take in so many
    lovely ones, Kat!
    xx Suzanne

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  10. Oh now, I'm already a follower, of course!!!!!

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  11. I posted your giveaway on FB!

    Thanks again for the chances to win!!

    Hugs

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  12. Oh my goodness....I knew that Connie lived in neat old house surrounded by her incredibly dreamy rose gardens.....but your photos truly added another dimension, Kat! Beautiful!!!!

    I've been a happy follower of yours for quite some time! Thanks for this awesome giveaway! I'd love to add a climber to my garden!

    xoxo laurie

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  13. 'White Cap' climbing rose for sure! I'd love to see that scrambling over my arbor during the summer. ♥

    xoxo laurie

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  14. Happily added your giveaway to my sidebar, Kat! :)

    xoxo laurie

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  15. My favorite is the climber called Inspiration. I can't even imagine how heavenly it must be to walk around Connie's property, but looking at your images made me want to breathe in all that glorious scent with each rose bush you captured! What a romantic place, boy is her daughter lucky to have that setting for her wedding. Wonderful tour Kat! xo ~Lili

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  16. And did I mention I was a follower? :) ~Lili

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  17. Such a fun giveaway and BEAUTIFUL photos! Connie's property is gorgeous! My choice would be the repeat climber Alba Meideland.

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  18. Wow...this is really a magical place to be! I don't have roses in my garden, but it's a wonderful flower!!!

    Thanks for sharing your pictures!!!

    Many hugs from Holland, Ingrid

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  19. What a beautiful rose garden and property that Connie has, just gorgeous! The wedding is going to look so amazing there, what a perfect backdrop. I am so glad that you had a wonderful day and I can imagine the beautiful scents that surrounded you as you wandered through the gardens. :)
    XO

    I don't really have an ideal spot for roses so I would rather have someone who can enjoy them have the chance, but what a wonderful giveaway. :)

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  20. Absolutely stunning photos!
    I can't say enough good things about my purchasing experience with Hartwood Roses.

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  21. It's hard to pick a favorite, but when I saw the image of La Belle Sultane on her blog yesterday, I thought it was a peony bloom. It looked incredible, so that would be my choice.

    Thanks so much for the super giveaway!

    Sincel Google isn't working today I have to post as anonymous.

    Suzy McQ

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  22. HI - so hard to choose, but I would say the light, soft pink and white roses of the Tausenschoen are my favorites.

    Gorgeous property for a wedding - how magical...

    Thanks for sharing!

    I'm a already a follower of your blog, too...

    Best Wishes,

    Linda (aka Beachside Cottage)

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  23. Just visiting from Heartwood roses. Fantastic photos you have taken. I am one of those in another country, so no entry from me, please.

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  24. What a lovely tribute to Connie and all her work as an artist, not just as a gardener and "shop keeper". Both of you are an inspiration to us all! My favorite is Young Lycidas. And I'm now a follower of you, too! Cheers, Darlene

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  25. I'm getting ready to move into my great-grandmother's farm house in TN (zone 7a) and what I love about Connie's roses is that they are 'old fashioned.' I would love any of these that would do well in our warm summers!

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  26. I am a follower of both your and Connie's blogs!

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  27. Absolutley gorgeous, the gardens and your photos! As one of your followers I also enjoy your photos but these are extra special.

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  28. I am a huge fan of Connie's blog and of Connie. What a wonderful post about her the beautiful roses she and her husband grow. Your photos are so stunning makes me almost feel like I'm there...now if we could just get the smell on our computer! I would choose Cafe Ole Rose. It's a miniature I could grow in a pot on my deck! Thanks for the chance to enter.

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  29. What beautiful gardens! I can only imagine how wonderful the property smells. Fabulous place to have a wedding. As usual Kat, your photos are stunning! I especially like the one of the vine draped along the fence (7th rose image from the bottom).

    I visited Hartwood Roses and it is really difficult to pick just one favorite as they are all so beautiful. I am partial to white roses and I really love the Lamarque, Alba Meideland and Alberic Barbier rose but if I were the lucky winner, I would choose the Alberic Barbier. Just gorgeous!

    Thank you for the introduction to Connie and her roses.

    ~ Tracy

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  30. I am a follower of your wonderful blog!

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  31. I tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/FlourChild2006/status/73167386387300352

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  32. Great pics! We're building a house, carving a garden out of wilderness, and planning a wedding on the property as well. Maybe we can send you some pics? We'd love to add the Apothecary Rose--I always dream of breeding my own roses and have some species roses waiting to be planted.

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  33. What a wonderful post on Connies roses! If I could select a rose from her selection, it would be Marie Pavie. Such an awesome rose!

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  34. Beautiful post! Connie has indeed created a garden paradise.

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  35. Kat,
    Thanks so much for sharing this beautiful place with me...I agree it will make an outstanding place for a beautiful wedding...no need to hire a florist.

    Blessings,
    Linda

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  36. What a great give away. I have been a follower of Hartwood Roses for quite some time and love so many of Connie's roses. Suffice it to say that roses in general are my favorites. My maternal grandmother had a glorious rose garden. The aroma of roses is heavenly!

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  37. I have often wished I lived closer to Connie--her home is so beautiful--I would love to see it in person. The pictures you took make me consider a roadtrip! It is almost impossible to say which rose is my favorite, but I really love Mme Isaac Periere and Reve d'Or.

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  38. I am a follower, too. Thanks!

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  39. What beautiful roses! They remind me of my grandma who has long passed. She loved yellow roses (one of her favorite songs was even the Yellow Rose of Texas). I would choose Zeus so that I think of her each time I worked with it.

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