When my friend Diane Goode first proposed that we make a trip to the Antique Rose Emporium the year was 1999 and I still lived in Illinois. Diane was the relocator assigned to help our family move to Texas and as we drove around looking at houses, our shared love of gardening helped us bond. It took us 11 years to get there but the Antique Rose Emporium was ours last week!
I cut a few roses from my no-name tall pink climber and brought them along in hopes the experts could ID it for me.
An overcast day and 70°F was perfect for driving nearly 100 miles to stroll the grounds near Brenham, Texas. We stayed for hours...
...reveling in the beautiful setting, inhaling the rose-scented air and enjoying the fabulously lovely wedding area, as our red wagons gradually filled with must-have plants from red columbines to bedding geraniums to Batface Cuphea to Foxgloves to 'John Fanick' phlox.You can't go to the Rose Emporium and come home without a rose! Diane bought a hybrid musk rose called 'Penelope' and I could not resist the creamy white 'Climbing Iceberg' .
It was late afternoon when we left and headed to Brenham for lunch and pie. What a wonderful day!Pink-splosion was promised by 'Belinda's Dream' and she's delivered!
This rose came with many recommendations when I planted it in the dry spring of .., never guessing that the drought would go on for another year and a half. 'Belinda's Dream' made a few flowers now and then but was not that exciting. But since the drought broke last fall, she's become established- acting like the plain secretary in an old movie- taking off her glasses, shaking out her tresses and revealing that she's a beauty, after all.Reyna De Los Coyolles
We took the southerly route back from the rose emporium, veering toward Bastrop, with our destination a place Diane had found on Highway 21 in Cedar Creek. I think that "Reyna De Los Coyolles" might mean "Queen of the Cannas", but if anyone knows for sure please tell everyone in a comment.This is a fascinating & unusual nursery spread out over several acres. There are displays of beautiful pots and quirky decorations:
You will see fields of growing plants in bloom:
There are perennials, daylilies and bulbs with the names of plants seldom written on labels but kept in order inside the nurserywoman Heidi's head. If the exact botanical name is important to you, you may have to do some research after you get home, but the variety of plants is stunning! Some things are already growing in containers - some will be dug for you once you choose them. Diane was thrilled to find a plant she remembers from her childhood growing at this nursery - she's been seeking a Cashmere Bouquet Flower for years.
Choosing a Louisiana Iris had me in a tizzy - how could I have just one color when I wanted them all?
But my garden is small and a decision had to be made - blue? Butter yellow?
I've wanted a pale yellow iris for some time so this pale yellow Louisiana iris was the winner:
Heidi also had gladiolus and Pineapple lilies - had to try one of those....and yay! there was a row of turtle stepping stones in the same design as one bought for our patio a few years ago. We wanted two but could never find another until now.
I'm still regretting that I did NOT buy one of the white & green amaryllis. Guess we'll just have to go back!
Iris siberica-
My blue violet passalong made it through last summer in good shape but there were fewer flowers than last year -
Every single one was beautiful.
Late start for the Divas of the Dirt in .. - our first project usually takes place in February, but this year we weren't able to garden together until April!
Please check out the Divas of the Dirt Blog where we make a front yard vegetable garden, 
redo the shade beds and have some wonderful food at Sophia's house.Happy A P R I L!
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