Posted on

I Am Finished With BIG MAMMA!!

BIG MAMMA IS FINISHED! If you don’t know what I am talking about here is the link that explains what Big Mamma is:

https://herladypinkrose.wordpress.com/2014/05/08/the-big-mamma-3-macros/

Let me present to you my Big Mamma who is finished and officially opened for the Season of 2014. I am SO glad this garden is over and done. I only have 3 small gardens left to do, and the area around bushes on one side of our house. And then maintenance begins. Turn around and weed, bend down pluck that week and go on to another.  And of course take care of those precious Rose Bushes. One thing I have done this year that is different I planted chives in between Rose bushes because I heard aphids do not like chives. Last year nothing I did deterred those aphids and they almost destroyed some of my bushes. Believe it or not. It is true.

So here you go. And now I can get back to normalcy, if that is even possible. Whew! I DID IT!!!!!

(The Rose Bushes are spaced around the entire perimeter, while in the center are my Lavender Bushes that don’t look very healthy this year, and a type of Lilac Bush. If you just focus on one Rose Bush, this will give you an idea how huge this garden is.)

05 10 14_2121

(Click on photo for bigger view)

Photography/Writing 2014©AmyRose

[If I don’t get to comments or blogs today and maybe even tomorrow, understand I truly am exhausted. Bless you! (((HUGS))) Amy]

 

 

76 thoughts on “I Am Finished With BIG MAMMA!!”

    1. There is no Big Pappa, thank goodness. Unless I could coin the big Garden out front as Big Pappa. Hmmm….I’ll have to see what it wants as a name. xx

      Like

      Reply

  5. Looks like you prune your rose bushes right down to the ground…..they have a long way to recovery! Very neat garden – love what you have done with the stones. Enjoyed our chat yesterday — my day was nice – kayaking and then dinner with Tim & Deb plus a couple games of “Corn Hole”. Heard greetings from seven of my kids! Love, Mom

    Like

    Reply

    1. This photo is deceiving, Mom. Yes, my roses are close to the ground but the winter cold killed mostly what was remaining. They are standing about 1-2 feet with all new growth on them. I am so glad most of the family contacted you on your day yesterday. And I am happy for you that you had such a good day. Thanks, Mom, for commenting. Love, Amy

      Like

      Reply

  7. I am so glad that you finished it. That IS Big Mamma Indeed! That is one of those things of beauty that refresh the soul. Take your deserved rest and enjoy it, Amy Love. XOXOXO Love you!

    Like

    Reply

      4. I know I know that. Yet, out of my LOVE for those darn Roses, I do the hard manual labor. Perhaps I should consult a shrink. Hmmmm…..

        Like

    1. Milissa, I just woke up. I more or less crashed today. This garden gets the better of me every year. I am SO glad this one is over and done!!! Love, Amy

      Like

      Reply

    1. Thank you, Michelle. I basically crashed today. And now trying to catch up with piles of laundry and shampooing the rugs. My life never stops, Hon. It is a very challenging balancing act. (((HUGS))) Amy

      Like

      Reply

      1. I do that. I go and go and go until I crash. And then there are the times where I don’t have anything at all and I’m just like, “what do I do with myself” lol. *Hugs*
        Michelle

        Like

    1. Yes, Luv, the job is done. I crashed earlier today and now I feel OK. I have to turn around and play catch up with inner work. All in the life of me. (smile) You have NO idea how precious my friends are to me. YOU help me get through many challenging days. YOU life ME up!!! (((HUGS))) Amy

      Like

      Reply

    1. I’ll keep you informed. OK? Those aphids although tiny are nasty with Roses. Some of my Roses almost died because of them last summer. Nothing I sprayed or did touched them. I have been seeing super bugs because they are getting too strong from all the pesticides used. It is scary. Love, Amy

      Like

      Reply

    1. Garlic does? Really? How would I do garlic? Squeeze garlic in a spray bottle of water? Would that work? I’ll try anything. After what I went through last summer …. hmmm…. your remark about vampires got me interested. I know of spiritual vamps, so would garlic work on them? xx Amy

      Like

      Reply

      1. I’m not sure about your spiritual vamps but I looked up the recipe for the garlic spray:

        To make a garlic spray, the key ingredients are garlic and water. How much garlic you use depends on how concentrated you want your spray. About six cloves mixed into 1 gallon of water will give you a weak spray. This may be enough for preventative measures. For a highly concentrated spray, you can use up to two full bulbs of garlic pureed into just ½ cup of water. Crush your garlic and put it into a bowl. Pour boiling water over it, cover it and let it steep overnight. Strain it before you put it into a spray bottle so that garlic pieces won’t clog the nozzle.

        Hope it works on your aphids but if not, make spaghetti. 🙂

        Like

      2. *laughing* I like the spaghetti part. I kind of thought it would have to be a spray. The trouble with any spray any new growth these bugs find. I am really crossing all fingers these chives work. I am writing down the recipe for the garlic water. Thank you SO much. xx

        Like

  14. Wow! It’s simply beautiful Amy! You must have put so many hours in Big Mamma! I salute your great work and patience! Have a nice Tuesday, big hugs, Delvi.

    Like

    Reply

    1. Ah, my friend, Delvi! OH, the hours yes, and then some. I did so much with this garden plus doing things I did not plan on doing. But, when WE see these Roses, all the aches and pains will have been worth it! (smile) Have a beautious Tuesday! Love, Amy

      Like

      Reply

  15. It’s beautiful Amy. Well worth all of those days digging in the dirt, and something to enjoy while you relax and drink lemonade now. And you can enjoy the roses, and take photos to share with us when they bloom with the love you have poured into them.

    Like

    Reply

    1. That will be a while yet. Hopefully some of the larger bushes will give me Roses one month from now. Crossing all fingers. Thank you for your kindness in your words. Unfortunately, I must now catch up with work inside the house, so very little putting feet up and drinking lemonade. Nice thougth though …(smile) Love, Amy

      Like

      Reply

    1. Sweetie, I have to do this every year due to our weather conditions. Winters here are very cold so I must in the Fall, close down all my gardens, which is the reverse of what I do in the Spring. Nice thought though. (smile) Love, Amy

      Like

      Reply

    1. OH, Amy, thank you for recognizing my efforts. So many people don’t understand the work something like this takes. Every single rock on the border, just to give you an example, I dug up, moved to the side, pulled weeds and grass from around them, and then repositioned them. That was just one part of the overall job. Like wow! How did I do that? A friend jokingly said I am codependent on my Roses. I think she has a point. Tee hee. Love, Amy

      Like

      Reply

  19. You can certainly see where you have been Amy, lovely transformation.. We find Marigolds help too… apparently they give off an aroma which some insects do not like.. We plant among the veggie garden.. Although the aphids last year were a mega productive, and decimated our Kale plants.. We hope to keep under cover for longer this year under nets.. As the butterflies bless them, The Cabbage White variety especially laid eggs in their thousands, and we had a little Caterpillar paradise lol among the cabbages! 🙂

    Like

    Reply

    1. Last year, yes the aphids were horrendous. I’ll have to go get some Marigolds. I am willing to try anything because if these aphids are anything like they were last year, we are in for another tough year. One thing I have observed and I don’t know what it means. Earthworms are huge as well as spiders. I found some spiders in my garden the size of a half dollar, which in truth, freaked me out. Then I began to talk to a spider, telling it I did not wish to fear it, and it had nothing to fear from me. I know everything has meaning. We just have to figure things out. Spiders and earthworms big and in abundance this year. Hmmmm…… xx Amy

      Like

      Reply

      1. I agree about the spiders Amy.. Hubby has a huge barrel in the allotment and the spiders have set up home in there.. its half full of compost.. He went in there the other day to dig out some fresh compost and the Spiders were HUGE.. One bit him, ( he didn’t know till the next day, ) when huge lump rose under his skin.. It was treated with antiseptic cream and it was fine.. .. But agree…. Maybe the Earth knows something we don’t hey?? 😉

        Like

      2. Of course the Earth knows. It is we ignorant humans who scramble to try to figure out the “what”. Weeds are in abundance as well this year. I keep checking my roses and so far no aphids. The moment I see any I will spray some garlic water. I was told that is a good remedy as well. Crush some cloves, pour boiling water over them, let set all night, strain and put in a spray bottle. I’ve tried just about everything. Now I will try this and my chives. xx Amy

        Like

      3. Thanks for that tip too Amy… I will be giving that a try.. Hubby just back from the allotment and said there is no end of Cabbage Butterflies around early this year.. means more caterpillars later on… .. I do not us pesticides either

        Like

      4. I use pesticides as the last resort. I have no natural remedy for black spot and that will destroy a rose bush. (sigh) I try so darn hard, Sue, and there is just so much I can do. Going green doesn’t always work. I wish!!! Love, Amy

        Like

What we think and write and say become our reality ....