Some days it’s just tougher than others to transition from the garden back to work. Like today.

Today is a very bad transition day.

The Whining Part…

I had a great gardening weekend, but there are still about 20 things on my “to do” list that did not get accomplished. As a result, I had a fitful night’s sleep. Okay, maybe the raging case of poison ivy on my forearm that vaguely resembles what I imagine leprosy looks like also had something to do with not being able to sleep. But the point is that I didn’t sleep well, so I’m really in no shape to go to work. But my very mean and witchy boss (oh, that would be me!) made me show up anyway.

Then I had a mountain of data to organize and the data file wasn’t cooperating. I hate it when that happens. You know those people who are hooked on Sudoku? Well, if they had to deal with my data file issues, they wouldn’t be fiddling with flippin’ numbers in their free time. They’d be as far away from a computer and numbers as possible–like the far, far side of the garden.

And resting my diseased arm on the desk to mouse around that possessed data file is killing me.

But enough about my whiny little self. (Okay, not really.)

The Flower Show Part…

Last time I told you about how I overcame my flower fears. Several people confessed to similar flower issues and coping strategies. Linda grows orchids inside so she doesn’t have to cut her outdoor flowers. Elizabeth pots up tulips so she doesn’t have to cut the ones outside. Brenda goes flowerless and uses the old cat-will-eat-my-flowers-in-the-house excuse. Well, I thought I would show a little of what you’re missing if you don’t clip and bring in some of the floral bounty.

One of the kitchen arrangements right now is a profusion of tiny yellow roses from one of the two Monster Roses. No, that’s not really the name of the rose. I can’t even remember the name of this rose, but Monster Rose seems to suit.

climbing-rose-arrangement.jpg

I only love the Monster Roses in May, when they blooms like mad. They don’t have any scent at all, but the vision of all those yellow roses is a Technicolor dream. But since I have to hack at them eleven months out of the year with hedge clippers (and not gently), I didn’t feel guilty at all clipping off long branches to bring into the house.

As you can see, this Monster Rose bush hardly noticed the flowers were gone.

monster-climbing-roses.jpg

Although the tulips have now all faded, I managed to salvage a few last white ones to tuck into a small table arrangement with some bamboo sprouts.

tulips-and-bamboo-arrangement.jpg

Once the tulips and roses are dropping their petals, I’ll be bringing in some long branches from the Winter King Hawthorns that line our driveway. They are now in a profusion of white flowers.

There now, just thinking about the flowers has made me feel better. See what cutting flowers can do for you? Just like that it made my bad night’s sleep, disease-ravaged forearm and data nightmares disappeared. So get clipping!

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17 Comments

  • I love to cut flowers from my garden in season and take them in to work to put on my desk. It reminds me that I have a garden waiting for me at home, and if I am good and get my work done fast, I can get home to it.

    I hear you on the whining, sort of. I am starting my Spring Gardening Vacation on Wednesday and I will be off for a week and a half. That’s the good news. The bad news is everyone discovers/realizes I’m getting ready to leave for vacation so they keep stopping by with “one more thing” before I leave. Tomorrow will be a long day!

    I like garden flowers on my desk too. It does brighten things up.

    Happy gardening vacation!

    Robin at Bumblebee

  • Lisa says:

    I have a climbing monster rose bush like yours (not quite as big) except she is covered in light pink blooms. I never even thought to cut some sprigs like you have in the first photo. I am heading out to do that right now.

    Good for you! If your rose is anything like mine, you can have roses in the whole house.

    Robin at Bumblebee

  • David says:

    The value of whining to the human psyche is vastly under-rated some days. If you’re gonna, then I say bust a move and make it really count.

    Loved the flowers…

  • Oh, goodness, I say cut them. I cut mine, and you know, it doesn’t hurt a thing.

    Is your monster yellow ‘Mermaid?’ Does she have slightly double flowers and wicked thorns? I had her once and had to take her out because she eating the space around everyone else.

    Love your photos. Sorry about the horrid poison ivy.~~Dee

    I believe it’s closer to the Lady Banks that Cindy mentioned. No thorns at all!

    Robin at Bumblebee

  • Gail says:

    I still have to go with the cat excuse, cause it’s true…if you have a cat who eats fresh flowers you know why we don’t bring them into the house!

    Lovely rose!

    gail

    Hey Gail!

    Fortunately, my cat only eats Deli Cat, mice and other yard finds. I have tried all types of delicious morsels to tempt her, but she is a loyal Deli Cat fan–unless there is a nice, warm, live meal available. Anyway, the flowers are safe.

    Robin at Bumblebee

  • Diana says:

    Wow. That is a monster rose! She’s lovely and so nice of her to share limbs and branches with you with no problems at all. And they look so lovely in your house. Shoot, I’d be whiney, too, about that miserable poison ivy. I’m whiney about a sinus infection, so it made me happy to read your whiney post! And the little tulip arrangement is lovey. Hope your arm gets better sooner rather than later.

    Thanks Diana. I need a little sympathy. It’s amazing how many people have no sympathy for painful skin conditions. And I’ve certainly had my share!

    Robin at Bumblebee

  • Robin says:

    I’m sorry about your poison ivy. That is no fun at all, ask me how I know?

    There are a few flowers that I will cut, but I hate to take them from the garden. One of these days I’ll have so many flowers that it won’t matter if I cut them for bouquets. That is my goal anyway.

    Hi Robin,

    Yes, having enough flowers so that you don’t miss a few is, I think, the first step. Keep planting.

    Robin at Bumblebee

  • Christine says:

    Ooooooooo- I get poison ivy at least twice a year. And I end up getting a shot because it spreads so quickly. Does that rose rebloom? And could you be coersed into giving someone (me) a couple of cuttings of it to root? Wow, that is a beautiful monster!

    No, the rose doesn’t rebloom. Late April and early May is it. I get about three to four weeks of beauty. The rest is just hacking back.

    If you want some, email me and I’ll send you cuttings. I sure have plenty. You never know!

    Robin at Bumblebee

  • eliz says:

    I’d love to know what that rose is. I have a good place for a monster rose that needs little upkeep.

    See Cindy’s comment above. I do believe it may be a Lady Banks!

    Robin at Bumblebee

  • Kylee Baumle says:

    Whining is good. I can whine with the best of ’em. And I don’t mind hearing whining either.

    I’m a non-cutter. I spend most of my summer in the garden anyway. Maybe because my garden isn’t all that old (this is its third summer), I hate to take any flowers away from the show outside.

  • Angela says:

    Get ZANFEL for the poison ivy!!! I swear by it!!

    Okay, this is good stuff. I sent Ben out to get some, which I applied before mowing that blasted lawn again. When I came in, my arm looked like it was from a different person. I’m going to treat again before bedtime. Thanks Angela!

    Robin at Bumblebee

  • I’d be whining too if I had poison ivy. I don’t cut flowers to bring in because I’m allergic to mold. 🙁

    Really? And cut flowers bother you too? What about houseplants?

    Robin at Bumblebee

  • Pam/Digging says:

    What a lovely display for your home. I really need to get over the cutting fear too and bring some of my flowers inside.

    It’s amazing how many gardeners are loathe to bring the flowers indoors!

    Robin at Bumblebee

  • Cindy says:

    Robin, could that rose be a yellow Lady Banks? It’s certainly lovely, inside and out!

    Cindy!

    I believe you may be right! I just looked up the Lady Banks and it certainly fits the bill. Thanks so much for the clue to this rose.

    One of the things I read was that the rose is not suited to a “small garden.” Well, we don’t have a small space, but the space that it’s in is enclosed, which is what creates the problem. I may try to propagate and put some in a more appropriate location.

    All the best,
    Robin at Bumblebee

  • RuthieJ says:

    OUCH–your poison ivy sounds awful Robin! Since it can’t keep you from working, I hope you’re at least getting some sympathy and assistance with housework and cooking?? 😉


    Puh-lease. You know better, Ruthie!

    Robin at Bumblebee

  • Brenda Kula says:

    I am so envious of your cut blooms! But not only will my cat eat at the blossoms. But then she promptly, due to a stomach problem she has, throw them up! The flowers do not look so good when entrenched in cat vomit, sorry to say.
    Brenda

    Hah! No, not a pretty look for flowers.

    Robin at Bumblebee

  • Jennifer says:

    I hope your poison ivy clears soon. It can make you feel very uncomfortable.

    Arrrrggghggh! It’s still driving me crazy, despite all the miracle cures. But I did manage to sleep some last night. Thanks to two pills and an exhausting evening behind the push mower.

    Robin at Bumblebee