These same roses enjoyed a little showing off the other day. 

Well, they're back for one more try, with a few new additions.

Redcoat joins the group- it's an old David Austin rose.

I barely showed you the garden greens I was using in the last post. Here they are up close. The small rose leaf canes are Petite Pink Scotch. The large hips in the bucket are from the rose, Kathleen.

The deodora cedar cones, that look like roses, are saved from an aged tree we had to take down due to branch drop. It's special to have these small remants from what was once a huge garden presence. The next image is chocolate pelargonium- this along with mint pelargonium have become staples in the floral industry in the last few years. Their leaves take up space elegantly and add a bit of drama. The silvery eleagnus is one of my garden treasures and it lasts really well in bouquets. The small hips are from The Gift. The fat juicy hips are from a rugosa rose. 

Someone asked me if the yellow-leafed shrubs shown in my fall post are roses. No, here are their fruits.

Intimacy like this is part of the joy in playing with nature. 

While posting a picture to FB, I came across some pretty wild companions. They definitely hold their own with roses, as for what the roses might think? You tell me.

This iris is not all that unusual, rather dramatic here with Pink Pet in M. Wellan's LA garden. But take a look at the next shot . . .

This garden belongs to Marilyn's friend Evelyn. Verbena bonariensis has taken over amongst about a hundred roses. What a sight- I really started rethinking the possibilities.

Here in my garden, phlox and fuschia boogie with Oklahoma. Cutting back and pulling out are essential to keep up with these kinds of looks.

If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it's because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away.

~Thoreau 

He wrapped himself in quotations - as a beggar would enfold himself in the purple of Emperors. 

~ Rudyard Kipling 

For awhile, I'm going to be color-wrapping the blog with photos from the past.

Recently while studying the images from my first blog, I was drawn to gather them into little color groupings. They looked new, fresh, meaningful, presentable. So why not share them again? Hope you enjoy!

Purple in the Garden 

This glorious color is welcome almost everywhere in my garden, even in the color blocked rose beds. Click here for names and more plant suggestions in lavenders and purples.