Tucked away in my memories like lace in the linen closet are childhood visits to the neighboring farmhouse. Climbing the secret stairs under towering maples, my siblings and I knew to circle round to the back porch in search of chewy oatmeal chocolate-chip cookies and a coveted visit. In June, the perimeter of the old farmhouse bloomed in cascades of creamy pink roses.
Their fragrance as treasured as the cookies and camaraderie we sought.
As many of you followers know, the farmhouse of my childhood memories was purchased a few years ago by my husband and I. It was then uprooted and rolled . . .
to a nearby hayfield, now known as Peacock Prairie.
the prairie
At the time of this venture, only a few scraggly roses remained; their shoots clutching the window shutters like feebleness clutches a walker.
Anticipating their further demise, with the pending ‘uplifting’ project,
the perimeter during preparation for moving
I transplanted a small shoot in the old cow pen behind the barn.
Unbeknownst to me, that fertile soil would ignite passion and vigor at beanstalk speed.
So now, only two years later, the breeze near the farmhouse once again blows with the fragrance of old-fashioned creamy pink roses.
And what of the farmhouse perimeter?
It blooms . . .
Mother’s iris
peonies
foxglove
the first of the hollyhocks
coreopsis
Oh, how it blooms.
But that’s not all. There’s more to the blooming farmhouse story.
Due to the fact no chemicals are sprayed on its lawn, and the mower is purposely maneuvered around promising clumps of weeds,
tangled tendrils of purple vetch and clover
lucky clover
the lawn blooms in wildflowers!
What a world it is . . .
in the embrace of June.
Hugs to you from the Prairie.
All words and photos property of Peacock Prairie.
So soothing. Like on-line therapy. Thanks PP Princess.
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LOL! You are my therapy. Full of fun. 🙂
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Julie, I have such great memories of the beauty and wonderful smell of those old-fashioned roses that grew outside grandma’s bedroom windows. I would love to get a cutting from you sometime so I can plant it at my new house and be reminded of her when they come into bloom. Thanks for preserving another part of our family history at your Peacock Prairie homestead!
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Hi Nick, Certainly you can have as many cuttings as you wish. In the meantime, stop by anytime and help yourself to a fresh bouquet for this year. (behind the barn) Here is a link about rooting cuttings http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/southerngarden/roseprop.html Let me know if you know an easier way for rooting. Thanks for the nice comment.
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Beautiful post!
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Thanks for reading Cathy.
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How well I remember those roses that grew outside of my grandmother’s bedroom windows. Julie, thank you for preserving yet another part of the old family homestead and for bringing it to Peacock Prairie so it can be enjoyed by all of you. I know my grandmother would be so pleased. I would love to get a cutting from you sometime!
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Such beautiful photos and quite an adventure. When I lived in Vermont, we stopped haying our field and within a few years we had a meadow that was constantly flowering and full of wildlife. Lovely post, Julie 😀
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Oh . . . what a lovely idea. Brainstorming begins. Thanks for the tip Dee.
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Loved your blooming story and softly rich photos! Felt like I was there to enjoy the smells and beauty of PP. Thanks for sharing.
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Nice to think of you here. Thanks for visiting.
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Simply beautiful story and an well executed refurbish down to the very last detail and root. Love it.
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Thank you Susan. It’s been a fun project.
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I was thinking of you just this morning and am glad to see your post! What a endearing tale of the rose rescued from demolition. Everything is looking so beautiful at PP!
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Hi Eliza, Nice to think of you thinking of me. It makes me wonder what you were thinking. Thanks for your visit and your thoughts.
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Good things, of course! I was thinking I hadn’t seen a post recently and wondering what your garden and nearby meadows were looking like. 🙂 And just like that, you delivered!
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Just stunning, Julie!
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Thank you, Nurse Kelly.
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Welcome! 🙂
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Superbes photos
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Merci, mon ami.
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Oh I loved this post! So beautiful .. Flower heaven! Thank you so much .. Big smiles your way 😃
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From one smiling Julie to another– thank you.
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Lovely as ever
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Thank you kindly, Derrick.
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What a fertile place to root the roses! Great post!
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This is incredible.These rose and flowers, Wow! Thank you for sharing this great post, Julie! 🙂
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Thank you for your visit Amy.
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Julie, your garden is so beautiful, I had not realised your home had been been moved. Your ‘weeds’ are stunning, I’d love a lawn like yours please the roses!
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Hi Julie, My weeds thank you.
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Oops! Plus the roses, but please will do nicely too. 🙂
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I’m a newer reader, so I didn’t realize you had moved your house to it’s present location! How nice that the plants bloomed again!
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Hi Ann, Thanks for reading and leaving such a nice comment.
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