Another rose bites the dust

Who can tell me why you would need a sledgehammer to get a rose bush out of the ground? (And maybe someone can tell me why we even have a sledgehammer!)

OK, I can’t see any hands so I’ll tell you. You need it to pound the shovel deeper into the ground around the bush so you can pry the roots loose. Boy, those rose roots are stubborn! I managed, however, and the first task in my fall gardening program is completed. One Carefree Beauty is out, sitting in a bucket of sludge waiting to be moved, and two rudbeckia hirta Herbstonnes are in her place. Later I’ll add some tall salvias, and maybe some Russian sage. I like these new rudbeckias. So much better than the brassy Goldsturms. Speaking of overused plants, I’ve decided to ban coneflower forever. In a moment of weakness, I gave this supposed double-headed one room in the “rose” bed (which no longer even begins to qualify for that name). I don’t care much that it didn’t get the double flower, but I do care that it is so dreary looking. I know that it’s unusual to post ugly pictures on garden blogs, but here it is:



Bleh.