About two weeks ago, I found some yellow Knockout roses at Lowe’s. They’ve been available here in abundance in red and pink, but these were the first yellows I’d seen. Since my front yard garden is all yellow/orange/white, for contrast with the dark red brick of the house, I snapped up two yellow rose bushes. Unfortunately, they only got as far as this empty pot by the front door, where they’ve been waiting patiently for me to get off my butt and plant them. I have a lot of tilling and digging to do before that happens.

Roses are a problem here in North Texas. They’re prone to black fungus, which my reclaimed rose bush in the backyard has in spades. Knockout roses, while not as lovely as some of the older styles, are incredibly disease resistant. A lot of businesses have planted them in masses, like hedges, because they’re green year-round, and can be pruned. The bonus is that in the summer, they’re covered with dozens of lovely tea roses, which continue on until it freezes.