The Rose Garden
Garden Welcome
The home and gardens belonging to Pam Keene and Rick Fulgham is situated on a little more than 3 acres in Flowery Branch. Named “Rose Lane” in memory of Pam’s mother, whose first name was “Rosa,” the property features seven hybrid-tea rose gardens planted with more than 80 bushes ranging from pure white to orange, apricot, shades of pink, red and yellow. More about that in a minute.
Before you ask, ‘How do they keep the deer at bay?’ Here’s the explanation.
Early each spring, Pam sprays the deer-susceptible plants, such as hydrangeas, daylilies and roses with either Hinder or Liquid Fence. Additionally, the rose beds are protected by low-voltage fencing, a good deterrent that teaches the wildlife to stay away. She repeats the spraying about every 10 to 14 days for three to four applications, and voila!
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As you approach Rose Lane the space in front of the split-rail fence features knock-out roses, azaleas, dinner-plate perennial hibiscus and swathes of daylilies on both sides.
The right- and left-hand gardens adjacent to the driveaway have been planted with more than 50 traditional and Encore azaleas that show their colors from late March through the beginning of May. They’re interspersed beneath deciduous trees and spring bloomers, including Yoshino cherries and kwanza cherries.
As you veer right to follow the driveway, you’re greeted by several varieties of gardenias, more dinnerplate hibiscus and three large panicle hydrangeas against a backdrop of more azaleas.
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Continuing down the driveway, lemon and lime trees along the right-hand side soak up the sun and tempt the bees; they likely will produce several hundred fruits late in the year.
On the right gardenias lead to a large planting of native azaleas that bloom in oranges, light yellows, pinks and reds. More native azaleas have been planted toward the property line and in time will grow to about 8 to 10 feet tall.
Here’s the first peek at our vegetable gardens, with 20 or so tomato plants started from seeds planted in grow-bags. Rick has built a “tomato jail” of cattle gate to provide a framework for easily staking the tomatoes. As the weather gets hot, it can be modified to hold shade cloth, allowing a longer season to produce fruit.
Two more rose gardens of hybrid teas in a rainbow of colors include a pale yellow Lady Banks climber on the end of the house, and a pink climbing Zephirine Drouhin.
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Turn left and follow the stepping stones into the back yard of Meyer Zosia grass. Over the years, Pam and Rick have removed half of the lawn to create more vegetable and rose gardens.
About eight years ago, Rick built Rose Cottage – NOT a she shed – as a place for Pam to catch a quiet moment to read or just enjoy the scenery. It’s heated and air-conditioned, has custom cabinets (Rick is a cabinet-maker) made of ambrosia maple, hot and cold running water and even a hammered copper sink.
Across the bridge, Rick has built a greenhouse that includes a system of fans controlled by thermostats and – in the winter – a heater that keeps the inside around 40 degrees when it’s colder outside.
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Behind more rose gardens, a serpentine stone planter holds dahlias. The cattle gate system holds the tall plants upright as they grow through the gaps, especially important for the large dinner-plate dahlias.
Across the creek bed, raised vegetable beds hold more tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans and okra. The 3-bin compost system behind the greenhouse produces plenty of compost all year long.
A dozen blueberry trees have yielded as much as 150 pounds of fruit in one season. Raspberries and blackberries also produce plenty of fruit to enjoy all summer.
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Turn left again to see three kinds of hydrangeas – mop-heads, Annabelle and lacecap – that provide a lush north-facing floral garden, suitable for cutting to share with friends.
On the right, random plantings include camellias, azaleas, flowering trees, maples, evergreens and fig trees. The large, rounded shrub in the front is an Edgeworthia, which shares its fragrant blooms in late winter before the leaves break through. The upper creek bed is edged with Stella d’Or daylilies.
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In the front yard, a pair of pecan trees on the right lead the way to the beginnings of another fruit orchard, planted with two kinds of pears and more fig trees.
Each Christmas Pam orders amaryllis to brighten up the sunroom. They complement a year-round collection of phalaenopsis orchids that rebloom regularly in the east-facing windows. Once the winter blooms fade, the bulbs are planted in two sections of the front gardens, joining an active pollinator patch, angel trumpets and more azaleas.
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More roses in the front are watered by a drip system to help minimize conditions that can cause black spot and other funguses.
The cluster of bird feeders outside Pam’s office window provide a constant show all year long of cardinals, chickadees, downy woodpeckers, goldfinch and others that stop off during their spring and fall migrations. The property is a certified Birds Georgia Wildlife Habitat.
A tall, twisted weeping Yoshino cherry tree dominates the front gardens next to the driveway.
Flower beds in front of the house are planted with Cryptomeria Globosa Nana, also called Japanese Cedar. After 17 years, they had started to block the windows, so last year they were replaced. Creeping Jenny ground cover gives a finishing touch to the beds. The entry sidewalk is lined with annual red salvia.
By the front door, two Easy Bee-zy yellow Knock-Out roses from Star Roses fill two custom-painted containers created by one of Pam’s friends.
The tree, a weeping forest pansy redbud, is pink in the early spring and provides fine cover for birds. Two varieties of ajuga, also known as bugle weed, cover the ground below.
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Thank you for visiting Rose Lane. We hope you will return.
As you leave, just remember one important thing:
It’s not hoarding if it’s plants!