09.20.2012 Half Price Roses

09.20.2012

During lunch last week I wandered around the garden center over at Lowe's, oohing and aaahing over their fall asters and mums, but not buying anything because that's not WHY i was there.  I was simply out and about during my hour lunch, getting away from my desk...until I came upon this sign "Knock Out Roses.  75% off"

BAM!  My leisurely lunch hour stroll became instantly became a hunt for the best of the sale!  The rose bushes were beautiful and healthy looking with green glossy leaves and lots of  flower buds.  I chose FIVE - I got FIVE big pots of Knock Out Roses for how much?

$$ 30 bucks! $$   Amazing SAVINGS!  Whoo Hoo!  :)

OKAY!  Where to put them?

Hadn't thought of that.

A conversation with Aunt Jeannie next door revealed that a past owner grew roses in the front yard for YEARS - beautiful vibrant bushes that he'd spend hours tending, clipping and carefully fertilizing with cow manure.  Bingo!  Perfect place! Pre-Fertilized even!

So we got out the rototiller and tilled up a nice section of yard.

Hmm.  Kind of low.  It needs dirt.  Get the Back Up Truck.  38 bags of dirt for how much?

$$ 76 bucks! $$ 

Ok!  Nice and rounded, beautiful dirt!  Plopped those roses in a nice arrangement, spaced for growth.  Stood back and sighed with satisfa...

hmm.  Looks unfinished.  It IS the front yard.  Off to Menards in the Back Up Truck!  50 bricks for how much??  Half price bricks!  Whoo Hoo!  another sale!

$$ 50 bucks! $$

On with the knee pads!  Careful placing of those beautiful bricks makes a nice enclosed space!  It looks so nice - lots of room left for the 2 packages of fund raiser spring bulbs bought from the Band Kids.  But it's missing something.  What is it?

oh gawd.  MULCH.   All perennials need mulch to winter well.  Off to the mulch man with the Back Up Truck.  a Truckload of Mulch for how much?

$$ 29 bucks! $$

Beautiful!  hey...wait a minute...

$30 + $76 + $50 + $29 = $185.

Whoa.  OK!  Justification time!  IF  I'd bought the Knock Out Roses from Jackson and Perkins, those roses would have been approximately 150 bucks and we'd still have needed all that other stuff! .  So for just a tad more, we've got a BEAUTIFUL Bed of Roses, destined to be a showcase of summertime happiness, a haven for bees and butterflies!

And we got some exercise and fresh air.   Worth Every Penny.  :)