WELCOME TO GROWING WONDER!
Hello, friends! For years, I have cherished the opportunity to connect with you through my inbox, social media DMs, workshops and visits to the nursery. It has been a joy to answer your questions and share my passion for roses, gardening, and the delicate balance of life as a farmer, entrepreneur and mother. I'm truly honored that you trust me to guide you when resources like the DIY YouTubers and SEO-heavy blogs fall short in providing the actionable advice you seek for your roses.
As algorithms evolve, many people have shared that my tips, encouragement, and insights aren't making it into their feed as often. I've also stepped back from the endless cycle of mindless scrolling and am spending less time on social media opting for a more rooted community & connections. I wanted a meaningful way to engage with you that's more than just a quick flashy video with trending audio.
I enjoyed writing my book, Growing Wonder: A Flower Farmer's Guide to Roses, and I've been eager to return to crafting more long-form content and tutorials. So, I'm thrilled to introduce my new weekly newsletter, Growing Wonder with Felicia: Simple Tips For Thriving Roses, Gardens & Homes. This new weekly mini-magazine is dedicated to celebrating the simple pleasures of family, home and garden life. CLICK HERE to subscribe!
Every Sunday, I'll drop into your inbox with one actionable tip to help you grow more beautiful roses, cultivate healthier & more productive gardens and lead more relaxed lives. My mission has always been to help you grow wonder in your life—not just wonderful things, but a wonderful YOU too.
Expect insights that extend beyond roses (don't worry, we'll cover those too!). In rose care and in life it's all about balance so, I'll also share some of my favorite things that help me stay organized in my busy life so I can spend more time with my roses and in the family garden with my kids.
We'll have a monthly theme to keep us focused—this month's theme is fall clean-up. Next week, I'll be sharing tips on insect clean-up care and monitoring during the fall.
Plus, you'll become part of our newsletter too! Each week, I'll address a question submitted by a reader. I'd love to hear what help you need this month, so be sure to CLICK HERE to subscribe. Each weekly newsletter will include a link for you to submit your question. If your question is selected, you'll win a $25 gift card to the Menagerie Shop!
My goal is to share simple, actionable tips and insight—no AI-generated nonsense or trending algorithms here—just good stuff to encourage you to enjoy your home and garden. I really hope the Growing Wonder newsletter becomes a cherished part of your week!
CHEERS,
THE LIST: THINGS I'M LOVING THIS WEEK
- Fall is HERE and a change in season means a change in style. I'm adding this sunhat into my rotation.
- I finally found a boot rack that my kids actually USE. Praise be! It's perfect for keeping the pile of shoes by my entryway doors organized.
- We just added few NEW candle fragrances to the Menagerie Shop this week and I am obsessed with the Tea Leaf scent! I'm setting a few aside for stocking stuffers.
- I want to savor the end-of-season roses, so I'm adding more bouquets to my drying rack, following the guidance from my friend Hannah's NEW book, Designing with Dried Flowers: Creating Everlasting Arrangements. Hannah was one of the first guest floral designers to host workshops at Menagerie many years ago, and I learned so much from her during her annual visits each fall. She taught us all how to craft the most amazing dried floral wreaths. I just love that I now have her book on my shelf to reference and create beautiful dried floral arrangements this fall.
- I'm preparing for the busy bare root rose season at the farm, so quick and easy dinners are essential. These cheeseburger sliders are on heavy rotation at our house. They are a clean your plate club kind of meal for my kids and take LESS than 30 minutes to prep.
Q & A: YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Q: I planted bare root roses in the spring from Menagerie. They're doing great! Before the remnants of Hurricane Helene came through, I deadheaded and cut back tall canes to prevent wind rock. Glad I did. Winds were over 55 mph here! Despite my efforts some of the roses got rocked. How should I help them get re-established?
Shelly from Shelbyville, KY - Zone 6b
A: Hi Shelly! I am sorry to hear that your roses took a beating but I'm glad to hear you and your family are safe and well. Start by checking each rose for broken or damaged stems. Prune any that are severely affected, making clean cuts above healthy leaf sets or buds. If any stems are leaning or have been uprooted, gently stake them back to an upright position. Use soft ties to avoid damaging the canes.
If there is standing water around the base of the plant remove as much water as you can by creating furrows to drain it away from the root zone or remove the water with a submersible pump. The key is to get the soil to dry out to a normal level of moisture as quickly as you can so no standing water is left.
Once there is no standing water around the base of the plant, apply a layer of compost or mulch around the base to help stabilize the plant & maintain the soil temperature. This also protects the roots to help them get re-established.
Keep an eye on their progress over the next few weeks. Look for signs of new growth and be patient; recovery may take some time. Within a few weeks your roses should bounce back beautifully. They are very resilient plants!
JOIN THE FUN!
Want this delivered directly to your inbox each week? CLICK HERE to subscribe to my new weekly newsletter, Growing Wonder, for simple tips on thriving roses, gardens, and homes! Each week, subscribers can submit questions for me to answer, and if yours is selected for our Q&A feature, you'll win a $25 digital gift card to the Menagerie Shop!
You can also find me on Instagram for more rose garden inspiration and exclusive behind-the-scenes moments. You can check out my favorite rose varieties and browse garden supplies at the Menagerie Shop!
Photos by: Jill Carmel Photography
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