A rose is a long-term investment. There is a substantial layout initially. A good hole should be dug (I love digging holes), and timed so that they are just ready for your bare-root rose to arrive in November. When you see that magical brown-paper bag waiting by the door when you get home from work,…
Moody Blues
When I wrote the title of this post, it was because of the colours of the flowers, and the overcast conditions. I got about this many words in, and tried to add images, and that is when my woes began. I couldn’t upload any images. I switched between laptop and phone, I used up my…
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Tis strange my Theseus, that these lovers speak of. More strange than true. I never may believe These antique fables, nor these fairy toys. Lovers and madmen have such seething brains, Such shaping fantasies, that apprehend More than cool reason comprehends. The lunatic, the lover and the poet Are of imagination all compact: One sees…
The Oldies
The David Austin English roses have been getting a lot of my attention, but I shouldn’t forget where it all began. Many of the Plush, crimson English roses have Gallicas in their heritage. I grow three Gallica roses, ‘Charles de Mills’, ‘Tuscany Superb’ and ‘Sissinghurst Castle’. I grew ‘Charles de Mills’ at my old house. Here…
The Corner of Complete Neglect
We all have one, don’t we? This is mine. It is at the corner of the rose garden, next to the wall of the house. It is tricky because it is bone-dry and has poor, stony soil that bakes hard to concrete in the summer. We inherited this rather lovely shrub rose, ‘Marjory Fair’. The…
Floriferous
If there is one rose in my garden that out-flowers them all, it is ‘Royal Jubilee’. Do you like its perfect globes of flowers? Are you tempted to stick your finger or nose into that hole? Do you like the scalloped petals that fold over so protectively? It can look up, but it likes to…
Roses in the Bright Border
I am sorry to those who are not rose fans, but this is my time. After June the roses will not be so prominent in the garden, and I will stop bombarding you with rose posts. But for now, indulge me. I thought I would write a post about the three roses I grow in…
Macro
I indulged myself. I bought a macro lens. I have been enjoying Fred, A French Gardener and Photo Sociology’s fabulous photos, and this week I just gave in to temptation. I might have bought a camera too. [says in small voice in manner of confession]. I got a press pass for RHS Hampton Court Flower Show in…
Plush
As I have confessed before, I have a thing for crimson roses. For plush, plump roses. For those that you want to bury your face into, and get a headrush from their scent. This is my quest to find the perfect crimson rose. These roses are all David Austin English roses. There is an overwhelming…
Just Peachy
I thought I would devote a post to my peachy roses. These are all David Austin English roses. Because they, frankly, are the best. These roses have surprised me. I did not expect to love them quite so much. I have always been a crimson-purple kind of a girl. But it turns out I have…
A Rainbow of Roses
Yes, I did get carried away. No, I am not sorry! OMG, it was fun! It was Stevie’s fault really. I had collected five or six blooms and was getting him to sniff too, so we could compare ‘tasting notes’. And Stevie said, “we should get the super-taster in.” Super-taster/Super-sniffer daughter helps Stevie identify wine…
Pillowy Billowy
Peonies. I love peonies. There is no other flower you want to nestle into and actually go to sleep on. I thought I would just have a little post dedicated to my favourites for pillowy billowiness. First up is ‘Barbara’. She has been the queen of my rose garden this week. Barbara exudes competence and…
