Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Neighbourly advice

wakeshinewakeshine Posts: 975
in Problem solving

Hi sorry wasn't really sure where to post this and apologies it's just some general advice I need. So while I was doing the lawn this morning with my father, a neighbour came to say hello and told us that a couple of days ago he saw the opposite neighbour's gardener come to our front garden and cut roses from our Buff Beauty hybrid musk rose. He also came back and took a cutting/cuttings? and gave it to the said neighbour (not him, the lady who's gardener he must have been).

So our specimen of Buff Beauty is amazing this year, it's huge, very fragrant and extremely floriferous.  It might be the envy of the neighbours. But we live in a quiet street and I never expected someone to come and just help themselves to not only flowers from the plant but also cuttings, without asking us. I feel like I want to put a note through their door and say 'the rose is called Buff Beauty, it can be bought from David Austin or Peter Beales if you'd rather not take cuttings'. Would this be rude of me? Thing is the said neighbour has nice rose bushes themselves so I don't understand why they'd do this. Also why not just ask us? I'm not upset, all for sharing plants, but just a tad annoyed! As I wouldn't go and help myself to anyone else's roses! Any ideas? I have a beautiful Rose de Rescht at the front too and worried as I don't want anyone taking cuttings from it without asking me.

«1

Posts

  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053

    Why don't you just knock on their door and say someone in the street sa etc. See what they say 

    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147

    I think I'd cut a bunch and take them over and give them to her in person with a smile, saying "You only had to ask" :-) and leave it at that. 

    Buff Beauty is such a glorious rose ... I've grown it in several gardens ... I can understand the temptation although I would never do what she has done. 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Beaus MumBeaus Mum Posts: 3,554

    Hi wakeshine.  I would make sure that the neighbour who informed you got the facts straight first as they may be wrong.  Also it was the neighbours gardener allegedly not the neighbour and they be totally unaware and may be horrified once they know x

  • AuntyRachAuntyRach Posts: 5,291

    Can't believe a gardener would do that... even if a client asked them too! Picking some is bad enough but a second visit for a cutting! Wrong for so many reasons... 

    You should ask the neighbour concerned - and don't feel bad about enquiring - it's your property!

    My garden and I live in South Wales. 
  • Mark56Mark56 Posts: 1,653

    I would be annoyed too. You have every right to say something, just make sure it was more than likely the gardener. Pretty unprofessional too, I thought we had mutual respect for one and others garden, eh!

    Last edited: 18 June 2017 18:01:10

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039

    As others have said, find out the facts first and then a response with a light touch, but that leaves them in no doubt what you feel.

    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • wakeshinewakeshine Posts: 975

    Hi guys - thanks for all the great advice. I think you're right in that I need to verify the facts first as to who exactly took what. Otherwise I may just let it go. If anything I'll go and talk to them directly. I don't tend to see people going in and out, and I've never seen the gardener so that's why I feel a bit awkward and creeped out about it all. I don't actually know the lady well, but I've seen her a couple of times as she delivers the Neighbourhood Watch magazine. It may not even have been her or her gardener - if I can be bothered I'll ask them, if not I'll just let it go. A few days have passed now, I can't be bothered with it all, it's just a rose bush. Thanks.

    image

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889

    Where do you live? and when are you next out? 

    I can bring my own secateurs.image

    Devon.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147

    As I said, it is the most glorious rose with a fabulous fragrance - repeat flowering too  -  It also strikes very well from cuttings ... although I've grown it in three gardens I've only ever bought one image

    It also has good glossy dark foliage which sets the flowers off nicely and I've never seen it succumb to black spot etc. 

    Last edited: 19 June 2017 13:13:36


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • wakeshinewakeshine Posts: 975

    My mother cut some herself to take to a festival (she's allowed lol!). Look at the prettiness and the range of colours:

    image

    You know what Dovefromabove, you're right, I have also never seen it succumb to blackspot - my folks have lived here 11 years, and it was already esablished when they got here, so it's obviously done really well. Not very thorny either and just seems to get bigger and better. Amazing fragrance from all around! Second flush is good but not as good as the first haha.

    Haha Hostafan, you my dear would be welcome anytime because at least you've annouced you're coming for it!

Sign In or Register to comment.