@debs64@purplerallim ...that's ok, hope it works for you too.. it was Alan Titchmarsh who told me about it..
edit. as I forgot to answer the question about rain water.. yes do use it whenever you can, roses love it... I've run out of it completely here...
Lots of baby sparrows out now but they haven't arrived in my garden as yet, they usually do - I'm waiting for them - but they also present a hazard as they will bend young tender canes down as they feed, and I always lose a cane or two on various roses when they arrive.... so pros and cons with sparrows... I'd like to think it's all good though, canes will grow back..
@Fire... ok, no probs.. sometimes I get confused myself...
Yes agree with Busy Lizzie about the growth of Summer Song... I did quite like the huge cabbage blooms though, terracotta colour... but they do go pink around the edges and I didn't like that too much... one day I'd like to try its buff coloured sport 'Carolyn Knight', I might like that better, I'm not sure.... anyone else have it?..
I've used acid fertilizer on roses... one has to take care I found, as it will green up the plant, but in my experience at the expense of flowers... so I've stopped using it personally, but all trial and error with gardening..
'Summer Song' with 'Tranquillity' and buds of 'Kew Gardens'...
I have an acquaintance who grows roses organically and she tells me that apparently hard tap water locks up nutrients in the soil so that they are unavailable to roses... I had often wondered why, when I used tap water, my roses didn't respond much to it.. it kept them alive but not thriving.. so now it's always rain water or tea amended tap water for me...
Thanks for your insights about Summer Song, Lizzie and Marlorena. I think, on balance, I will plant an orange dahlia in that spot instead. Especially if it goes a bit pinky around the edges. That's why I’m not so keen on the colour of Lady Em’s blooms, sort of a cold blue-pink tinge to them, if that makes any sense, but she does bloom prolifically.
I suspect all plants respond better to rainwater than hard tap water, no matter how much I water from the hose, when it rains, I have noticed everything suddenly takes off, including the vegetable garden and perennials that like alkaline soil. I know some people add a little vinegar to their tap water, but I like the idea of tea better.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Wish it would rain, garden is getting dry. I gather Marlorena comes from East Anglia. OH's cottage is in south Norfolk I planted some perennials in the garden there on our last visit, I hope they are OK, sounds as though it's been dry there too. I'll find out next week.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
..almost shockingly dry here, has been for weeks and none in the forecast... whatever happened to April showers?.... I hope your perennials are o.k where you planted them...
...mind you I shouldn't grumble, it's a glorious today here today, just right for tea in the garden too...
I am in North Wales, one of the wettest areas in the UK... it's definitely dry this year, even here. We had some rain on Tuesday night (not too much) and one rainy day last week but with my sandy soil it's not enough.
If you have £140 to spare, and you are available on Tuesday 25th June, - I wish I was - then it would be fun to attend Michael Marriot's rose masterclass at East Ruston Vicarage gardens in north Norfolk... an all day class 10 - 4.30..
Michael Marriott in case anyone isn't aware is head rosarian at David Austin roses, and he gives talks all over the world...
Apparently you get a chance to design a rose garden too.... if I lived locally I think this would be a nice day out... pricey but... I spend a ton on roses...
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edit. as I forgot to answer the question about rain water.. yes do use it whenever you can, roses love it... I've run out of it completely here...
Lots of baby sparrows out now but they haven't arrived in my garden as yet, they usually do - I'm waiting for them - but they also present a hazard as they will bend young tender canes down as they feed, and I always lose a cane or two on various roses when they arrive.... so pros and cons with sparrows... I'd like to think it's all good though, canes will grow back..
@Fire... ok, no probs.. sometimes I get confused myself...
I've used acid fertilizer on roses... one has to take care I found, as it will green up the plant, but in my experience at the expense of flowers... so I've stopped using it personally, but all trial and error with gardening..
'Summer Song' with 'Tranquillity' and buds of 'Kew Gardens'...
I suspect all plants respond better to rainwater than hard tap water, no matter how much I water from the hose, when it rains, I have noticed everything suddenly takes off, including the vegetable garden and perennials that like alkaline soil. I know some people add a little vinegar to their tap water, but I like the idea of tea better.
Just having tea to revive me.
Wish it would rain, garden is getting dry. I gather Marlorena comes from East Anglia. OH's cottage is in south Norfolk I planted some perennials in the garden there on our last visit, I hope they are OK, sounds as though it's been dry there too. I'll find out next week.
...mind you I shouldn't grumble, it's a glorious today here today, just right for tea in the garden too...
Michael Marriott in case anyone isn't aware is head rosarian at David Austin roses, and he gives talks all over the world...
Apparently you get a chance to design a rose garden too.... if I lived locally I think this would be a nice day out... pricey but... I spend a ton on roses...
https://www.gardenmasterclass.org/programme