Thanks @edhelka that's really helpful. I've never used any kinds of sprays etc in the garden so may just wait it out. It's only about 2-3ft high at the moment and not keen on the stick look with flowers above.
@Ffoxglove your Alibaba looks gorgeous. I have one too growing on an arch but have to say your leaves are looking very healthy compared to mine. I have Shropshire Star climber also which is very similar in colour and shape but maybe just a little smaller.
@rock-hen, I have exactly the same problem of nibbled opening buds which I've not seen before. It's only on one bush so far. We do have four or so baby squirrels around who are very inquisitive and I did wonder if it was them. I've seen them chomping on clematis buds and having a taste of the apples. I'm not sure though - earwigs perhaps?
@Lizzie27 could be earwigs I guess, I have found them on other plants but I havent seen any on my roses.It's so frustrating! I was looking forward to seeing the flowers, I hope no more get nobbled
Thank you @poppyfield64 😁 I get the occasional nibbled bud too but not many this year 🤔 sometimes I wonder if rain damage makes some buds sort of cave in...
@rock_hen I think that’s just rain damage on your rose buds, so they should open ok, but with the edges of the petals a bit discoloured, but when they do, if there are obvious chunks missing you will know something has had a munch as well. Earwigs have done that to mine in the past, but not this year. Odd how the pests seem to take it in turns, sawfly is my current nemesis!
@edhelka, some sun and warmer weather would be lovely, if you looked at Girona, we are a lot wetter and cooler up here, nearer the Pyrenees, if that’s any consolation for your miserable temps ☹️ . In fact relatives on the Llyn Peninsula are often telling us they are in shorts and basking in glorious sunshine while we are in raincoats and wellies!
Great to see such fab colour on Purple Lodge, I see it’s also bred by Orard, like Stormy Weather, so I am watching with interest, hope it turns out to be a good rose for you.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Ps - meant to say if you looked at ‘Girona city’ edhelka, wouldn't let me edit for some reason. Girona province stretches right up to the french border.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
@Ffoxglove I didn’t order any of the Chelsea stock but my Claire Marshall didn’t really take off until the second year. The flower petal in the pot is the right colour for CM, unless it’s a rogue from a nearby pot. The leaves don’t look as robust as they should be though (as in your friend’s CM). Hopefully the bud on it currently will open properly. CM is a lovely little floribunda so I hope you hear back from Harkness about it, or it improves in time for you.
Thank you @Omori for the encouragement. I've never felt the need to complain about any roses I bought before but this one has been so disappointing.
I think maybe Harkness put too much marketing hype around their Chelsea stock and I fell for it which left me feeling more down ok it because I had high expectations.
I see they are now selling mature plants for £25 that they would have used at flower shows. I was thinking of ordering an Eve rose from them but don't think I will now in case I have a similar experience. I'll pot pics when the CM flowers again. 😁 X
Can anyone advise what would be a suitable size pot to accommodate a rose for just a couple of years. I want to dig up Windflower, Gentle Hermione and Thomas A Becket this Autumn as none of them are performing well in their present location...two of them WF and TaB were planted out this year, GH is about 3 years old, but none of them have enjoyed the competition from the other plants around. My idea is to grow them on for a couple of years unhindered so they can be put back in the ground much bigger and stronger.
Thanks all for your input on rugosa.. I’m well pleased to hear about the powerful scent as I’m always up for a good sniff. I’m not too worried about it being too vigorous as not surprisingly I will be growing it in a pot.. slightly concerned about the inconsistent flowering though @K67. Regarding the rose hips.. I thought rugosas are repeat flowering and I was hoping to deadhead in the beginning of the season and perhaps stop that towards the end so the last flush of flowers will get a chance to form rose hips?
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@Ffoxglove your Alibaba looks gorgeous. I have one too growing on an arch but have to say your leaves are looking very healthy compared to mine. I have Shropshire Star climber also which is very similar in colour and shape but maybe just a little smaller.
Great to see such fab colour on Purple Lodge, I see it’s also bred by Orard, like Stormy Weather, so I am watching with interest, hope it turns out to be a good rose for you.
I think maybe Harkness put too much marketing hype around their Chelsea stock and I fell for it which left me feeling more down ok it because I had high expectations.
I see they are now selling mature plants for £25 that they would have used at flower shows. I was thinking of ordering an Eve rose from them but don't think I will now in case I have a similar experience.
I'll pot pics when the CM flowers again.
😁 X