@Mr Vine Eye Yes I have indeed got 'Lady of the Lake'...glorious...it's in flower for the entire summer and smells lovely also. I just keep it well watered (watering can full to the brim) and fed weekly. Flowers on new growth as well, and if I can make it look lovely I'm sure anyone can. I've added a couple of pics showing the tonal range of the blooms, from a kind of salmon pink when new to a pink tinged off white with age...never see many bees on it these days alas, they've been dwindling for years in these parts.
Well eventually yes. One day, literally was like someone pressed a switch, the aphids seemed to massively decline.
Lots of ladybirds, also sparrows and great tits visiting (I still can’t say or write that without a slight smirk) but also vast quantities of aphids for a big chunk of the year. We’ve got lots of ants though too and they farm the aphids like cattle, collecting the sweet sappy milk that they excrete from their bodies and they protect them from predation - obviously not from birds!
Also ladybirds aren’t killing machines, they gobble one or two and then have a nap. I’ve seen them sat still right next to a pile of aphids.
I did a lot of brushing with the broken end of a child’s paintbrush attached to a chopstick 😂
But I don’t mind having aphids. I shall have to be more vigilant with my espalier apple because the buggers really upset it and I ended up with very twisted stunted growth on one tier which I’ve had to completely cut off.
Without them, we wouldn’t have had all the other wildlife coming in and watching the birds hopping around the roses, and shimmying across the garden wires was one of the highlights of the year. My boys keep asking when it will be spring and they’ll be back!
I certainly would never use any kind of chemical sprays in my garden and on Facebook groups etc. I try to extol the virtues of gardening without them. Some people view gardens as a room in their home that needs to be kept clean, perfect and completely devoid of any kind of ‘bug’. They react with horror to anything on their plants and unfortunately the response of a lot of people is immediate “spray it! kill it!” with no regard for the implications on other insects and other wildlife.
No wonder we’re in such a sorry state of insect decline. The garden is an important ecosystem and a space that we share - not something to be sterilised.
But this year I have had more birds, bees and butterflies visiting than ever before. Garden constantly busy. I’ve found sheltering caterpillars and all sorts around through winter.
@Marlorena - yes it is an odd brick colour. Unfortunately it’s what it came with! Half of the houses down our road are like this and the other half are just a nice golden coloured brick. Wish I’d had that!
I’ll try and do a bit of photoshopping to see what different colours look like against it. We all have very different eyes don’t we...I hear tell there are people out there who actually “like” red roses 😱
@peteS Thanks Pete, how large is it? Is it vigorous? I had in my head it might be a bit like a pink Malvern Hills which appeals to me. Flexible stems, not sure if it’s as fast a grower.
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Yes I have indeed got 'Lady of the Lake'...glorious...it's in flower for the entire summer and smells lovely also. I just keep it well watered (watering can full to the brim) and fed weekly. Flowers on new growth as well, and if I can make it look lovely I'm sure anyone can. I've added a couple of pics showing the tonal range of the blooms, from a kind of salmon pink when new to a pink tinged off white with age...never see many bees on it these days alas, they've been dwindling for years in these parts.
Well eventually yes. One day, literally was like someone pressed a switch, the aphids seemed to massively decline.
Lots of ladybirds, also sparrows and great tits visiting (I still can’t say or write that without a slight smirk) but also vast quantities of aphids for a big chunk of the year. We’ve got lots of ants though too and they farm the aphids like cattle, collecting the sweet sappy milk that they excrete from their bodies and they protect them from predation - obviously not from birds!
Also ladybirds aren’t killing machines, they gobble one or two and then have a nap. I’ve seen them sat still right next to a pile of aphids.
I did a lot of brushing with the broken end of a child’s paintbrush attached to a chopstick 😂
But I don’t mind having aphids. I shall have to be more vigilant with my espalier apple because the buggers really upset it and I ended up with very twisted stunted growth on one tier which I’ve had to completely cut off.
Without them, we wouldn’t have had all the other wildlife coming in and watching the birds hopping around the roses, and shimmying across the garden wires was one of the highlights of the year. My boys keep asking when it will be spring and they’ll be back!
But this year I have had more birds, bees and butterflies visiting than ever before. Garden constantly busy. I’ve found sheltering caterpillars and all sorts around through winter.
Brings me such joy!
Susan Williams didn't do great for me. Small flowers, thorny, not much noticeable fragrance. I don't recommend it.
@peteS Thanks Pete, how large is it? Is it vigorous? I had in my head it might be a bit like a pink Malvern Hills which appeals to me. Flexible stems, not sure if it’s as fast a grower.
Lady of the Lake photoshop