Spear and Jackson 8200RS/09 Razorsharp Easy Reach Pruner
I have this too — so handy for awkward just-out-of-reach deadheading!
With my above statement, I am forced to embrace the onset of Middle Age. There is no way 'round it, through it, or over it. It might be useful to take to the supermarket, for shelves that become too high, or to wave at young-un's who drop crisp packets on the pavements.
Thank you WhereAremySecateurs. My soil is on the alkaline side, blue hydrangeas turn pink but Aspera Villosa is only ever that colour. I can't grow rhodis or healthy camellias unfortunately.
phew.. hotter and hotter, I'm hoping this is the last of it.. 'Julia Child' is such a great rose for our conditions, surprisingly... I have found other roses bred by Carruth in California [Weeks Roses], also have done well in my dry conditions... I wish I still had them if I'm honest.. 'Wild Blue Yonder' was exceptional in drought, something about the blooms I didn't like, but I'd try it again..
'Indigo' reblooming, this is turning into quite a fine, shapely shrub.. with good foliage..
Of the Carruth/Weeks roses I have @Marlorena, Love Song is proving just as tough as Julia Child in extremely hot, challenging conditions, the blooms don’t shrink or crisp and looking at them you wouldn’t know it had been over 35c for weeks. Their deeper purple/reds don’t do so well though, Ebb Tide fried and the blooms of Diamond Eyes shrank to the size of a penny! DA Munstead Wood is by far my best performer in heat of the deeper colours.
The Prince starting another flush, the weather is meant to be cooling off a little so I’m hoping further blooms will be fuller. TP watchers, note the elongated sepals:
Palais Biron blooms also smaller and lesser petalled but has impressed by blooming throughout successive heatwaves:
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
@Fire - still loving my long reach pruner! I couldn’t deadhead at all with my packed borders without it.
Crabapples galore!
Some Malvern Hills foliage - I was cutting some high up bits with my long reach pruner that had been gotten by sawfly. Lots of larvae coming down with the cuttings. Hopefully got most of them!
Gaura one of the few plants that’s completely unphased by the heat and drought
The Generous Gardener
Lady Emma Hamilton
Lady of the Lake - west facing so the delicate colour isn’t lasting long before fading to white. Same for Emily Bronte next door in the pot.
Posts
Vanessa Bell still looking very yellow
And an obligatory photo of Draga
Lovely garden @Victoria Sponge
Stephanie was has been flowering non stop for me as well.. not a bushy habit though.. sends long canes..
But nothing has beaten Julia Child this year.. has never been out of bloom.. even for a single day.. (as far as I can remember)
One in a million.. produces lot of blooms.. like the colour and fragrance.. only if the blooms did not crisp in sun..
Henri Delbard.. HT, but branches well for flowering..
Right side of the garden in bloom now.. while most on the left is taking a break..
'Julia Child' is such a great rose for our conditions, surprisingly... I have found other roses bred by Carruth in California [Weeks Roses], also have done well in my dry conditions... I wish I still had them if I'm honest.. 'Wild Blue Yonder' was exceptional in drought, something about the blooms I didn't like, but I'd try it again..
'Indigo' reblooming, this is turning into quite a fine, shapely shrub.. with good foliage..
Crabapples galore!