Well our cold spell came and went within 24hrs and only down to -1.6c, no sign of our usual -7 to -8 winter mornings yet. I’ve never removed so many leaves off the roses when pruning.
My Mme. Isaac Pereire is next for stripping, given it’s propensity to blackspot, it’s still weirdly healthy and foliated:
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
@Mr Vine Eye, thanks the pic, although I didn't like the look of those prickles. I hope I can keep mine this side of the trellis and not the NDN's side!
You're right about the new lens though - very clear.
I must say, I have had great fun looking at all your rose deliveries too - obviously making notes.
So the new border is beginning to take shape (picture attached) and I wonder if I have bitten off more than I can chew! From the apex of the border, through the hydrangea to the wall is 6 mtrs. All South facing, with an ancient flowering cherry to the left, and an old rockery that has been turned into a raised bed on the right. All very sheltered and a complete sun trap if that isn't an odd thing to say for the NE of Scotland.
Mother had allowed a lilac to grow in the old border, as a tree, and so it cut all light out. Now it is gone (only stumps at the back left, ready to be removed and I'll cross that bridge when I come to it).
How very exciting and daunting that project is PeterAberdeen. The wall and beyond will make a great backdrop to roses and perennials. Garden design is not my strength but the plant combinations upthread sound fabulous. Good luck, please keep sharing pictures.
Hi all. I defoliated this fellow (Always think of Strawberry Hill as a boy as my Dad went there) yesterday and tied him in- have to eliminate a few weaker canes when my secateurs have finished a good deep clean. My question is around the growth at the end of canes in picture 2. This all looks pretty fresh to me and I didn’t know whether to strip that off too?
@Mr. Vine Eye thanks. Why snip back, as a matter of interest? I figured that I should leave them and met them keep going, that way I could end up with some nice big strong canes to act as main shoots further down the line?
@PeterAberdeen Your behemoth looks rather inviting actually, to anyone who wants to plant up roses, but you may wants other plants especially with the Hydrangea already in situ.. but that wall needs a few climbing roses I would think, and with the added advantage of south facing, you shouldn't get much problem with them overhanging the wall towards the north side.. Looks good dark rich soil.. lucky you !..
Will you be buying your new plants locally? tell us what you like..
Oh you are right @Marlorena - it is an exciting project.
The back wall is north facing, the picture was taken facing south. We are calling it the Rainbow Border, as colour is not an issue, as Mum likes lots of colour.
The Hydrangea is a rescue plant that I found hiding under a Rosemary bush and was moved last May, so it seems to have perked up!
The plan is to plant the Gouyard Roses to the left of the Hydrangea, with the Geranium Patricia to the front of them and with the Foxglove Alba behind (towards the Cherry Tree). To the right of the Hydrangea I have a yellow HT shrub rose, whose name is lost to the mists of time. (I will take a picture when it flowers and we can see if a group think-tank can identify it).
Other than that I have some Canna Wyoming (the one with the black stems - Tropicanna Black) and Dahlia David Howard combinations to put in as well as some Cardoons that are gently surviving in the greenhouse.
I have been shredding away at all my old pruning and so plan to use that to make a path around the back wall for access. But Climbing roses are also on the agenda. I have an old rambler in a pot (we think it may be Albertine) but that seems a bit much for the Border. You may just notice a tree stumpy thing in the background (an old Pieris - horrid plant in my opinion, that I cut back and plan to kill!) I want to keep the stump for clematis - maybe Jackmanii, along with a rose - thinking on a Gertrude Jekyll.
I am a complete sucker for Iris and so I have three Siberica Temper Tantrums begging for a new home, not to mention an imminent Lily order about to arrive in March of Regal, Oriental and Asiatics. I also have 6 x Cactus Dahlias (orange and yellow - again name unknown, as they were a freebie from J Parkers last year along with a few Border Dahlias - again orange, yellow and red). Also love lupins, but I think the -10 degree spell we had in December has killed them all of.
I also have waiting in the greenhouse Hollyhocks (mixed Charter Doubles). I think to put in the roses and the perennials and then fill gaps with annuals for the first year (Cosmos etc). Then in Autumn I had planned for spring bulbs of the Tulip variety - again a favourite plant, along with some alliums.
Ideally I want to get the structure plants in first - am I mad toying with a Miscanthus Nepalensis, or even a dwarf Pampas?
All suggestions gratefully received.
Looking for colour, height and scent - so definitely Phloxes in the middle, but we are getting slightly perplexed for front of the border.
Oh and last thing, in the picture to the right is a granite pedestal. I plan to put up a pot with a specimen plant as it will be hiding the entrance to the back access path.
Posts
My Mme. Isaac Pereire is next for stripping, given it’s propensity to blackspot, it’s still weirdly healthy and foliated:
You're right about the new lens though - very clear.
I'd probably snip the canes back a bit to behind the leaves anyway.
Your behemoth looks rather inviting actually, to anyone who wants to plant up roses, but you may wants other plants especially with the Hydrangea already in situ.. but that wall needs a few climbing roses I would think, and with the added advantage of south facing, you shouldn't get much problem with them overhanging the wall towards the north side..
Looks good dark rich soil.. lucky you !..
Will you be buying your new plants locally? tell us what you like..
All suggestions gratefully received.