That’s great information thanks so much, @Marlorena. Glad to hear it’s not really tender and should be vigorous enough to hold it’s own against the wisteria so that means I have a choice. The wall is crying out for a rose and is a better, more prominent position to show off Marie.. That’s decided, the wall it is 😊
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
OK - it has been a while since I last reported on the new border, but things have been moving at quite a pace.
The worst that has happened is finding an 'infestation' (I can think of no other word) of Spanish Bluebells (sorry @Nollie, but they really are little so-and-sos).
The new pics show the border as of today: Pic 1. is the usual vista, Pic 2. is an extremely blurry picture of the newly transplanted Goujard - root stock the width of a baby's arm, and no exaggeration! The third picture is from another angle with the wall to our left and the main border to the right. This one shows the new pathway beginning to emerge and the stepping stones getting set in.
(yes the slight blur at the foot of Pic 3. is Agatha coming in to inspect and deride my efforts)
The Pieris has at last been dug out - with lots of sweat and swearing for good measure - but it eventually gave up the will to stay, only to reveal a graveyard of mummified Crocosmia corms. They have now been reinterred in the garden waste bin.
The Goujard hopefully will pull through - and you will see in Pic 2. there is a companion plant pal for it - that's the Geranium Pauline, as recommended @Marlorena. But if not then it will be replaced by another pink rose.
If the weather stays dry then I hope to have the main bed, path and associated compost mulch finished over the weekend.
All coming together brilliantly @PeterAberdeen, all that hard work will soon be rewarded but a fortifying G&T never goes amiss. Never seen a bluebell, Spanish or otherwise here, not native to my area, thankfully, but good luck with the eradication programme. Watch out for those crocosmia corms too, since they also have a habit of coming back from the dead 🧟♂️
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Watch out for those crocosmia corms too, since they also have a habit of coming back from the dead 🧟♂️
They will be lucky - as they are in the bin. I now plant my Crocosmia in a bucket that has the bottom cut off, that I can sink into the ground, in a futile attempt to contain them. I now just plant well-behaved clumpy ones (though I will hold my breath on that one).
I have also ordered up the Piilu Clematis for going in-between the climbing roses. I got them from Taylors Clematis in Doncaster and they are two year old plants in 2 ltr pots. Has anyone have any dealings with them and/or any advice for me in planting them in so they can enjoy the climbing frame.
Nice gravel path @PeterAberdeen I've got an informal one like that, handy for access to roses.. spanish bluebells are a nuisance..
I use Taylor's, in fact I've got some on order waiting for delivery.. just plant your clematis a bit deeper with the surface a couple of inches below the soil.. light pruning for best effect I think, although it can be hard pruned back to almost ground level in subsequent years as it rebounds quickly, but I still think light is best.. I do find they excel with a Spring feeding - rose feed is perfect, and a thick mulch around the base. Enjoy your clematis, it's a colour that stands out and will go well with your roses..
I nipped out quickly when the sun came out after lunch to plant my last new rose, another Winchester Cathedral. It was a potted one, or at least I bought it in a pot from a local nursery a few months ago. It's a rather small weedy specimen though so I'm hoping it will survive. It's had a whole bag of manure dug in the planting area and I also added handfuls of rose food so it won't be for want of trying!
should it be a Dark coloured one from DA this time..? Last 3 releases have been light coloured.. Yellows every year from 2020.. perhaps a blue/ purple coloured or another orange to replace MW and LEH? Or would they go with Gabriel Oak coloured, given that the colour of the year was 'Pantone'..
I asked De-wilde to send another rose as the one which came bone dry did not make it.. but it looks like even that is at the mercy of Post NL
As staying away from the forum last Autumn/ Winter paid off, I had to order something to treat my withdrawal.. these two from Henry Street... Nicely packed and newly potted after trimming the roots/ stems hard.. Should have left them in the same pots as I did disturb the white thin roots badly.. but then I always do that with freshly potted ones and get away with it...
@PeterAberdeen Taylors are great. Ive got Pillu too its stunning. I use thorncroft clematis a lot too. I had the most beautiful one called "super cute" last year.
Lots of bargains end of season! Im curious what DA bring out too, I got munstead wood last year after you lot raving and I adore it. If we could have a red that behaves like lady of shalot but scented id be very happy! I love that too.
Fryers - ive got a few of theres, some great ones. Sheilas perfume probably top of that list. Healthy, prolific and of course scented. I saw Highgrove on the beales list too, mines in a dry can be rubbishy spot but manages. Does get blackspot, but dosent stop flowers which are very pretty and longlasting. Velvety dark red.
Spotted upcoming basal growth on the hulthemia angel eyes today.. like a red pimple!
Posts
The new pics show the border as of today: Pic 1. is the usual vista, Pic 2. is an extremely blurry picture of the newly transplanted Goujard - root stock the width of a baby's arm, and no exaggeration! The third picture is from another angle with the wall to our left and the main border to the right. This one shows the new pathway beginning to emerge and the stepping stones getting set in.
(yes the slight blur at the foot of Pic 3. is Agatha coming in to inspect and deride my efforts)
The Pieris has at last been dug out - with lots of sweat and swearing for good measure - but it eventually gave up the will to stay, only to reveal a graveyard of mummified Crocosmia corms. They have now been reinterred in the garden waste bin.
The Goujard hopefully will pull through - and you will see in Pic 2. there is a companion plant pal for it - that's the Geranium Pauline, as recommended @Marlorena. But if not then it will be replaced by another pink rose.
If the weather stays dry then I hope to have the main bed, path and associated compost mulch finished over the weekend.
I have also ordered up the Piilu Clematis for going in-between the climbing roses. I got them from Taylors Clematis in Doncaster and they are two year old plants in 2 ltr pots. Has anyone have any dealings with them and/or any advice for me in planting them in so they can enjoy the climbing frame.
I use Taylor's, in fact I've got some on order waiting for delivery.. just plant your clematis a bit deeper with the surface a couple of inches below the soil.. light pruning for best effect I think, although it can be hard pruned back to almost ground level in subsequent years as it rebounds quickly, but I still think light is best..
I do find they excel with a Spring feeding - rose feed is perfect, and a thick mulch around the base.
Enjoy your clematis, it's a colour that stands out and will go well with your roses..
Did you get your replacement @WhereAreMySecateurs
I asked De-wilde to send another rose as the one which came bone dry did not make it.. but it looks like even that is at the mercy of Post NL
As staying away from the forum last Autumn/ Winter paid off, I had to order something to treat my withdrawal.. these two from Henry Street... Nicely packed and newly potted after trimming the roots/ stems hard.. Should have left them in the same pots as I did disturb the white thin roots badly.. but then I always do that with freshly potted ones and get away with it...
Lots of bargains end of season! Im curious what DA bring out too, I got munstead wood last year after you lot raving and I adore it. If we could have a red that behaves like lady of shalot but scented id be very happy! I love that too.
Fryers - ive got a few of theres, some great ones. Sheilas perfume probably top of that list. Healthy, prolific and of course scented.
I saw Highgrove on the beales list too, mines in a dry can be rubbishy spot but manages.
Does get blackspot, but dosent stop flowers which are very pretty and longlasting. Velvety dark red.
Spotted upcoming basal growth on the hulthemia angel eyes today.. like a red pimple!