Well, Planting time, that tricky period. November/December
Today I made places for 24 Bakeri Lilac Wonder after getting rid of two leggy lavenders on the shelf.
I put in 10 Praestans fusilier in the island bed, marked with anemone stems. And 5 up by the meadow.
Florosa went into the quadrant behind the NW box ball, 10 of them. Hope some of the viridiflora have survived for next year too.
I put in 10 Menton tulips, tall, late, copper-pink, in the north border of the conservatory garden, just left of the left-hand box ball.
2 December
I put in another 20 Menton in that bed.
Red Georgette: 4 between Irene Watts and its neighbour. And some more to the left of that.
3 by Iris sibirica in the island bed..
4 Dec 60 large crocus in tower lawn and also in shelf.
5 Dec. Put in the 3 remaining lily-flowered and 4 doll's minuet in front of the mutabilis, right at the front. Filled 2 big pots with peat and 12 Antoinette in each. Tallest ceramic pot has 12 red georgette.
I have two pots left and I want to plant more tulips!
Ordered Suncatcher, 15, and planted by the old Lord Lambourne apple where dahlias were last summer
Pittsburgh still to go in.
Got 60 species tulips as free gift and put them on the shelf bed, took out some more lavenders to do so.
Tuesday, 27 November 2018
Monday, 14 May 2018
Dahlias May 2018
Most killed in March by the Beast from the East, the most severe and prolonged cold we have had in 50 years here. The absolute temperature was low but the cold east wind did the damage. The cherry laurel looks very sorry for itself, the pyracantha lost most of its leaves.
So I have ordered a lot of new tubers from Sarah Raven. Hillcrest Royal still has some live bits, so we shall see. I was sorry to lose Evelyn, new last year, a fine white. And my new collection of Karma dahlias is gone. I could replace Moor Park. and Rosemary Webb if it is still available.
This is what I bought. One each, except the 2 whites.
October 2018
In fact, this is what we ended up with.
Hillcrest Royal and Rosemary Webb, the two survivors of the frost. Large amounts of both, also Chat Noir. All good. Hillcrest was the tallest of any growing in either bed. Remember that in future.
Furka and Blanc y Verde. Two good white dahlias, sufficiently different from each other.
One huge cream/caffe latte dahlia, far too big for this windy site.
A bright med/dark red, good shape, plenty of flowers. Maybe Karma Naomi? Petals rounded? Tamburo is a semi cactus, 36 inches high. or maybe one of the dark reds is Darkarin, 80 cm, dark leaves.
A shorter bright yellow edged with orange. I wonder if that was Bon Bini? It wasn't very cactusy. not the best Karma dahlia. Go for Lagoon, Fuchsiana Fiesta and maybe Prospero (pink). Still need a good yellow . Yellow Star or Encore?
Most of Sarah Raven's labels didn't survive wetting. Next year, permanent labels!
Most killed in March by the Beast from the East, the most severe and prolonged cold we have had in 50 years here. The absolute temperature was low but the cold east wind did the damage. The cherry laurel looks very sorry for itself, the pyracantha lost most of its leaves.
So I have ordered a lot of new tubers from Sarah Raven. Hillcrest Royal still has some live bits, so we shall see. I was sorry to lose Evelyn, new last year, a fine white. And my new collection of Karma dahlias is gone. I could replace Moor Park. and Rosemary Webb if it is still available.
This is what I bought. One each, except the 2 whites.
Sarah Raven dahlias bought May 2018
Flamboyant collection
- Dahlia 'Emory Paul' biggest of these. 10” flowers. Bright magenta. 42” tall.
- Dahlia 'Penhill Dark Monarch' mix of apricot, coffee mousse and raspberry. 5 ft tall
- Dahlia 'Time for All' pink . white edges. 5” flowers. 42” tall
- Dahlia 'Zippity Do Da' mini ball.Purply, fading. 2” flowers.
36 “ high.
Monet collection
Karma naomi Crimson up to 120 cm. Double decorative.
Darkarin. Not so double. Flower4-6”. Height 80 cm. Dark leaves. Rose-wine colour.
Tamburo. Darl red/ semi cactus 36”
White collection
Furka White cactus, 43 “, good vase life, Sarah says.
Blanc y verde white 36’ nearly single
Looks like I need a yellow and an orange. Not quite sure what are the survivors from the winter kill.
In fact, this is what we ended up with.
Hillcrest Royal and Rosemary Webb, the two survivors of the frost. Large amounts of both, also Chat Noir. All good. Hillcrest was the tallest of any growing in either bed. Remember that in future.
Furka and Blanc y Verde. Two good white dahlias, sufficiently different from each other.
One huge cream/caffe latte dahlia, far too big for this windy site.
A bright med/dark red, good shape, plenty of flowers. Maybe Karma Naomi? Petals rounded? Tamburo is a semi cactus, 36 inches high. or maybe one of the dark reds is Darkarin, 80 cm, dark leaves.
A shorter bright yellow edged with orange. I wonder if that was Bon Bini? It wasn't very cactusy. not the best Karma dahlia. Go for Lagoon, Fuchsiana Fiesta and maybe Prospero (pink). Still need a good yellow . Yellow Star or Encore?
Most of Sarah Raven's labels didn't survive wetting. Next year, permanent labels!
Review of tulips 2018 May 14
Fusilier in the meadow and in the bed in front of the mutabilis and in the Katherine Havemeyer bed has been very good. Plant more in those places. Not sure if there are two forms? Some not multi headed? Maybe those are the older ones reflowering.
Red Georgette flowering from early May is excellent. A large clump by Rosa mutabilis, and another in the north conservatory border, also in the S border in the "box quadrant".
Consider other multiheaded tulips. Red is good but there must be others.
Tulips need to be planted in groups of up to 10, two here and two there is not good enough.
The coloured viridiflora in the box quadrant is not so good.
Lily flowered tulips by the shed not so big as last year. Maybe cheaper bulbs? Aladdin excellent, then (I think) Ballade and Ballerina.
More could be planted: maybe 75 or so, then I could cut for the house. But 150 would not be too many....
Couleur cardinal in a tub with Antoinette and wallflower is fantastic. CC and Antoinette flower at same time, actually CC is a little earlier but there is a big overlap. CC is also very good in the conservatory north border.
Is it White Triumphator or Purissima in a tub with Little Beauty? That works well too.
Species tulips in border at foot of willow trellis don't show up at all. If planting again, plant big tulips there.
Bakeri Lilac Wonder is a star in the "shelf" bed. Just beginning to go over. Plant more. Also, consider planting small species tulips on the end near the steps, along with very low things like lambs lug.
Fusilier in the meadow and in the bed in front of the mutabilis and in the Katherine Havemeyer bed has been very good. Plant more in those places. Not sure if there are two forms? Some not multi headed? Maybe those are the older ones reflowering.
Red Georgette flowering from early May is excellent. A large clump by Rosa mutabilis, and another in the north conservatory border, also in the S border in the "box quadrant".
Consider other multiheaded tulips. Red is good but there must be others.
Tulips need to be planted in groups of up to 10, two here and two there is not good enough.
The coloured viridiflora in the box quadrant is not so good.
Lily flowered tulips by the shed not so big as last year. Maybe cheaper bulbs? Aladdin excellent, then (I think) Ballade and Ballerina.
More could be planted: maybe 75 or so, then I could cut for the house. But 150 would not be too many....
Couleur cardinal in a tub with Antoinette and wallflower is fantastic. CC and Antoinette flower at same time, actually CC is a little earlier but there is a big overlap. CC is also very good in the conservatory north border.
Is it White Triumphator or Purissima in a tub with Little Beauty? That works well too.
Species tulips in border at foot of willow trellis don't show up at all. If planting again, plant big tulips there.
Bakeri Lilac Wonder is a star in the "shelf" bed. Just beginning to go over. Plant more. Also, consider planting small species tulips on the end near the steps, along with very low things like lambs lug.
Monday, 28 December 2015
How has your black spot been?
Roses vary a lot in their susceptibility to the fungal disease, Black Spot. This can be a killer and a reason why you cannot grow some varieties. I use organic methods to cope with disease most of the time but I make an exception for my (our) roses. That means that I spray the plants most seasons from time to time and if the season is a bad one for black spot, like this one has been (wet and cool), I try to spray every fortnight.
Two things affect how much black spot you get. One is the kind of black spot you have in your neighbourhood; this can affect which varieties show resistance and which are relatively susceptible. The other thing is the microclimate in the garden. 'Agnes' is a rugosa that often does not show a lot of the disease. The 'Agnes' bush I have in the open border is fairly healthy but the one planted against the house is showing more black spot than just about any other.
So by looking around the garden at this time of year, you can see most clearly which roses are more resistant - the ones that are healthy even although they have never or rarely been sprayed. The suscepts are those that are looking very sad even after spraying regularly throughout the season. The list below has the most resistant at the top and least resistant (susceptible) at the bottom. Remember that this is according to infections observed in my garden over several years.
Tuscany Superb
Perle D'Or
Rose de Rescht
Blush Noisette
Rosamudi
gallica Versicolor Rosa Mundi
Ispahan
MutabilisRoseraie De L'HayPhyllis Bide
Brenda ColvinAgnesCupidWilliam LobbLittle White Pet
Old Blush ChinaStanwell PerpetualPenelope
Scharlachglut
Albertine
Mme Alfred Carriere
American Pillar
Windrush
Complicata
I use the systemic fungicide, 'Systhane' (active ingredient myclobutanil). The chemical prevents new infection of healthy tissue but also has a curative effect on any disease already present on leaves and stems.
IIn 2016. I plan to use another systemic substance, the chemical Phosphite (also known as phosphonate, a salt of phosphonic acid). This substance induces the natural defences of the plant. The mechanism is fairly well understood and is known as Systemic Acquired Resistance. This can also be seen when early infection of lower leaves of the plant can induce resistance in upper leaves and vice versa. The resistance appears to be non-specific as the plant is protected from viruses and a range of fungal and downy mildew diseases including rose downy mildew.
Tweet me if you have a comment about your findings compared to mine. @rudebotanical
Thursday, 2 January 2014
Well, waiting for a spell of cold weather before planting the tulips didn't work. Up till today, there's been one frost, and we've had a month of wet and stormy but not cold weather. So, since the weather was having a rest today, I planted 30 greigii tulips: Toronto, Quebec and Girlfriend in front of the shed.
I also planted 10 each of Elegant Lady, Ballerina, Aladdin and Jacqueline in a wide row behind them. Roll on spring!
Tuesday, 19 November 2013
Dahlias 2013. The most flowers from the big shaggy pale orange one we can't identify. A bit floppy as a cut flower. New Baby and Glorie van Heemstede didn't produce a lot of blooms. Karma Fuchsiana didn't either. Hillcrest Royal was good, and so was the large dark purple pompom. Taratahi Ruby was also very good. My favourite this year was the unnamed one we got from Hazel. It makes a very good cut flower, lasts well. They all responded very well to a liquid feel of tomorite at the end of August. Do more of that next year.
This year the plants grew much higher than ever before and needed more support. Remember that next year.
Our replacement dark blue plum sucker put on a reasonable amount of growth this summer, the best for years, though that's not saying much.
This year the plants grew much higher than ever before and needed more support. Remember that next year.
Our replacement dark blue plum sucker put on a reasonable amount of growth this summer, the best for years, though that's not saying much.
Department of good resolutions and new beginnings:
I have planted 10 Menton tulip bulbs in the bed by the Rosa Mundi. Six precious Sprengeri bulbs have gone into the "meadow", well marked and protected from squirrels by mesh. Sorbet which is like Marilyn should go in a pot. I have 40 lily flowered bulbs: Aladdin, Jacqueline, Elegant Lady and Ballerina for the bed beside the shed.
Along with them will go Toronto, Quebec and Girlfriend, but I'm afraid I've made a mistake in getting Greigii tulips: they might be too short for the size of the flower. We shall see.
Fifty allium sphaerocephalum (I think) have been put in everywhere, each one with a label, as well as 10 white allium in the north border of the conservatory garden.
I've started cutting down the dahlias and must remember to get some tubers of the orange one to Corinne in the spring.
I have planted 10 Menton tulip bulbs in the bed by the Rosa Mundi. Six precious Sprengeri bulbs have gone into the "meadow", well marked and protected from squirrels by mesh. Sorbet which is like Marilyn should go in a pot. I have 40 lily flowered bulbs: Aladdin, Jacqueline, Elegant Lady and Ballerina for the bed beside the shed.
Along with them will go Toronto, Quebec and Girlfriend, but I'm afraid I've made a mistake in getting Greigii tulips: they might be too short for the size of the flower. We shall see.
Fifty allium sphaerocephalum (I think) have been put in everywhere, each one with a label, as well as 10 white allium in the north border of the conservatory garden.
I've started cutting down the dahlias and must remember to get some tubers of the orange one to Corinne in the spring.
Friday, 9 August 2013
Wednesday, 17 April 2013
18 April. This is how far we have got. The siberian-sourced hawthorn on the roadside is green. The larches show a green haze. The viburnum mariesii has small leaves. The hornbeam leaves are just sprouting. The native hawthorn is still bare, as are the birch, sycamore, oak, ash, beech. This on a date when normally the countryside is fully green.
Daffodils haven't been stopped, thank goodness.
Daffodils haven't been stopped, thank goodness.
Tuesday, 9 April 2013
Spring. Not.
Garden news for 2013 so far. After a few pleasant days in Feb, January returned. March was a story of frost and bitter east winds. No change so far in April. Some roses are beginning to sprout a little and that's all. No sign of a leaf on a tree. The daffodils have struggled up, brave souls they are. In an average year, mid April sees all the shrubs and trees in leaf except the oaks.
The camellias at the top of the garden are flowering though. We're waiting for them to grow 8 feet high and wide like the ones at Bodnant. Fine feathers rhodo in that same border is looking well also.
The camellias at the top of the garden are flowering though. We're waiting for them to grow 8 feet high and wide like the ones at Bodnant. Fine feathers rhodo in that same border is looking well also.
Friday, 11 January 2013
Rhododendron 'Choremia'
Saturday, 29 December 2012
Christmas Posies
Did the usual Christmas harvest of flowers for the dinner table.
From top left, clockwise: Winter jasmine with Setterwort (Helleborus foetidus) and Arum italicum subsp. italicum 'Marmoratum'; Camellia susanqua 'Narumigata', Hesperantha coccinea ''Major', Rose 'Irene Watts', Dame's Violet (Hesperis matronalis) Setterwort flowers; Agapanthus 'Headbourne Hybrid' Sarcococca (flower buds not cold-primed to open yet); Bergenia cordifolia - old pink cv.; Prunus subhirtella autumnalis 'Rosea'.
Tuesday, 25 December 2012
Late December
I went to Uppsala just before Christmas. I was invited to examine a thesis on P. infestans as it attacks potato in Sweden by my colleagues Jonathan Yuen and Bjorn Andersson. Sweden was in the middle of a cold spell with maybe 20cm of snow and subzero temperatures for seeral weeks. The snow was still decorating the trees with white tinsel.
My Hotel room was very quiet and looked out on to the garden of the real Carl Linneus
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| Jonathan Yuen's garden |
When I landed in Mancester, it was still raining and a balmy 8C.
Our topiary holly at the front door is a male and needs a bit of adornment for the festive season so Lorna took this year's harvest of Agapanthus umbels and gave them a coat of red paint. La voilà
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| Merry Christmas! |
Saturday, 1 December 2012
Today was the day for digging up dahlias and noticing that the labels didn't really correspond very well to the flowers we had last summer.
The unlabelled light orange cactus-flowered plant gave us by far the greatest number of flowers through to mid-November. Karma Sangria seems to be the name of the Karma type we had. Flowers were in general a bit smaller than previous year, and I think I need to put in more food for them when I take up the tulips.
Which have now all arrived and it is time to plant them, pronto. Hope for some decent weather for that tomorrow.
November must have been yet another month for record-breaking rain. The A55 was flooded by the Ogwen at one point.
The unlabelled light orange cactus-flowered plant gave us by far the greatest number of flowers through to mid-November. Karma Sangria seems to be the name of the Karma type we had. Flowers were in general a bit smaller than previous year, and I think I need to put in more food for them when I take up the tulips.
Which have now all arrived and it is time to plant them, pronto. Hope for some decent weather for that tomorrow.
November must have been yet another month for record-breaking rain. The A55 was flooded by the Ogwen at one point.
Sunday, 14 October 2012
Dahlias
I'd say the star of this year was Karma Fuchsiana, exciting magenta and gold colouration and good long, strong stems. New Baby, the vivid orange pompom, hasn't such strong stems but is very pretty. Autumn Lustre (described as orangey) was a good yellow with long stems, but I think Glorie van Hemsteede is better as a flower. The big dark crimson pompom has good stems but not great numbers of flowers. Chat Noir had a few flowers but is not so interesting to me as that pompom. Taratahi Ruby, so I thought, was nothing like as red as the one with that name last year. Hillcrest Royal, dark red cactus, was a bit disappointing. However, the plants didn't grow very well in the wet and cool summer. Actually, they grew a lot of leaves but the flowers were slow to open.
I'd say the star of this year was Karma Fuchsiana, exciting magenta and gold colouration and good long, strong stems. New Baby, the vivid orange pompom, hasn't such strong stems but is very pretty. Autumn Lustre (described as orangey) was a good yellow with long stems, but I think Glorie van Hemsteede is better as a flower. The big dark crimson pompom has good stems but not great numbers of flowers. Chat Noir had a few flowers but is not so interesting to me as that pompom. Taratahi Ruby, so I thought, was nothing like as red as the one with that name last year. Hillcrest Royal, dark red cactus, was a bit disappointing. However, the plants didn't grow very well in the wet and cool summer. Actually, they grew a lot of leaves but the flowers were slow to open.
Willow, part three
The two willow structures got off to a good start this summer, the wettest of the last 100 years. I've just finished bending and tying in the long shoots from the top of the willow arbour in the new garden. It seemed best to place them where they would naturally bend to, giving a random appearance to the roof. The shoots from the sides turned out to look best and work most comfortably if they were brought down to the horizontal. I've started several horizontal bands of woven-in shoots. I hope they will sprout well from the horizontal plane next summer. If growth continues as it did this summer, it won't be many years before I shape the whole thing with a hedge trimmer once or twice a year.
There was at least one occasion when we sat in the shade of the willow arbour not wearing winter clothes.
I want to make the willow trellis a couple of feet higher, but haven't figured out how to do that yet.
The two willow structures got off to a good start this summer, the wettest of the last 100 years. I've just finished bending and tying in the long shoots from the top of the willow arbour in the new garden. It seemed best to place them where they would naturally bend to, giving a random appearance to the roof. The shoots from the sides turned out to look best and work most comfortably if they were brought down to the horizontal. I've started several horizontal bands of woven-in shoots. I hope they will sprout well from the horizontal plane next summer. If growth continues as it did this summer, it won't be many years before I shape the whole thing with a hedge trimmer once or twice a year.
There was at least one occasion when we sat in the shade of the willow arbour not wearing winter clothes.
I want to make the willow trellis a couple of feet higher, but haven't figured out how to do that yet.
Thursday, 5 July 2012
What June was like
Not good, is the two word description. The wettest June ever on record in Wales, and distinctly cool for most of the month, finally warming up to a bit below average. Sunshine was well down, with June 2012 ending up 20% down for sunlight compared to June 2011, which hadn't seemed very good at the time. The solar photovoltaic panels don't lie. Only 398.6 kWh of electricity were generated.
The group garden visit on 12 June had few roses to see. By today, July 5, all is flowery, with the midsummer Rosa Mundi and Brenda Colvin looking gorgeous. Young stems of Brenda Colvin were broken by the persistent easterly winds last month.
The group garden visit on 12 June had few roses to see. By today, July 5, all is flowery, with the midsummer Rosa Mundi and Brenda Colvin looking gorgeous. Young stems of Brenda Colvin were broken by the persistent easterly winds last month.
Saturday, 16 June 2012
Roses at Siambra Gwynion
this week our garden was open to a group of 40 U3A garden enthusiasts. After hearing my talk on roses, they asked to come and see them in the flesh. Tuesday was the best day we have had in weeks, apart from a stiff breeze at times. The roses were not at their best and would have needed another week of good weather to excel. Anyway they were much appreciated and all had a good tuck in to tea/coffee/corbie's lemonade and biscuits of superior brands.
Roses at Siambra Gwynion, 2012
Lane leaving house
Rosa canina: Dog Rose; on hedge; common but worth having
Rosa rubiginosa: Eglantine; on hedge; strong rose pink with good hips; foliage has smell of apples in damp weather
On East side of drive
Trier: small flowered hybrid musk with white-pink flushed flowers
Smarty: sprawling shrub with sprays of single blooms like our wild, Rosa canina
Rosa pimpinellifolia: The Burnet Rose, grows on dunes around our coasts; this selection is from the Altai mountains in Central Asia; larger lemon-yellow flowers in May
Blush Noisette: clusters of pink, semidouble flowers on vigorous bush, flowering into winter; good scent
Rosa nutkana: from Western USA; single pink blooms in June
Rosa farreri persetosa: Farrer’s threepenny-bit rose; NW China; attractive spiny branches lined with small pink blooms in May
R. multiflora: wild species from Japan and China with clusters of single white flowers
On West side of drive
Scintillation: large clusters of single pink flowers with red blush in June; good orange-green hips
Rosa californica ‘plena’: a double form of the Californian native; once flowering
Rosa glauca (syn R. rubrifolia): good glaucous green foliage with red and white flowers followed by dark red hips
Polyantha Grandiflora (syn. gentiliana): by the electronic substation; old far-eastern hybrid with huge bunches of single, white flowers with golden boss of stamens in late June; well scented; colourful hips; vigorous
Car park and front of house
Brenda Colvin: vigorous rambler, large bunches of semi-double pink flowers; well scented; July flowering
Max Graff single rose-pink; mound of foliage
R. moyesii: dark scarlet, single blooms in June and flask-shaped hips
Phyllis Bide: climbing; intriguing apricot colour fading to cream; flowering into winter, one of the best climbers but no scent
East side garden
Agnes: rugosa hybrid; lemon colour and lemon scent. Flowers into autumn
R. multiflora: wild species from China
Belle Sultane: single crimson, once flowering
Bouquet Tout Fait: an old climbing Noisette rose with pink/white blooms.
Masquerade: climbing, daughter’s favourite
Tour de Malakoff: gallica with marbled, mauve petals in June
In box bed
Roseraie de l’Hay: rugosa hybrid with strongly scented, dark purple flowers all summer long
Pink Surprise: rugosa hybrid with delicate, pale-pink, single flowers with prominent ring of stamens
Ruskin: rugosa hybrid with deep scarlet, highly scented, double blooms
Sarah van Fleet: rugosa hybrid with pink, semi-double flowers
On rose arch
Morletii: old Boursault rose; semi-double, dark pink; blooms once; thornless; good autumn colour on leaves
Grandma Jenny’s Rose: an old American climber with double pink flowers in August (found in Virginia)
Back wall of house
Agnes: rugosa hybrid; lemon colour and lemon scent. Flowers into autumn
Cupid: climber with crushed, large, single flowers in clusters early June followed by large orange hips
Wood garden
Alain Blanchard: semi-double, crimson with purple mottling, once flowering shrub rose
Penelope: hybrid musk; repeat flowering
Scharlachglut: vigorous sprawling shrub with intense scarlet flowers in June and good scarlet hips
Gloire de Dijon: Noisette climber with buff-yellow, scented, double flowers; repeats well.
Complicata: stunning large, single, pink flowers on sprawling plant; once flowering
R. rugosa: common Japanese species; single flowers in crimson and white; colourful autumn leaves and hips
Windrush: vigorous shrub with semi-double yellow flowers with sharp scent; repeats well
Top border
Albéric Barbier: lemon-yellow climber, shiny foliage; once flowering; tough
American Pillar: climber; big sprays of rose and white single flowers in July.
Albertine: climber with copper pink flowers and coppery foliage. Apple scent to some
Back garden
Blush Noisette: clusters of pink, semi-double flowers on vigorous bush, flowering into winter
William Lobb: moss rose with dark purple flowers fading to mauve. Once flowering
Rosa glauca (syn R. rubrifolia): wild rose from S. Europe; good glaucous green foliage with red and white flowers followed by dark red hips
Mutabilis: ancient china rose; flowers open apricot pink and fade to crimson
Rosa Mundi: old gallica hybrid with striped rose-pink and white flowers in late June
Conservatory lawn
Irène Watts: China; large, pale pink flowers; repeats well; reddish foliage
Dainty Bess: hybrid tea with pink, single flowers and dark stamens
Mrs Doreen Pike: in pot; rugosa hybrid; double, pink flowers; Doreen is a tad tarty
Perle d’Or: China with apricot, pointed-bud flowers
Old Blush China: two in pots; a great old China flowering non-stop if weather is kind; great scent
François Juranville: old climber, a bit like Albertine only better; flowers in June but sometimes later too.; watch out for mildew
Mme Alfred Carrière: excellent noisette climber with off-white, large, double blooms bourne throughout the summer and autumn
Rose de Rescht: old double Portland rose; purple flowers; repeats well
Joan Morgan rose: an old sprawling single like ‘Tuscany’ found in hedgerow near Joan’s house in Cororion, Tregarth
Stanwell Perpetual: a pimpinellifolia hybrid; flesh-pink fading to white; scent of Turkish Delight
Tuscany Superb: on willow tripod; sumptuous dark crimson-purple with golden boss of stamens
Celestial: Alba rose with bluish foliage and flesh-pink flowers in late June
White Wings: hybrid tea against wall; white with startling dark red anthers
Ispahan: Centifolia rose; double with good scent; once flowering over many weeks
Phyllis Bide: climbing; intriguing apricot colour fading to cream; flowering into winter, one of our favourite climbers but no scent
Cornelia: hybrid musk; bunches of small, deep rose flowers, repeating well
Little White Pet: small bush with pink buds opening white
Tower garden.
Violette: climber with bunches of tiny semi-double dark violet blooms in June
Summer Sunset:: on tower; repeat flowering but with undistinguished blooms
Snow Goose: an Austin climber with white blooms in June
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| This is R. 'Complicata'; it is unique in lasting in water for at least 5 days |
Roses at Siambra Gwynion, 2012
Lane leaving house
Rosa canina: Dog Rose; on hedge; common but worth having
Rosa rubiginosa: Eglantine; on hedge; strong rose pink with good hips; foliage has smell of apples in damp weather
On East side of drive
Trier: small flowered hybrid musk with white-pink flushed flowers
Smarty: sprawling shrub with sprays of single blooms like our wild, Rosa canina
Rosa pimpinellifolia: The Burnet Rose, grows on dunes around our coasts; this selection is from the Altai mountains in Central Asia; larger lemon-yellow flowers in May
Blush Noisette: clusters of pink, semidouble flowers on vigorous bush, flowering into winter; good scent
Rosa nutkana: from Western USA; single pink blooms in June
Rosa farreri persetosa: Farrer’s threepenny-bit rose; NW China; attractive spiny branches lined with small pink blooms in May
R. multiflora: wild species from Japan and China with clusters of single white flowers
On West side of drive
Scintillation: large clusters of single pink flowers with red blush in June; good orange-green hips
Rosa californica ‘plena’: a double form of the Californian native; once flowering
Rosa glauca (syn R. rubrifolia): good glaucous green foliage with red and white flowers followed by dark red hips
Polyantha Grandiflora (syn. gentiliana): by the electronic substation; old far-eastern hybrid with huge bunches of single, white flowers with golden boss of stamens in late June; well scented; colourful hips; vigorous
Car park and front of house
Brenda Colvin: vigorous rambler, large bunches of semi-double pink flowers; well scented; July flowering
Max Graff single rose-pink; mound of foliage
R. moyesii: dark scarlet, single blooms in June and flask-shaped hips
Phyllis Bide: climbing; intriguing apricot colour fading to cream; flowering into winter, one of the best climbers but no scent
East side garden
Agnes: rugosa hybrid; lemon colour and lemon scent. Flowers into autumn
R. multiflora: wild species from China
Belle Sultane: single crimson, once flowering
Bouquet Tout Fait: an old climbing Noisette rose with pink/white blooms.
Masquerade: climbing, daughter’s favourite
Tour de Malakoff: gallica with marbled, mauve petals in June
In box bed
Roseraie de l’Hay: rugosa hybrid with strongly scented, dark purple flowers all summer long
Pink Surprise: rugosa hybrid with delicate, pale-pink, single flowers with prominent ring of stamens
Ruskin: rugosa hybrid with deep scarlet, highly scented, double blooms
Sarah van Fleet: rugosa hybrid with pink, semi-double flowers
On rose arch
Morletii: old Boursault rose; semi-double, dark pink; blooms once; thornless; good autumn colour on leaves
Grandma Jenny’s Rose: an old American climber with double pink flowers in August (found in Virginia)
Back wall of house
Agnes: rugosa hybrid; lemon colour and lemon scent. Flowers into autumn
Cupid: climber with crushed, large, single flowers in clusters early June followed by large orange hips
Wood garden
Alain Blanchard: semi-double, crimson with purple mottling, once flowering shrub rose
Penelope: hybrid musk; repeat flowering
Scharlachglut: vigorous sprawling shrub with intense scarlet flowers in June and good scarlet hips
Gloire de Dijon: Noisette climber with buff-yellow, scented, double flowers; repeats well.
Complicata: stunning large, single, pink flowers on sprawling plant; once flowering
R. rugosa: common Japanese species; single flowers in crimson and white; colourful autumn leaves and hips
Windrush: vigorous shrub with semi-double yellow flowers with sharp scent; repeats well
Top border
Albéric Barbier: lemon-yellow climber, shiny foliage; once flowering; tough
American Pillar: climber; big sprays of rose and white single flowers in July.
Albertine: climber with copper pink flowers and coppery foliage. Apple scent to some
Back garden
Blush Noisette: clusters of pink, semi-double flowers on vigorous bush, flowering into winter
William Lobb: moss rose with dark purple flowers fading to mauve. Once flowering
Rosa glauca (syn R. rubrifolia): wild rose from S. Europe; good glaucous green foliage with red and white flowers followed by dark red hips
Mutabilis: ancient china rose; flowers open apricot pink and fade to crimson
Rosa Mundi: old gallica hybrid with striped rose-pink and white flowers in late June
Conservatory lawn
Irène Watts: China; large, pale pink flowers; repeats well; reddish foliage
Dainty Bess: hybrid tea with pink, single flowers and dark stamens
Mrs Doreen Pike: in pot; rugosa hybrid; double, pink flowers; Doreen is a tad tarty
Perle d’Or: China with apricot, pointed-bud flowers
Old Blush China: two in pots; a great old China flowering non-stop if weather is kind; great scent
François Juranville: old climber, a bit like Albertine only better; flowers in June but sometimes later too.; watch out for mildew
Mme Alfred Carrière: excellent noisette climber with off-white, large, double blooms bourne throughout the summer and autumn
Rose de Rescht: old double Portland rose; purple flowers; repeats well
Joan Morgan rose: an old sprawling single like ‘Tuscany’ found in hedgerow near Joan’s house in Cororion, Tregarth
Stanwell Perpetual: a pimpinellifolia hybrid; flesh-pink fading to white; scent of Turkish Delight
Tuscany Superb: on willow tripod; sumptuous dark crimson-purple with golden boss of stamens
Celestial: Alba rose with bluish foliage and flesh-pink flowers in late June
White Wings: hybrid tea against wall; white with startling dark red anthers
Ispahan: Centifolia rose; double with good scent; once flowering over many weeks
Phyllis Bide: climbing; intriguing apricot colour fading to cream; flowering into winter, one of our favourite climbers but no scent
Cornelia: hybrid musk; bunches of small, deep rose flowers, repeating well
Little White Pet: small bush with pink buds opening white
Tower garden.
Violette: climber with bunches of tiny semi-double dark violet blooms in June
Summer Sunset:: on tower; repeat flowering but with undistinguished blooms
Snow Goose: an Austin climber with white blooms in June
Saturday, 26 May 2012
It was cold in April, and May was just as cold for a week or so. Then it warmed up, so the temp was getting above 10 degrees most day. Finally a few days ago it turned May-like, and now it's even warm. Had dinner in the new garden and watched a red kite, the first definitely spotted around here.
Tulips: Moneymaker, Ballerina and China Pink make a great combination, Doll's Minuet did add something to that mix, a little extra craziness. I didn't enjoy Princess Irene as much as expected. No more greigiis. Remember to label the pot with species tulips, let them bake in the poly tunnel, and replant, leaving out the largest bulbs from the types with too-big flowers.
Dahlias have been potted on for planting out when we return from Scotland in early June.
Roses are all starting at once, except for Phyllis Bide and mutabilis, both severely damaged by the north winds of April and May. They hardly have a leaf yet. Lord Lambourne and Discovery apples are almost as bad. Charles Ross apple shrugged off those storms but not likely to have any fruit.
Planted a row of sweet peas in front of new willow trellis, with an angled mesh to climb up the first few feet. The new willow arbour is nicely leafed, still more basket-work than shaggy shed. It was pleasant to sit there and enjoy the shade yesterday evening when it was hot.
Tulips: Moneymaker, Ballerina and China Pink make a great combination, Doll's Minuet did add something to that mix, a little extra craziness. I didn't enjoy Princess Irene as much as expected. No more greigiis. Remember to label the pot with species tulips, let them bake in the poly tunnel, and replant, leaving out the largest bulbs from the types with too-big flowers.
Dahlias have been potted on for planting out when we return from Scotland in early June.
Roses are all starting at once, except for Phyllis Bide and mutabilis, both severely damaged by the north winds of April and May. They hardly have a leaf yet. Lord Lambourne and Discovery apples are almost as bad. Charles Ross apple shrugged off those storms but not likely to have any fruit.
Planted a row of sweet peas in front of new willow trellis, with an angled mesh to climb up the first few feet. The new willow arbour is nicely leafed, still more basket-work than shaggy shed. It was pleasant to sit there and enjoy the shade yesterday evening when it was hot.
Thursday, 26 April 2012
Tulip Time
Tulips have been doing what they do, shining out with such a jolt of vivid, intense saturated colour that we gladly pay to renew them every year. Well, most of them.
The greigii tulips up by the shed came first, but I don't think I'll be planting that kind again. The flower heads are just too big for the height of the tulip so they look a little awkward when they are the only flower in the bed. At around the same time we were astonished by the appearance of a big clump of White Triumphator or Purissima (check this) next to the new willow arbour in the new garden. They must have been buried there when I removed the old playhouse and added whatever compost came to hand--pots that needed emptying-- to bring up the level of the soil. In that cool shady sheltered spot they kept going for a month.
Our week of summer in March brought everything on rather quickly, then winter came back (and stayed) in the first week of April. Two days of a Force 9 easterly shredded the new leaves right off the roses and challenged tulip India growing in the bed by the white lilac. From the kitchen table we watched the flowers bending in the wind, the stems nearly horizontal. Amazingly, when the storm ended, there were still flowers there, and they gradually stood up straight again, no harm done at all. Now, at the end of April, another easterly is blowing and the flowers, now faded to pink with white edges, still look well. Note for autumn 2012: plant more tulips in this bed. Note for now: feed the foliage and hope India might pop up again. Another note: in this relatively sunny and not at all sheltered spot, they are still going after nearly a month.
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| Ballerina, Moneymaker and China Pink lily-flowered tulips |
I planted a mixture of small species tulips in a big pot and they did very well. I'll try to keep that pot going for next year. Possibly add some muscari? The muscari planted in the north border of the conservatory garden among the tulips look very well. The intensity of the blue works well with tulips. The Jan Reus tulips there, very dark red, have performed well, but they would show up better in a brighter spot. Tulip Princess Irene is just showing colour in this bed and up by the shed. Up by the shed the tall lily-flowered red, pink and orange tulips are the fairest of them all. And that is saying a lot.
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