Tu-tu Dainty

I've come back to a garden that is largely bedding down for winter but to my delight I have another flush of roses and Dainty Bess is one of my absolute favourites. An old fashioned rose, it was also my gran's favourite. She was a ballet dancer and you can see the resemblance can't you.

P.S. on my delightfull holiday I learnt quite a few things about the plants on the east coast, which I will share during the course of the next few weeks. I have to do some research to fill in the gaps. See ya.

Kathryn asked me to show some pics of my roses in pots with the pennyroyal. So, here they are. Looking rather bare and spindly. (which is why I avoided them before)

In everyone's defence here (that is, mainly mine) they take a beating in summer with the sun and salt laden south easter and I've probably not been feeding them enough either.

No roses (small detail) - but no aphids either, which is a first (considering I haven't sprayed since I planted the Pennyroyal). And I see there are lots of new leaves. I have also been wondering wether they need bigger pots. They have been in these for a bit more than two years. My usual best performer is the Papa Meiland but it is also the most sheltered of the five:

Royal Zulu

Queen Elizabeth

Papa Meiland

Julia's Rose

Dainty Bess

On a happier note, this is what they bring to my table before being roughed-up by me and the weather. The only one missing is Dainty Bess.

Spotlight on

A bit like a Robbie Williams some bugs look better in the lime light, and center stage is actually quite forgiving. I know this guy is bad news but he's positioned himself so beautifully that I'll forgive him this bud.

Always take a closer look

Shy or guilty?

WhirlWindWeek

The end of this hectic week is in finally in sight. Not only socially, but weatherwise to. (The south easter has been having a go at us again) and like my roses I'm a frayed at the edges but still pretty much in tact. Phew.

The End

It's that time of year where my two lives clash. Three schools and all their end of term exhibitions, concerts, prizegivings, auctions, class parties and dress-ups.

I'm finished!

A Match made in heaven

I have finally proven that going to the hairdresser is good for the garden.



Sitting there yesterday with my roots showing, I got to catch-up on all the hairdresser reads. And lo-and-behold in the latest edition of 'Your Family' I came across these useful tips for the green-fingered. Bury bananas under your rose bushes for a potassium kick and keep the snails away by tieing copper wire around your pots. Who knew. My search through 'Glamour' wasn't quite as useful.

Happiness is

The only thing more beautiful than these (Papa Meilland ~ I think) is the way they have wrapped my room in their intoxicating perfume.

What to do?

Does anybody know of a nice way to get rid of these little critters. Someone has suggested Sunlight Soap as it's not toxic?

Friends, Romans, Countrymen...

Oh dear, like my garden this space is very intimidating. And like my garden I will endeavor to fill it with something true, something beautiful and something that reflects my thirst for all things green.

My first rosebud ~ complete with aphid. First thing in the morning, you can't help but smile.

Summer's coming!

My happiest time spent in my garden is watering it, that's when I make most of my discoveries (good & bad).