FIRST ROSES

I’d hoped to have a million and one reasons for not going to work this morning but alas the odds are now firmly stacked in favour of a bank holiday heatwave and not my Euro-millions ticket.  I’d picked all my lucky numbers.  They weren’t.  I’ve had to console myself with a portion of home-made spare ribs and a cornetto to make up for my lack of millionaire status.

I may not be financially better off but my garden is bursting with nature’s richness. Last year we ripped out all the ivy planted around our secret seat and replaced it with a selection of both climbing and rambling roses.  

Rampant ivy has gotten out of control

Ivy replaced with climbing and rambling roses

Ivy left to its own devices is a rampant invader taking over every surface in its path.  Give it an inch and it’ll take a mile as we found out when scraping it off next door’s wall where it had decided to take a starring role in its’ own version of Jack and the Beanstalk.  Ivy is great for covering unsightly walls but take care to curtail its growth before it becomes a monster.

After only a few months roses have grown quite a bit

First roses to flower are the delicately pink ‘Laura Louisa’.  This rose has big bold blooms, a fine baby pink base colour tinged with pale yellow.  They are very pretty.

Laura Louisa fragrant climbing rose

‘Beautiful Sunrise’ is aptly named with shades of orange and yellow packed into small tight buds.  This climber has settled in well and put on a lot of growth since spring.

Beautiful Sunrise climbing rose

‘Chevy Chase’ is not far behind.  Already you can see deep red rose clusters getting ready to burst into flower.  It will make a stunning contrast to the lighter coloured roses.

Chevy Chase rambling rose

Last but not least is ‘Crimson Shower’ which has yet to put in appearance but which I’m sure will be as equally lovely as it’s thorny neighbours.

Garden tour complete, now we’re back to wall panelling.  It’s not all beer and cats you know, there’s still DIY to be done.  First coat of ‘Gentle Fawn’ applied to the MDF rails and stiles that will make up our recessed panels.  These should be ready to go onto the base panel in the next few days.

Painting the rails and stiles