Thursday 28 June 2012

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet

I mentioned in my last post that we had seven different roses in our garden.  We inherited them all when we moved in - the previous owners had obviously loved them. I have to admit to having had a problematic attiude to roses until recently.  Most of the year they look like dry sticks and don't provide any greenery, and only look good for a few weeks in May and June.  I've always loved the roses themselves, but they seemed hard work with their aphids and deadheading and need for pruning.  I wasn't about to dig them up, but they seemed more work than anything else.

This year has been different though.  I've fed the roses early in spring, I've bought organic aphid spray  to keep them in check and I've deadheaded more often.  And this year they have rewarded me with the most wondrous smelling, beautiful blooms.  As an impatient gardener, I am learning a lesson here - some plants need a little more care, a bit more effort and planning in order to produce at their best.  I also seem to have fallen in love with roses a little.  So I hope you will forgive my indulgence and enjoy these photographs of all seven rose bushes in Hazel Cottage garden:
 







God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.
James M. Barrie

Sweet spring, full of sweet days and roses, a box where sweets compacted lie.
George Herbert

They are not long, the days of wine and roses.
Ernest Dowson



5 comments:

  1. Lovely roses, we have just bought a dark red climbing rose for an arch, you were lucky to have all those roses in your garden Julie xxx

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  2. I love roses,have just bought a climbing rose for the front of the house.Love Jill xx

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  3. I love roses but like you I am often disappointed with their 'failure to thrive'- they turn out looking so different to how I hope... This year, mine are looking good too but it IS for such a brief time!Jane xx

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  4. Its been good to start to appreciate them more I must admit. I am particularly fond of climbing roses actually, especially when they are amongst other foliage. I love the idea of a rose in the front of the house!

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  5. Awwww,
    I love roses too!
    We have the most beautiful 'Blue moon' rose in our little garden, but alas shabby British weather has totally spoiled it, this year...
    Loved looking at yours!
    Just beautiful!!
    Maria x

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