TULIPS AND ROSES

We've had the most glorious weather this week.  Warm spring sunshine and blue skies.  It makes for a happy gardener.  There's been time to finish off a few overdue jobs.  Meanwhile, the tulips and daffodils continue to shine.

1. The Front Garden in the sunshine

I was walking around the garden with the camera yesterday afternoon and the front garden was bathed in sunshine.  So I took a snap, and here you have it.




2. Tulip Burgundy

I planted a selection of tulips last autumn, in the knot garden, which were chosen because they are supposed to be reasonably perennial.  The photograph above is of tulip Burgundy, a lily flowered variety.  We'll see how well it returns next year.


Further along are Recreado and Apricot Pride. 


The bamboo canes you see in the photo are at 1 metre intervals, to help with social distancing.  They are there to aid me in planting up the border.   A job that I'd hoped I would have finished by now.

3.  Feathered and Flamed

I'm sure I didn't order these Rhubarb and Custard tulips.  They were supposed to be white and purple or white and  dark red.  I have 7 pots full.  I'm trying to like them, but I'm rather disappointed.  I'm sure someone will be along in a moment to tell me that they aren't that bad, but I will know they are just trying to be kind.


But for every disappointment there is something that gladdens the heart though.  This tulip has 'broken'.  It was part of a Wilko's purple and white mix that was planted last year.  This year one of them has come up with these feathered markings.  If I were a Dutch speculator of the 17th Century I would have just made a fortune.  I'm really rather happy.


4. Madame Alfred Carriere 

Overdue job of the week was tying in Rosa Madame Alfred Carriere.  I. have to confess that this job has been going on for quite a while.  The whole rose was taken off the wall, one of the main stems removed altogether and then all the retained growth tied in.  I saw an article in Country Life earlier this year which showed this approach where the shoots are tied in to cover as much of the wall as possible.  I usually tie in the main branch framework and shorten all the side shoots, so this is a different approach for me.  It's been time consuming, so I hope the results will be worth while.  


5. Rhododendron

The first of the Rhododendron's has flowered.  I don't know the name of this variety.  Some of the lower branches have variegated leaves, but these upper ones are plain green.  After a couple of very dry years, and significant die back as a result, I'm just pleased to see this one happily flowering away.


6. Potatoes

I planted the first early potatoes last weekend - Charlotte and Pentland Javlin.  I made some slate signs.  I'm slightly concerned that it looks like a pets graveyard.



That's all from my garden this week.  We can't go out and visit gardens at present, but you can visit them virtually by following  The Propagator, who kindly hosts Six on Saturday.




















Comments

  1. The "pet graveyard" made me laugh, and I hadn't thought that until you mentioned it! It is disappointing when the plants you buy turn out to be something different to what you ordered. I am sure they will grow on you. Love the lily flowered ones. Well done with sorting out your wonderful rose, what a task, and dangerous too! Happy Easter to you. :)

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    1. It's not one of the thorniest roses thankfully. I escaped without any nasty scratches. Happy Easter Gill.

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  2. The effort you have taken with Madame Alfred Carriere will surely result in the most wonderful display, and given the weather, an early one no doubt. As for the 'pet graveyard' I too had to smile...maybe 'Potato' before the name would help to dispel the image. Thanks for the wonderful suggestion of 'Wakaranai' for my Acer last week.

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    1. Thanks for the suggestion on the signs. That will solve the problem completely.

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  3. I'm looking forward to seeing how that rose turns out. The tulips are lovely. Maybe we should invest in snowdrops now........apparently, some single bulbs can fetch £200!

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    1. I'm going to have a careful look at the snowdrops next year in the hope of discovering that new rarity.

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  4. Yes, kinda does look like a pet graveyard! :) That rose looks like a great deal of work....is it thorny? Cant wait to see it in bloom!

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    1. It's not too thorny thankfully. If it doesn't flower much at least I won't have to go to all this trouble again!

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  5. This rose is very beautiful and well pruned ! You will have a very beautiful flowering of course.
    About potatoes, I also grow Charlotte which have been in the ground for 1 month and the leaves have already emerged from the "pet graveyard" 😂: Watch out for possible night frosts ...

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    1. I'll be ready to earth them up when the leaves emerge. Thanks Fred.

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  6. The Rhododendron is 'President Roosevelt'. I was wondering if there was a variety like it without variegation then I noticed your comment said it had variegation lower down. I have a similar sized Mme Alfred Carriere to deal with in someone else's garden when I'm allowed back there. It's on a north wall, has no branching below 10 feet and is tangled up in the guttering.

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    1. Many thanks for the Rhodo ID. Good luck with sorting out that Mme Alfred. I'm sure it will be very satisfying to get it under control. If you don't fancy all that hard work you could always try my other climbing rose pruning technique. Chop it all off a foot above the ground. I've been doing this to Golden Showers hoping to kill it off, but it sprouts beautifully instead. 😂

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  7. I have a distinct feeling that Madame Alfred Carriere is going to look quite spectacular in a few months time. I’m sure your efforts will reward you well.

    I hope no pets were harmed in the planting of your potatoes. Your comment did bring a smile.

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    1. I can assure you the cat is alive and well and sleeping on the settee like a the lazy slob she is.

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  8. You look like you've done a grand job with Madame Alfred Carriere. Lovely tulips too. Mixed up orders of tulip bulbs seems to be quite common reading other SoSs. I ended up with some that weren't what they were supposed to be! Wilko is one of my favourite shops for bulbs.

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    1. I might stick to buying from Wilkos next year.

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  9. Your rose wall will look amazing when it's done, altho, as you said, it required a lot of work. This is why more folk should hang old mattress springs up as trellis. You simply slip the shoots into the coils & you're done. I like all your tulips, but also understand your disappointment at not getting what you wanted. And sun!

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    1. Sounds like the mattress method is very labour saving.

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  10. Beautiful tulips. I know what you mean about not getting the tulips you wanted. Last year I had some cottage yellow ones when I’d ordered white. It was a disappointment after all the anticipation. We have that rose and it just climbs to the top of an old apple tree and flowers every year. I’m afraid we never prune it. Best wishes . Karen

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  11. The tulips have changed as they aged. They are more raspberry and cream now, which is an improvement. I should be thankful that my white tulips turned out as described. I hope to see your rose on SoS some time.

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  12. I love the rhubarb and custard!

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