Everything’s coming up…

Years ago, a wild, self sown (probably by birds) rose started growing in front of the holly tree. We left it to do it’s thing, being fond of roses of all types. It has always grown tall and luxurious, healthy and bushy. However, it has never produced any actual roses. So, every year, Mirinda prunes it to within an inch of its life and we forget about it.

This year, it started it’s big push and I have been trying to train it to run along the Wildflower Patch fence. All was the same as every other year and I was wondering when we’d cut it back and forget about it until 2016. Then, this morning, I found two of these:

And the bush is covered with buds! I think (and hope) it might be a Briar Rose.

Our other roses seem to have survived their various moves and are covered in buds as well. Having read up about how much roses hate being moved, I’m amazed they’ve survived it twice.

I spent most of the day in the garden. In preparation for Chris the Gardener on Saturday, I cleared everything from down the side of my office. This included an ever growing pile of old bricks, the old and crumbling herb table and the remains of the top soil.

A couple of years ago we bought a ton of top soil and I had to move it from the pavement, around Sidney and down the side of the house. Shovel to barrow then back again. It took me ages. Then, prior to the commencement of the extension last year, I had to move it again. This time I shovelled and barrowed it well out of the way, against the fence just beyond the office. And so, for the third time, armed with spade and wheel barrow, I moved it again.

Of course, the original ton has been reduced as we’ve used it but, because of inadequate sheltering, the soil had solidified, the combination of water and dirt creating a good solid foundation one could imagine building a skyscraper on. Which is why I was using a spade.

Cutting slices then chopping…it took me quite a while but eventually, I’d distributed the top soil, spreading it where required around the various beds (in particular in the big hole left after the removal of one of the ancient butterfly bushes) and forking it in. I felt a real sense of achievement and relief that I’d never have to move it again.

As I distributed the various lumps of dirt, I decided a few photos of various flowers were in order.

Cochineal rose

Firstly, the lovely, tiny cochineal rose, followed by one of the terracotta snapdragons.

Snaps

Actually, all the snapdragons are now out. As well as the terracotta (which are actually described as ‘orange’) there are also some lovely yellow sherbet ones.

Here’s a shot of part of the Wildflower Patch. It’s quite difficult to photograph effectively but this might give an idea.

At the end of the day, I settled down for a bit more weeding in The Garden of One Thousand Yaps and was struck by how pretty the lavender is looking, particularly from up close. So, here’s a single stalk.

Mmm, drawer liner…

I’ll soon have enough to sell to stupid tourists while I’m dressed up as an old, haggard Gypsy woman.