Tuesday, 30 October 2007

Mushrooms

e92510c82827a4c3e5e764538c02d210.jpgThis impressive crop of fungi has sprouted at the foot of my hawthorn tree, with a few smaller groups scattered around nearby.

l have no idea which variety they are as l haven't investigated further, but l won't be frying them up with my bacon and eggs in the morning that's for sure. l don't want a trip to my nearest A&E department for a date with a stomach pump! (Or even a date with death.)

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Thursday, 06 September 2007

Harvest For The Fridge

ce2e266302fc31753edc744981e7cba3.jpgl'm drowning under a sea of cherry tomatoes !

What started as a modest and easily useable handful of fruits (or is it vegetables?) each day has steadily progressed into whole punnets. Not that l'm complaining because they've been very tasty and it's nice to know that no chemical of any kind has been in contact with them, and they are as fresh as it is possible for them to be.

But next year l'm growing fewer plants, and trying a different variety. Earlier in the year l bought some supermarket tomatoes which had a beautiful flavour and l saved some of the seeds from them so l hope they will germinate next spring. The variety was called 'Aranta'.

 

l quite enjoy the end of the Summer season as it blends into Autumn because it gives me the chance to clear the borders, dispose of annual plants, dig in some soil conditioner and generally get things into some order before Winter makes an appearence. And l like to plot and plan for next year.

l've bought some pink double tulips - ' Angelique' (above) and have potted them up ready for Spring. These will be used for added colour in the garden and can be placed where they are needed most. Unlike bulbs planted directly into the ground though, they do need watering during the Winter when there is a dry spell.

Also new for the Summer will be some dramatic purple Aliums - a type of ornamental onion. l've never grown them before so it will be something to look forward to. 

My Echinaceas are at the large seedling stage. l'd hope they would be a little more advanced by now as they need to be bigger before they can be planted out into the garden ready for flowering next June. But that's gardening for you, things grow at their own pace.

The blue glazed urn, once home to my now sadly deceased Japanese maple 'Orange Dream', has been re-vamped and used for a display of velvety purple pansies with a bright yellow blotch in the centre, and a golden ornamental grass for height and contrast. lt gives a very pleasing effect and a nice splash of colour in the enclosed section of the back garden where they can be seen every day.

17:00 Posted in Gardening | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: cherry tomatoes, 'Aranta' tomatoes, tulips 'Angelique', Aliums, pansies, ornamental grass

Sunday, 03 June 2007

Birds And Bees

medium_101_0110.jpgThis is more like it. The sunshine has returned - for now - and Pussem's happy too, having sneaked onto my chair the minute my back was turned.

My wall pots are full of little greenish-white strawberries and even the blackcurrant bush has nine tiny currants. l wasn't expecting anything from it the first season so l'm pleasantly surprised how healthy it is.

Three of my tomato plants are now in a grow-bag and appreciate the extra root space as they've put on alot of growth. Two more plants are in the border. No sign of any flowers yet though. One of the disadvantages of grow-bags is the shallow depth of soil and the tendancy of the bamboo canes to tilt over and need supporting themselves. l think l've got round the problem by inserting a piece of branch in front of each plant and tieing it back against the cane to improve stablity. The purple fringe of campanula around them looks great and is very popular with bees.medium_101_0111.jpg l like to encourage them as much as possible to help pollinate the fruit and vegetables. Pyracantha blossom is another favourite of theirs.

Last year l bought a number of small plug plants of some herbs and these are doing well, apart from the French tarragon which didn't survive the winter. The biggest success has got to be the lemon balm (below) and it's grown so much l've already been able to take some cuttings of it. The leaves, especially the younger ones, have a fabulous zingy lemon scent when you rub them between your fingers.medium_101_0112.jpg

The bird-life has been going through some changes in recent years. Blackbirds for instance, were once readily seen hopping across the lawn and pulling worms out of the soil. Their lovely flute-y song was heard during the day and the familiar 'chink-chink' at dusk. And families of sparrows would take vigorous dust baths in the borders and then sit and preen their feathers on the forsythia nearby. Now they have all but disappeared. Perhaps this is in part due to the cats who have claimed the garden as their domain. A couple of species which are thriving are wood pidgeons and collared doves. They just weren't around when l was younger, now they're everywhere!

13:30 Posted in Gardening | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: Pussem, gardening, strawberries, blackcurrants, tomatoes, grow-bags, herbs

Monday, 30 April 2007

New Additions

medium_101_0107.jpgThese were given to me by Ralph. The one at the front on the left is called a Shaving Brush plant (because the flowers resemble shaving brushes), the rest are Aloe Veras - widely used for their soothing, medicinal properties. Ralph is into spikey and unusual plants, and more recently different varieties of mints of which he has quite a large selection. l'll ask him to post some pictures on his blog Swimming Against The The Tide.

 ln this shot below, l have tomatoes (on the left), chives (at the front), nasturtiums (behind them), two pots of cat grass for Pussem to nibble on in the hopes he'll leave my houseplants alone, overcrowded white annuals and night scented stock at the back. Behind these is one of my Japanese Maples. Although l love the shape of the pot it wasn't a good choice. When the maple grows too large it will be very difficult to remove due to the narrow rim.

medium_101_0103.2.jpg

On the wall, out of harm's way is my strawberry plant 'Aromel'. The first flowers have appeared and it's now busily forming tiny fruits. l have a second variety 'Pegasus', supposed to be a heavy cropper. These should keep me supplied with fruits from mid summer onwards.

medium_101_0102.jpg

12:15 Posted in Gardening | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: gardening, Aloe Vera, Shaving Brush plant, Strawberries, 'Aromel', 'Pegasus'

Saturday, 14 April 2007

Potting On

Things are growing so fast now! Bursting into life with an unstoppable vigour.

My tomato seedlings have moved house into larger pots as they now have two pairs of true leaves and were jostling for space. From here they'll go into their final positions - grow bags or larger pots. All seven seeds have germinated - a hundred per cent success rate. As l only need three at the most l'm not sure what to do with the others.

Still no olive plants, or blue poppies. Patience is a valuable attribute when you grow your own. The poppies are going through their two week 'cold spell' in the fridge, but l check them every day.

The night-scented stock and white flowered annuals are sprouting like mustard and cress. A lovely surprise, as they had been languishing in their packets for a very long time - two or three years - and l thought they'd be dried up and useless by now. lt's remarkable how such tiny brown specks can evolve into living plants, full of scent and colour to delight us all through the summer.

My latest acquisition is a blackcurrant bush. l have visions of blackcurrant ice cream, apple and blackcurrant pie, blackcurrant jam ... but sadly l won't get any of these this year as it doesn't bear fruit until it's two, and even then l suspect the crop won't be huge. lt's an unpromising twig now, less than a foot tall, and apart from a miniscule green shoot it gives the impression of being dead! l was reading up about their cultivation yesterday, and l definitely do not like the sound of 'Currant Fly'.

Lily of the Valley are pushing reddish/brown shoots like little spears, through the earth. lt spreads like mad, and never seems to need feeding.

The wood spurge is in full flower. The blooms are a beautiful lime green shade and contrasts wonderfully with the dark maroon leaves. l'm tempted to take some cuttings later in the season, but l'm wary of the milky sap which can irritate the skin. l might take the risk - wearing gloves.

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Sunday, 01 April 2007

Growing Up

medium_277.jpgJust one week after sowing the seeds of 'Gardener's Delight' tomatoes (pictured), and also some chives, tiny green shoots have appeared already which l gaze at in awe. ln my mind, l am already harvesting the fruits of my labours.

l am deliberating whether to plant out the tomatoes when they are large enough, into Grow-Bags, or in pots. l think the pots will win. They are deeper for one thing, higher off the ground away from slugs and snails, and take up less standing room. The other option is to plant them directly into the border at the far end of the garden, but then they would be at the mercy of passing pedestrians, some of whom may like the idea of 'free' home-grown produce.

 

My herb border is getting a re-vamp after the winter, as it looks a little jaded. l've weeded and cut away any brown stems, and fed it with some organic pelleted fertilizer. The french tarragon appears to be dead. lt is an annual shrub, but l had hoped it would survive.

l'm in the process of ruthlessly hacking back a hypericum which has become a monster and taken over a large section of the border under the front window of the house. lt is a useful hotel for snails. They like to slide up into it's twiggy branches during daylight hours, then nibble holes in the choiysia and japanese anemones next to it when darkness falls. So, it needs to be cut down to size - around 18inches should be enough.

 

medium_8668.jpgl was given some bulbs of an unusual plant called a Voodoo lily. lnitially, they need no soil or water at all. They can be stood on a saucer or a windowsill and the leaves and flowers just emerge. The flowers are said to have a very distinctive and pungent aroma. (Hence the name 'voodoo' ?!) After blooming, they are planted in soil and a new bulb forms in place of the old, now shrivelled one, then stored in a cool, dry place until the following Spring when the whole process begins again.

12:55 Posted in Gardening | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: gardening, tomatoes, 'Gardener's Delight', chives, herbs, voodoo lily

Monday, 19 March 2007

Snow!

medium_geranuim_san..jpgl woke this morning and looked out onto a snowy white world ... and one cold black cat sitting patiently by the back gate, waiting to be let in. Despite my attempts last night to encourage him indoors for the night as it was so chilly, Pussem had flatly refused and padded off in the direction of a neighbours garden. He was happy enough to come in this morning and be dried off though. After a bowl of food and something to drink he curled up on one of the beds for a nap.

 

l am slightly concerned about my plants as they had just started into growth and the change of temperature must have been a real shock to the system, but the snow is already melting and the sun is out so l don't think they'll suffer any lasting damage. Yesterday l moved my Japanese maples (in pots) into the back porch as a precaution against the high winds - yes, we had those too. The papery leaves seemed too fragile to cope with the enslaught.

Last week l bought a geranium sanguineum (also known as Bloody Cranesbill), pictured above. lt wasn't in a pot, but just a ball of roots surrounded by compost sealed in a plastic bag, then a cardboard tube. As it only cost me 79p l'll be pleased if it grows. Planting it outdoors will have to wait a day or so til the weather warms up. The soil is too wet and cold at the moment, and l'm more of a fair-weather gardener.

l also bought a couple of small houseplants called Ludisia. l had no idea what these were, but the rounded maroon coloured leaves with red veins, and little white flowers on elegant stems were very appealing. After searching on the internet l discovered their other name is the Jewel Orchid.

Some olive tree seeds given to me by Ralph, have not yet germinated. l read their growth can be erratic. Even in the wild where a tree would shed hundreds of fruits, only relatively few would take root. l may try putting them in the fridge for a couple of weeks. The shock of the cold might wake them up.

My strawberry plant 'Aromel' remains under cover. Eventually l will put it in a large wall planter - l have a useful south facing wall which gets a lot of sun (when we have any), and is well away from the cats. Aromel is a variety with well flavoured berries and a long fruiting season. lt will be quite novel to be able to pick my own strawberries in the summer.

 

14:00 Posted in Gardening | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: Pussem, Japanese maples, geranium sanguineum, ludisia, olive trees, strawberries, Aromel

Tuesday, 20 February 2007

Going Green

The task of rose pruning began today. My Zepherine Drouhin climber still had alot of leaves from last year, and there were some new shoots too, but most of them had to be sacrificed to my secateurs as l needed to cut lower down the stems. This will create a more open and healthier shrub. l worked a couple of handsful of B&Q Multi Purpose Organic Plant Food into the soil around the base, and sprayed the stems with Rose Clear to protect against pests and diseases.

Nearby, l had some rooted cuttings of another climbing rose called Schoolgirl. Inspite of being lovingly cared for they have never shown any signs of wanting to flower and l suspect they aren't getting enough sunshine as their current position is quite shaded. l dug them up and moved them to a warmer home at the base of a south facing wall.

ln their place l'm going to put a selection of hardy ferns. A thick lush carpet of fragrant green fronds should look beautiful. l may put some slate chippings or cobbles around them as a finishing touch. This will help to retain the moisture in the soil. Ferns like it cool and damp.

The Purple Wood Spurge l planted last year is doing well. lt has a nice neat habit of growth with purplish-green leaves. The new growth at the end of each stem is a contrasting pinky-red. l can't wait to see what it looks like in flower.

Still no sign of any buds on my Tete a Tete daffodils, and just a couple on February Gold.

23:05 Posted in Gardening | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: gardening, roses, Zepherine Drouhin, Schoolgirl, B&Q, Rose Clear, hardy ferns

Saturday, 03 February 2007

Lost Gold

medium_images.2.jpgl was in the back garden yesterday and something was wrong. lt didn't look as it should do at this time of year.

Then l realised. No daffodils!

l'm used to enjoying a cheery display of minature multi-flowered Tete a Tete and the slightly larger February Gold. On closer inspection there were leaves but no sign yet of buds. l can only put this down to the hot dry summer we experienced last year. l have free draining sandy soil and the bulbs may have dried out which affected their growth. l only hope they recover. l miss my splashes of gold.

 

On a happier note, a patch of snowdrops which l thought l'd lost when workmen were trampling over the border, putting up scaffolding, have emerged. A strange thing though, inspite of being there for many years the clump has never increased in size.

 

One of my two pyracanthas looks very sorry for itself, almost totally devoid of leaves. l've been pruning it back in stages and planned to eventually replace it with something else, but l won't need to now. Growing near the base is a holly bush! Around two feet tall, green and healthy, probably the result of a bird dropping a berry, or eating it first then dropping it.

l love it when l receive one of nature's free gifts.

22:30 Posted in Gardening | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: daffodils, Tete a Tete, February Gold, snowdrops, pyracantha, holly, gardening

Friday, 29 December 2006

lt's All Too Much!

Too much food and alcohol .. too much time spent slumped in a heap on the sofa .. too many repeats on TV ..

lt was a relief to get outside for some gardening therapy. My plan to tidy for half an hour maximum quickly escalated to an hour and an half because l was so absorbed by non-thinking, physical exertion.

Sweeping and gathering leaves was the first task. Worth doing as the borders look so much neater without this carpet of brown decaying 'stuff' harbouring pests and diseases and blocking the plants' air flow. Also, l found a £10 note tucked in amongst the leaves to my delight. l might put it towards the purchase of a statue for the garden.

Next, pruning back dead or scruffy vegetation for the same reasons as above. Many gardeners prefer to leave on this growth to protect the plant from frosts but it can be a home for overwintering insects, not all of them friendly. The choice is yours.

This was followed by cleaning tubs and pots which are kept outside. One of the Japanese maples l bought last year is in an attractive biscuit coloured urn, but it is unglazed and with the damp cold weather has acquired a light covering of bright green algae. But this was easily removed with a squirt of washing-up liquid in some water and a scrubbing brush. The urn has now regained it's 'just bought from B & Q' good looks.

Lastly, a similar treatment for pathways and patio areas which can become green and grimy although it's best if you substitute a broom for the scrubbing brush otherwise it will take you until the end of next year! Preferably use a broom with stiff plastic bristles which are more water resistant and don't wear so quickly as the natural sort.  Again, washing-up liquid with water is fine, but if they need more of a heavy duty clean it's worth buying a special Path and Patio cleaner and follow the instructions carefully incase it isn't pet friendly.

 

l found this test featured on another blog so l hope the owner will forgive me for borrowing it, but it's just the thing for sluggish brains   www.mybraintrainer.com/brainpower/index.asp   

 

The New Year is almost upon us and there are quite a few traditions surrounding it :  http://wilstar.com/holidays/newyear.htm  

Perhaps we all have our strange superstitions. l have one. l put a piece of coal and some coins outside on the windowsill on New Years Eve, then bring them in again the following morning - hopefully bringing warmth, good luck and wealth in with them.

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE !! 

 

 

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Thursday, 12 October 2006

Spade Work

The roof men have been, did what they had to do, then left, leaving a trail of dust and debris in their wake. Now l'm just waiting for the scaffolding to be removed and things should be back to normal.

 

After the monsoon-like rains of two weeks ago weeds of all shapes and sizes have moved in and taken over the borders, and the insect life seems to have increased dramatically too. Small holes have appeared in nearly every leaf in the back garden, particularly my herbs. On closer inspection they are the result of lots of little bright green caterpillars which l am removing by hand.

lt took a while to clear even one border of weeds even though l used a spade rather than a small hand fork, which l would later come to regret. l had almost finished and was in the middle of admiring my handiwork of nice clean earth and tidy plants when l became aware of a huge pale brown spider with impossibly long legs marching up the sleeve of my jacket.

I don't know exactly what happened next. lt's all a bit of a blur.

l vaguely remember screeching like a girl ... jabbing at my sleeve with my other arm ... trying to take my jacket off without unzipping it first ... and meanwhile the spade (very large and heavy) which l was resting against fell over and dropped on my foot! Rather than causing me to screech louder, it had the opposite effect and as the pain registered l fell into stunned silence and harboured wild thoughts of broken bones.

But luckily it was just bruised.

 

Quote: 'ln and through all our work in the midst of people, and the many things, our soul dwells with the divine.'

                                  Swami Omkarananda 

 

 

 

12:49 Posted in Gardening | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: garden, caterpillars, spiders, Swami Omkarananda

Tuesday, 08 August 2006

Snip And Trim

Grey skies, rain, even a few flashes of lightning thrown in. Yes, that's more like it. You can have too much of a good thing, ie hot weather.

We're half way through the summer and l'm in the middle of tidying those plants which have finished flowering, although some of them will have a second burst of colour later in the season.

 l've cut off the dead flower spikes of the lavender and already 'Royal Blue' is forming some new buds, as is the younger of my two 'Hidcotes.'

Geranium 'Wargrave Pink' was trimmed back quite hard within a few inches of the ground just three weeks ago and at first looked very bare and sorry for itself but now has a lush green carpet of new leaves and hopefully some more flowers soon. lt's worth doing with this variety as it can become straggly otherwise.

Anemone Japonica is at it's loveliest with a succession of pale mauvey pink blooms. The individual flowers do not last very long but if they are nipped off as soon as the petals drop they will produce more. They appreciate being kept fed and watered regularly and will repay the extra attention.

The biggest casualty of the hot spell seems to be my lawn. lt's yellow with black patches of dead moss. Not a good colour combination for your lawn. Raking out moss has to be one of the most back -breaking jobs in the garden. Guaranteed to burn off the calories, it's better than a work-out at the gym. l don't tackle it all at once, l pace myself, around fifteen minutes is enough. l rake a small area of moss at a time, then gather it up and bin it. Avoid spreading it around the lawn onto healthy areas.

15:55 Posted in Gardening | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: lavender, geranium, anemone japonica, lawns

Wednesday, 05 July 2006

Hotter Than July

lt's been very, very hot for a few days now and some plants positively bask in this type of extreme weather, the herbs and the lavender for instance, while others wilt. My perennial cornflowers look very sorry for themselves, as if they are ready to expire at any minute. Then during the evening when the heat is off them they miraculously perk up as if nothing has happened.

The roses appear not to mind either heat or cold, especially one of the older varieties called 'Great Maiden's Blush', so named because it has lovely soft blush pink blooms. The truly wonderful fragrance reminds me of Turkish Delight. l prune it quite hard each year around February or March, but hardly feed it because it's so vigorous and puts on alot of growth. As it's positioned next to a path l think it must enjoy having it's roots in the cool earth underneath.

Last week l bought a courgette plant. l'm not sure why exactly, as l don't 'do' vegetables. There are too many enemies ready to chew them up when my back is turned for my liking. But, it was on it's own, the last one on the shelf, lost and forgotten. So l've given it a good home in a big pot and in full sun which they relish.

At the weekend l ordered a few new plants - some variegated lemon balm, a golden sage and two sorts of lavender, 'Twickel Purple' and 'Seal'. They are from  www.norfolkherbs.co.uk/   Payment for goods is through Paypal, cheque or you can 'phone them with your credit card details.

 

Rose Wars Update : Success! Zepherine Drouhin is happy and healthy and free from disease and aphids, and in full bloom. The 'Rose Clear Gun' has done it's work.

 

Quote :   ' We learn from our gardens to deal with the most urgent question of the time: How much is enough?'

                                                                                                        Wendell Berry

 

21:30 Posted in Gardening | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: gardening, roses, herbs

Thursday, 22 June 2006

Purple Haze

medium_LavenderFarm.jpgI bought a new lavender plant this week - a variety called 'Royal Blue,' which l hadn't heard of before. It has French parents and is supposed to bloom profusely from May to October. As the name suggests, the flowers are an attractive shade of blueish purple, and are clustered in a thick spike at the top of the stem. The leaves are a light silver grey - a good foliage colour which contrasts well with other plants - and are wider than normal.

It'll make an interesting addition to the border.

There are over forty varieties of English lavender alone and it's a pity that more of them aren't widely available at small retail outlets and garden centres rather than the usual 'Hidcote' and 'Munstead'; although from time to time l come across a pink flowered one, or a white - quite a murky white l have to say, unfortunately.

French lavenders, with the familiar 'ears' at the top are becoming increasingly popular, but seem to lack the gorgeous fragrance of the English type which is a big part of the plants' charm.

They are versatile and easy to grow, virtually pest free, bee's love them and every garden should have at least one of these beautiful plants.

 

Some good websites are :    www.gardensupplydirect.co.uk/   which have around 20 varieties on offer.

www.gardenguides.com/articles/lavender.htm   has info on growing them.

www.purplehazelavender.com   is also worth a look. 

16:00 Posted in Gardening | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: Lavender

Friday, 19 May 2006

Orange Dream

ln the gardening section of my local discount store were some beautiful Japanese maple trees, or Acer Palmatum to give them their botanical name. l'd wanted one for a long time, years in fact, but l'd always been put off as they seemed to need specific conditions and l wasn't sure my small exposed garden could provide them.

They need a fairly sheltered site. No high winds, late frosts or hot sun - all of which would damage the delicate, paper-thin leaves, or strip them off completely.

But l couldn't resist them, and at only £3.99 for an 18inch specimen, very good value l thought. The variety l finally decided on was called ' Orange Dream' (pictured). It has light gold leaves tinged with orange and striking bright green bark, with an upright habit and it doesn't grow too large. This is important as l'm going to put it in a pot, probably a blue glazed one. The contrast with the leaf colour should look fabulous. l'll keep it in the enclosed section of my garden at the back of the house, and if necessary l can always bring it into the porch during the worst of the winter weather.

lt may need some extra attention, but it'll be well worth it!

 

l've been in a gardening frame of mind for a few days. l replanted a neglected, weed infested patch too. lnstead of dandelions, over large clumps of Spanish bluebells and couch grass, l now have carnations, lavender 'Hidcote', a kerria japonica and some perennial cornflowers which l can't wait to see in full bloom. There is an excellent photo of this at   www.blearyeyes.org.uk/?image=20050518

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Saturday, 13 May 2006

Wood Spurge Story

During the winter my French lavender was killed by frost which wasn't altogether unexpected as they tend to be short lived in my garden, but it left a space in the border right beside the main path. l was unsure what to put in it as the soil is light and free draining inspite of liberal mulching and good helpings of soil conditioner. lt's also surrounded by quite large well established shrubs. For part of the day it gets sun (when we have any), and l wanted a plant which was neat, attractive, hardy and trouble free. Sprawling, pest-ridden and delicate subjects need not apply.

Finally l decided on euphorbia amygdaloides - or wood spurge.

l have high hopes for it. Good leaf shape, evergreen if it's happy, lime green flowers, around two feet tall and one foot wide, although it spreads by runners, and is easy to maintain. The only thing you need to watch out for is when you cut it back after flowering. Plants of the euphorbia family have a milky sap which oozes out when the stems are cut. This can sometimes irritate the skin so gardening gloves are a must.

My eurphorbia looks very contented in it's new home.

Rose Wars Update:  The shoots on my Zepherine Drouhin are now around 10 - 12 inches long, covered in healthy leaves with absolutely no sign of pests or diseases. Amazing. Usually at this time of year l notice some black spot. The 'Rose Clear Gun!' manufactured by Scotts seems to be living up to it's name.

A good gardening website is  www.bbc.co.uk/gardening

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Monday, 24 April 2006

Rose Wars

A long, long time ago ... l planted a climbing rose called Zepherine Drouhin. lt's pink, it's beautiful, but it's cursed, cursed with every pest and disease known to the rose world. Black spot, powdery mildew, rust, aphids of all colours and all sizes, caterpillars, thrips, earwigs, leaf-cutter bees ... You name it and my rose has suffered the effects. But every year it bravely has another stab at putting on a show of half decent blooms only to succumb once more.

Until now!

Because l've got a spray gun full of chemicals, and l intend to use it.

Those gentle, environmentally friendly organic remedies just don't have what it takes. lt's time for the heavy artillery. So, at the first sign of leaf shoots, l took aim and fired!

Watch this space for more battle updates.

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