Everything's coming up roses.

Clockwise from top left: Rhapsody in Blue (Al's favourite) Munstead Wood (my favourite), Ferdninand Pichard & Port Sunlight (Chris's favourite)

A second visit to Davis Austin's followed by another crab salad (and, for Chris, a birthday) lunch meant that we came home with enough roses to finish off the top lawn border.  It now comprises of the following varieties:

Munstead Wood
Port Sunlight
The Countryman
Tranquility
Jude the Obscure
Ferninand Pichard (what a great name!)
Gertude Jekyll
Rhapsody in Blue

A James Galway also found its way into the shopping trolley and was planted up the dead pine tree (Chris's idea) which is one end of the hammock.  

The photo was taken during a very rare sunny moment after the rain had spoiled the majority of blooms.  Furthermore; the under-planting of Geraniums Johnson's Blue are hardly visible.  Hopefully and, with a decent summer next year, we'll enjoy boat loads of fragrant roses floating above a sea of vivid blue - fingers crossed!  

The finished border (showing the invisible Geraniums!)

Chris did a spot of very sly shopping and gave us a beautiful Nellie Moser which we planted up the telegraph pole - the other end of the hammock!  A totally unexpected and lovely surprise!

A Two Chris Saturday

BIKE SHED BEGINNINGS

Newly re-boarded base awaiting C treatment

Boards awaiting de-nailing

Just when we thought all major projects had finished, No 1 Gardener rolls up with an unwanted garden shed and, having dismantled if carefully, he managed to deliver whole sections of an 8'x10' shed unaided!  To our surprise, No 1 Builder arrived on Saturday morning and so work commenced on making the shed base and then taking the boards off the sides and cutting the frames to size.  Because we need to downsize it to 6'x8', all the waney edged boards needed removing and then de-nailing. Whilst this was going on, Chris (ie. the other Chris) was digging up Lilies-of-the-valley and moving them to the safety of the woodland border to make way for the shed base.    A Rosa Glauca and a Berberis also required moving.

And, yes it's already been pointed out that it would be cheaper to buy a new shed as we will be constructing a new shed from an old one AND having to take the first one to pieces before re-sizing it.  However, a new one would be just that - new and characterless.  

I'm not at all keen on the UVPC windows and am actively seeking better alternatives - via EBay.  When completed; the plan is to install an exercise bike.  Hopefully, the interior will be lined in ply and tastefully painted in Farrow & Ball paint - also discarded by its previous shed owners!  The only slight snag is that fact that 'Sir' is absolutely insisting that it is also insulated.  Not just any old insulation but insulation to a standard!  Now - how exactly can I tell a very busy builder who's already given up one Saturday??? Any ideas?

Flash floods, fields and flowers...

Rainy roses

...ON A DAY OF METEOROLOGICAL CONTRASTS

With biblical thunderstorms, it was far too wet to even consider gardening.  Instead, errands and appointments were kept.  It was hard not to feel smug having mowed all the lawns before the storms arrived.  Weatherwise - it was quite a day.  Torrential and positively equatorial rain all morning meant flood water even in the greenhouse!  No watering the tomatoes needed as they were awash. In Ombersley the floodwater was 18" deep and yet by the the afternoon it had nearly all disappeared and the sun came out.

Ombersley in the morning

Mawley Hall and acres of waving oats in the afternoon

A freshly showered Osteospermum......

..and yet 'Fox-Dragons' bathed in afternoon sunshine.

Weather War

PEONY WIN - WEATHER FAIL

Today I solved the problem of the effects  the wild weather is having on the peonies.  Rather than see them battered to death by the persistent rain and gales, I picked the lot - every last one, brought them indoors, arranged them in vases and put them where than be enjoyed - in safety! Result: peonies all saved!

Highway Code in the Garden?

Road Junction

Bend sign in The Fernery

The studio gets another sign

Thanks to Chris Genever, we have some beautiful old 60's road signs around the garden.  No chance of losing your way now! Even Clarissa has her own cattle sign and the studio has a school sign - straight out of a Peter & Jane book.  I can't claim the idea of placing them around the garden but it's much better than putting them on a wall.  The junction signs have been placed  at path corresponding intersections so it's not too mad.  At night they show up well because all are reflective.  This means they not only reflect the garden lights but also pick up the beam of a torch.

Clarissa's very own cattle sign

A rain-free day!

Newly extended rose border....

How lucky to have a fine gardening Saturday.  The new rose border was not only extended but, thanks to Chris, it now benefits from having some beautifully well rotted farm yard manure dug in too.  The only missing ingredients are the roses!  Still it's better than having half a border as it's looks much better running the full length of the Beech hedge.  Who knows?  Another fresh crab lunch at David Austin's may await!

....half planted with shrub roses

Top Lawn Border

Top Lawn Border - before...

...and after

This border looked all very pretty when the Forget-me-nots were in full bloom and in any case this skilfully edited photo didn't show much of the shoulder high Hedge Parsley most of which was out of shot on the right!  The fact is that (after the left photo was taken) the Forget-me-nots had all died and the entire border was choked with weed infestations - not just Hedge Parsley but Hemlock, Bryony, Bindweed, Sow Thistles and Chickweed!  Since the new Laurel hedge was planted, the border is much deeper and is really quite big - hence: 2 people 5 1/2 hours weeding!  With much anticipation, we planted the (very strong and healthy looking) Genever Dahlia Collection and even remembered the slug pellets! The plank path remains until we get around to making our Oak log stepping-stone path which will lead to the Banana Bench under Kay's arbour.  At least all this rain is ensuring that the new Laurel hedge at the back of the border is putting on some growth and we're not worrying about watering!