Cutting flowers

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HOLD THE PRUNERS

                                                                             

I have for several years grown the ‘Knockout Roses’. They had so much good PR, I was sold. Since it promised a long season of color,( something clients inevitable ask me for) I thought I needed to try them. Well, they did indeed bloom all summer long and stopped only around Christmas but they were far from ‘maintenance free’.

                                                                      

Why I started pruning them I’m not sure, but I was advised by several gardeners that one ‘had to’. This year I did not, well not all. I did start out cutting them back some but stopped when I was reminded of Vita Sackville West’s* plea to just trim roses lightly. So I did. She is/was after all, one of my first mentors.(I read everything I could on her, and everything she wrote that I could access.)
 
                                                                      

It worked! While I had complained before of their stiff habit; I now see  they can be a  graceful cascading plant. What will happen during the summer? I’ll keep you posted.

 Now, what to do about their lack of  fragrance?

NOTE: the wire cage in front is protecting a newly planted antique rose from the deer.

*Vita Sackville West was the planting genius behind the garden at Sissinghurst Castle, Kent England.

© All photos & text 2010

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GARDENER TO THE RESCUE

Another vase of peonies.

                                                                      

Went into the garden to rescue the peonies from the torrential downpour we had on Sunday. Fortunately not many were past the bud stage so there will still be plenty in the garden. I find that  peony hoops  are ineffective in this type of weather.

                                                                                                                                       

I was surprised that many survived the storm.

 Have I mentioned that before the clematis love, there were peonies…roses…hydrangeas……? Brings to mind the lyrics  “when I am not near the one I love… I love the one I’m near!”