Roses

When I was young my mum was the real gardener but I remember my dad did one thing, prune the roses. They were in a rose border with nothing else, but the roses were carefully tended each year.

I never liked roses very much until about 15 years ago when we moved to this garden.

We have lots of walls to cover so my daughter gave me 2 climbers and a rambler for my birthday, chosen for their names.

Alfred Carrier, a quite rampant rose, growing over an arch, so has to be pruned back when high winds come in the autumn, the scent is wonderful.

Penny Lane, a lovely white climber, once the flowers die back the hips are lovely over winter.

The rambler Alberic Barbier a real rambler and flowers May and into July, repeat flowers occasionally so an even longer flowering time.

When we moved here there was a lovely red climber which we moved when it was in the way of a new wall and it survived and flourished. No idea what the name is but it grows well each year, flowers for weeks and I have taken several cuttings from it which are in other parts of our and others gardens.

Add to that the 25th wedding anniversary present rose, a very tall red rose given to us by a friend and a very special rose. Joanna Elise, this rose was chosen by a group of friends from a breeder in Yorkshire. This was in memory of a friend's daughter, who died in an accident whilst travelling abroad.

Joanna Elise

Last year I treated myself to a new rose, Tottering by Gently by David Austin, an unusual open flower unlike most roses, I love things that are a bit different.