How does your garden grow.

I've been so busy working on the Rose Garden,

I hadn't even noticed what was happening to the rest of the garden.

Here's what I found, it's not looking too neglected

New Tulips planted last Autumn, sorry I can't find the label for the name.

It almost looks like a Gardenia, when the petals are open.

I planted 10 but it looks like there will only be  9. 

A few garden ornaments I like to use dotted here & there.

These are Day Lilies, planted in a vintage storage jar.

I move them around to add a splash 

of colour where needed. 

This area needs some attention, I had intended to re-do it. 

However I didn't have time before it started to grow again.

There are 2 pink climbing roses growing up against the wall. 

I did give them a hard pruning, so hope they will be OK.

The Peonies are already in bud, they need to be staked.

All I've done to this area is hoe out the weeds.

It's a mixture of pinks and blue, perennials.  

and the rose is white ( Iceberg) 

 I found these Aquilegia ( Columbine )growing in the gravel  drive.

The seeds must have been blown there.They were so tiny

 when I dug them up, but they've grown so quickly 

now they are being looked after.

Chives, which keep re-growing every year.

Always nice to have, to sprinkle over summer salads.

Rosemary & Thyme which might need replacing.

I always grow my herbs in pots.

The pink Tulips from last year, some bulbs only made leaves no flowers.

 They look pretty in these big stone pots.

This Lavender plant I bought in Provence. Its still looking good.

I do keep cutting it back to stop it going straggly.

I've managed to keep it a good few years.

The last of the Muscari ( grape hyacinth) bulbs.
 I have three different varieties which all flower at different times.

Ornamental grasses. I was never very keen on them, 

I always thought they looked like dried weeds, but now I've 

changed my mind and thought I'd try some this summer.

My potting area, full of hope-fulls !

By that I mean, plants that have been over wintered in the garage

and now I've re-potted them hoping they will flower again this summer.

I'll let you know later what was successful and what wasn't.

The Rose garden is now finished, All the roses 

have been planted, and the Clematis which is already in bud.

I'm taking a short break, going to the coast, 

before our summer visitors start arriving in May to stay in 

La Petite Maison 

I will show you the finished result when I get back.

Some of the roses already have buds on so it shouldn't 

be too long before we have signs of pink.

I'll look forward to seeing what's growing in your gardens 

and what you've all been doing.

So until then

à bientôt

Barbara Lilian

Rose garden project.

 During Autumn we started planning an idea for a rose garden.
We have an open area of the garden which is never used
 and it's just more grass that needs to be cut.

Mr France has recently taken an interest in the garden
other than just having to do the heavy work
that I can't manage these days.
Last year we visited a 'Roseraie' in Limoges
and came home with the idea of creating one in our garden
albeit  on a much smaller scale .

 Plan A

We bought these woven willow boxes
and started planning were we would put them -
However after a long winter of lots rain,
and not being able to get on with the project,
The willow boxes have been put in the shed for the time being


Now we have - Plan B.  Work is still in progress.
This is what it's looking like at the moment.

We managed to acquire a very large piece
of thick black polythene from the farmer near where we live
which he didn't needed any more .
Covering the ground will kill off the grass
and will save a lot of back breaking digging.
Mr France has made much stronger wooden box frames
and they are nearly all in place.

All the roses have been bought, some French and some English.

I can't wait for the summer to see them in bloom.

Would you like to see what I've chosen ?

All pink.

Frederic Mistral created by Meilland - French rose.

I have chosen three different bush roses

 from the ever popular David Austin variety.

 Geoff Hamilton. - Mary Rose. - The Mayflower.

 Climbing rose 'Narhema'  I bought and planted this one last year 

to grow on the new pergola we put up near the pool.

After a summer of very few blooms,
 it certainly wasn't happy where it was.

The reason ?  a mixture of things,
the most important was not enough sun and then fighting 

with the nearby Honey suckle & a Variegated Ivy.

After I'd dug the rose up, I could see it hadn't made much root growth.

so it was definitely ready to be moved.


Mr France has made an Obelisk


similar to the one I'd seen here
take a look at Pamela's blog, 'Flower Patch Farm'
she is a very talented & creative lady.

Hopefully moving it to new open ground
with 2 Clematis, it will flourish and we'll reap the benefits
and see lots of beautiful pink roses, intertwined with blue Clematis.

  

Hopefully this is what we'll be seeing for our efforts.
Can't wait for summer.
I'm sure if you know me, or have followed my blog for awhile
you know patience is not one of my virtues .
But ....  'come on ' who couldn't wait to see these beauties.

We still have some more work to do.
I'll show the finished result in another post.

How are your gardens coming along? Have you made any changes,
or are you trying new plants you've always wanted to grow?
I'd love to see what you've done.

I know some of you are still having cold weather & snow....
Maybe you're over wintering your delicate plants indoors ?
 in pots, ready for the warm sunny days.

à bientôt

Barbara Lilian