A short post after rock-breaking
while thinking ahead about planting for long periods with no rain
Regular readers will perhaps remember those white concrete slabs I disliked so much.
They’ve gone. Man with slab-buster and a lorra lorra muscle came and tore them up. I filled the barrows, tubs, trugs and bags. I say filled but am still filling. Therefore little text here this week as I need to get out and finish this while it is not too hot.
Because my goodness, did it get hot.
It was a pleasure to sit on the lawn with a glass of water and look at R. Lady of Shallot, who is giving her best performance ever.
And on the other side of the lawn, R. May Queen, which came, years ago, as a cutting from Brian Nellist’s garden. He told me ‘it’s called May Queen but but never flowers in May.’ But these warmer days, it does.
David Austin used to sell May Queen, but it has been discontinued and they recommend the Albrighton Rambler instead, which I’m sure is lovely. But I have May Queen, and so I’ll take cuttings, so that any readers who would like a rose from Brian Nellist’d old house may buy one to support The Reader’s Garden at Calderstones. Drop me a note if interested.
May Queen is planted into a pile of old rocks and rubble, and I planted it thinking, if the roots can get hold of something to feed on then the flowers may tumble down and cover this mound. Which is exactly what has happened. I also like the fact that the leaves are pretty reliably evergreen. Until I checked at DA Roses, I hadn’t realised it was so old - introduced in 1858!
To return to rock-breaking. My plan is to make some planting holes in various places near the house and to use the last of the rubble to make well drained, slightly raised (but careful not to breach the damp course) beds, not quite against the house walls. What I’ll plant may clothe or hide some of the kitchen walls, and with such planting in place I won’t need to have so many pots. I’ll plant for drought and downpour. This is planning for my old age and for climate change.
After my half day of labouring in the heat among the rocks and dust I spent a lovely couple of hours reading favourite gardener writers’ suggestions for wall shrubs/climbers in hot dry places. But more of that next week. Meanwhile a few good in the garden pics from one who must now attend to her aching muscles.
Top: Self-seeded marigolds at the Allotment; Gladiolus Communis; Salvia Royal Bumble
Middle: The swoon-inducing Iris Dusky Challenger against Golden Hop; Tree - Arbutus unedo - suddenly really growing a lot beside The Smokehouse with Unknown Red Climbing Rose; White border amid the gravel work with stone hen.
Lower: path down to the back gate. The red blobs are Geums grown from the seed of ‘Blazing sunset’; unexpected Hosta - I bought this two /three years ago in Lidl. Thought it had been eaten, forgot about it, now it returns, untouched!; delicious caramel colour Black Eye Suzanne still indoors as can’t get out to make any summer pots in back garden.
Wow! Look at your Lady of Shalott! ....Thought I was looking at the official photo in DA roses catalogue. :)
Very liberating to have got rid of your white slabs, and satisfying to be reusing it. Much as I love pots, I'm with you on thinking ahead and reducing the number. Plus the problem of going away in summer with no neighbour or family member nearby to water them, which is my issue here. Your golden hop continues to be an ideal background for whatever pops up in front of it.