It’s been cracking the flags around here these past few weeks. Goodness, what a difference a little sunshine makes. Roses are opening right, left and center. I love these dog roses but they only tend to last a day, good job there are so many of them.
This adorable little lady seeded herself, she looks like a David Austen rose, she also has a wonderful fragrance.
It’s lovely seeing roses climbing through trees. There are two in this ancient apple tree, both have a million buds waiting to burst forth.
You can barely see the pond now the Iris and Lily pads are out.
This is the veggie patch, I still haven’t got around to weeding it, in a strange way I rather like it, wild flowers and potatoes that were left in the ground are romping away along with kale going to seed. There are soft fruit bushes in there somewhere and numerous strawberry plants laden with fruit, also garlic and onions.
Along with the bees, I’m just loving the flowers on the Manuka honey bush, so tiny but colourful and prolific.
The trellis are now up in the raised brick planters, I took Kitty’s advice and went with Wisteria in the middle one, climbing Hydrangeas in the outer two and added Sweet Pea seedlings to all three. I also bought some Morning Glory and Black-eyed Susan seeds. I was surprised to see the Morning Glory germinate in three days!
The trellis also have solar lights attached, but only two out of three light up, the third is under the beech trees so I need to get my thinking cap on re sorting that little issue. The back looks lovely and twinkly now when we sit out around the chiminea.
In the front, I’ve now replaced the dead Palms with pairs of Olive trees, Bay trees, Korean Lilac, California Lilac and Viburnum shrubs. They could do with a little rain as my hose pipe doesn’t reach that far!
The good weather has everyone out and about. Hubs and I cycled down to Crosby to see the Tall Ships sailing out of Liverpool, such a lovely sight, especially with a picnic!
Far too many outdoor meals and drinks have been enjoyed, I just loved this Horse Parking bay, set up with straw and water!
To balance all the meals and drinks innumerable bike rides have been enjoyed along with long dog walks. How they all love the long grass, all the paths are fast disappearing.
Buddy is almost invisible on his long lead!
And Finally…..
another four birds have been released.
Always so beautiful seeing them free. No doubt they will join my ever growing flock!
There are many climbing roses in the UK, many grow wild and climb shrubs and trees, I love seeing them. I must check out the flowering almond. That manuka shrub is going from strength to strength, our sandy soil must agree with it. Those brambling, prairie roses sound just lovely. Thanks Linda.xxx
The thought of roses climbing through a tree enchants me. I’ve lived among well behaved (or well disciplined, or beaten into submission) roses. Apparently there are climbers I haven’t met yet. Of course, down here most of the trellises and such do support other things, like your wisteria or trumpet vine.
That manuka honey bush is new to me. The flowers remind me a bit of something we called flowering almond. In any event, both the color and the form are delightful.
I’ve been up to visit family in the midwest, and in the course of my travels found some native roses on a prairie. They were thick as could be — hundreds of roses, all brambling along the ground. Roses seem so delicate in some ways, but they can be tough as nails when allowed to flourish as they please: or so it seems.
Those planters were a good idea — they look great!
You managed to create your own David Austin rose?!! I’m in awe, Dina. I like the idea of having a nearby tree act as trellis for your climbing roses. My clem does that with the pittosporum tenuilfolium with charming effect.
My, I’m liking the look of your raised beds. They add some wonderful strong lines to the freeform plants all around. Morning glory is considered a weed in my climate — it takes years to eradicate because those seeds are so easy to germinate!
By the way, there’s no such thing as “far too many” when it comes to enjoying meals outdoors 🙂
Several roses here have been planted by birds, they are all so scented and look very similar to David Austin roses. The squirrels like to plant yew and oak so we have lots of those popping up all over too. I just love to see climbing plants in trees, the blooms trailing down are soooo pretty. I can see why morning glory could be considered a weed around your parts, I’ve never seen a seed germinate so quickly! The seedlings are about six inches already!
Lol, I have to agree with your final comment! Thanks Anne.xxx
What an abundance of flowers, and the thrill of spring. So good to enjoy. Though i”m besotted by roses, I enjoy all the flowers, and the enthusiasm of animate living things as we celebrate the rebirth of nature. Love your garden… it looks so fine and well organized these days. xxx
Thanks Shimon, I enjoy all the flowers too, it’s just wonderful seeing the garden come alive after all the reconstruction work, it’s so easy to maintain the back garden now, and so pleasant to sit out there. I wish I had flagged it years ago!
Where did you find that long grass, is it in a park or just a farmer’s field? I love views like that. Your roses are wonderful. My ‘Cassie’ is just starting to bloom, but I had to cut ‘Sally Holmes’ down to the ground after this last winter. Very sad.
There are several fields nearby, the farmers used to grow wheat on them, now they have been ear-marked for a new build of houses. The dogs just love running there so it will be a shame to see them go. Oh no, sorry to hear of Sally Holmes, she did so well last year.xxx
Great post, images and…of course fantastic weather up your way. Terrible down here with rain and windstorms.
Thanks Peter, oh, sorry to hear about your rotten weather! Here’s to it improving.xxx
So many themes. Birdies becoming independent sounds good. The flora are abundantly happy with your new garden designs. The dogs are bouncing with zest and verve with the improved season.
Has Peanut disappeared off the scene for the time being?
xxx
Peanut is still on eggs on the garage roof! Everything is growing at speed now, I do hope it is for you too and that you are finally getting good weather and catching up! Thanks Menhir.xxx
Just love the changes you’ve made to the garden. Absolutely the right thing to do, it must be so much easier to keep tidy now.
I hope you get some rain. It poured down here this evening, just when I was thinking we’d never see it again!
It really is easy keeping on top of the back garden, and so much more pleasant to sit in, I wish I had flagged it years ago. We have had a couple of days were it has rained, it was sorely needed! No doubt it will rain all summer!xxx
Such a beautiful garden 🙂
Thanks Nikki.xxx
Your garden is looking great, isn’t it wonderful having separate beds for flowers and veggies, and being able to plan and start new bits of the garden…..I’m looking forward to doing this in spring. The dogs in the long grasses, remind me of the dog we had when I was growing up, …..absolute joy to be in the grass, rolling and leaping around.
Enjoy summer!
Thanks Gerrie, yes, great having a veggie patch and flower beds! It will be interesting following your progress in the garden, new projects are always exciting! Oh….what is it with dogs and long grass, how they all love it!xxx
Uhmmm I miss Peanut… or did I miss a previous post? Where did the peacock female go?
Good thing that finally the summer arrived. Here too. And this means for us a lot of work outside to keep everything tied up… We gave a bit too much fertilizer to the grass and now it needs to be cut every five days. For the veggie garden, we decided to try out the mature pacha (cut grass) instead of tearing weeds among the seedlings and it’s a good fertilizer completely natural.
Hugs and kisses :-)claudine
Updated re Peanut! Sorry….lol! It’s hard to keep up with weeding and cutting back, everything is growing wild at the moment! Oh, I must use grass cuttings in my veggie patch, what a good idea! Good to know you are having good weather too! Love and hugs.xxx
Oh how does my garden grow???? I would say magnificently:) Your dogs must be some of the happiest in the world….they have such a wonderful life.
I am so pleased to see you enjoying all this bounty…hip all back to normal and the sun is shining…what more could you want.
Sending lots of hummingbird hugs in your direction….Janet xxxx
Thanks Janet. It’s great being able to walk, cycle and garden pain free again, that surgery really has made a huge difference. Hummingbird hugs right back. xxxx
I like the variety in your garden with the wild flowers in the veg patch, the rose that’s popped up and the planters where new plants will soon get established. on the trellises. Glad to know that your getting about and cycling in the countryside. One day I hope to get to Liverpool when visiting our granddaughter. I would love to go to that beach at Crosby. Have a wonderful weekend!
Thanks Linda. I have begun to weed the veggie patch, struth, what a jumble of weeds, wildflowers and grass, nature quickly turns a patch of soil into a jungle!
You must let me know if you get to Liverpool, it would be lovely to meet you!xxx
The weather of late has been good, I think we just need to enjoy it while we can.
Your garden looks great, and Roses are so special. We have a wonderful garden centre nearby that has David Austin Roses … Wow! they are just wonderful.
Talking of wonderful, how good to see the Tall Ships sailing out of Liverpool, such a lovely sight indeed, and good idea to take a picnic!
Can you believe we are a week into June!!! Time flies by.
Enjoy the weekend.
My good wishes and
All the best Jan
Thanks Jan, we certainly have had glorious weather, and it just keeps going on! Oh yes, David Austin roses are just delightful, I struggle with roses generally here, they don’t like my sandy soil so need to constantly improve it. It’s always good seeing the tall ships head off to sea, something piratey about them with all those sails. Here’s to you enjoying the weather.xxx
Lovely post and pictures. It’s certainly all looking and sounding good, although I’m in two minds about your ‘wild’ vegetable patch.
Lucky you seeing the tall ships, which are always a wonderful sight. xx
Thanks Flighty, I totally get your dilemma re the veggie patch, hopefully I’ll get around to sorting it within the next few weeks! The tall ships are such a regal sight, I love to see them eventually disappear into the mist. xxx
Summer is upon us? From your post, it seems to be……Long may it last. Lovely…as always…especially that rose. Hugs.
I can’t recall having such a run of warm days! Another heatwave is now expected, goodness! Thanks Bushka.xxx
It’s looking beautiful in your garden, especially the roses. I’m enjoying my climber at the moment. Love the dogs in the grass, I bet they were kangarooing along.
Thanks CJ, kangarooing is the perfect word for it!xxx
Wow, so many beautiful flowers are in your garden! Even the wildflowers are beautiful.
Oh, cycling and picnic! Both are my favourites! Good to know you enjoyed yours.
Feel happy for all those fortunate birds.
Thanks Jade. Oh, you just can’t beat cycling off somewhere with a picnic. xxx
We’ve had some wonderful weather already this year, I do hope it continues. Glad to see you’re making the most of it and getting out and about. What is it with dogs and long grass? Archie bounds through the fields and you can just see his head keep popping up as he does so. Your garden’s looking fabulous, so much greenery at the moment softening the hard landscaping, and it’ll change its look again once everything is in flower.
I just read that another heatwave is on it’s way, lasting a fortnight, no doubt they’ll ban hose-pipes soon! I’ve never met a dog that doesn’t love long grass, even tiny ones! How cute they look bobbing up and down though, I can imagine Archie. It’s great seeing the back come to life, just a few gaps to plug…Thanks Jo.xxx
Your garden is beautiful as always – I really love all the roses and the new trellises. How wonderful to see the tall ships, and well done on all the bike rides, a sign that you are now fully recovered! xx
Thanks Veggiemummy, it really is good to being able to walk and cycle etc pain free. xxx
It seems to be a really good year for roses. The planters look great.
Everyone is saying how good the roses are this year, I hope we get a long flowering season.xxx
‘Cracking the flags’ There’s a Liverpudlian saying that will confuse your readers if they don’t speak Scouse. I hear that a lot, and another one that baffles me: ‘Standing around like one of Lewis’s’. Lovely to have the sun though isn’t it?
Your very own beautiful rose, it is gorgeous, you have to name it. Your brick planters look great. It sounds as if you are having a great summer, al fresco eating and drinking, cycling and walking, that’s what it’ all about.
Hahaha….. back in the day, before mobile phones, many a date was set up under Dickie Lewis, the naked male statue over the doorway of Lewis’s…many were stood up! Hence the saying! The Pianist must know that one!!!! Also refers to the endless display of manikins they had in their windows….lazy people with nothing to do.
Naming a Rose? Moi? Struth….pressure, sure it has one! If it hasn’t I shall call her Hope.
How true, re getting out when the weather permits, we always seem to have a good May early June, then it goes to pot! Thanks Chloris. xxx