The joy of gardening in France Supporting Open Gardens Jardins Ouverts
APRIL 2020 NEWSLETTER
Dear Rose Group Members,
Just to wish you all a Very Happy Easter during the lock down. I hope that you are all well.
I am sure like me, that you have been really enjoying your gardens in this extraordinary situation, and in the glorious weather that we have had these last weeks. I just feel that we are so lucky to live in this lovely part of France. It is so wonderful to go out into the garden every day and see what has sprung in to life.
I was hoping to put more photos of roses up to show, but although there are many buds emerging, the only one out at the moment is the beautifully fragrant climbing rose “ Etoile de Hollande” . See my photo here.
This year I have put deer prevention guards around all my roses, and it seems to be working!
I have also experimented with the “Sissinghurst pruning method” https://www.sarahraven.com/articles/pruning-roses-the-sissinghurst-method.htm
which also is producing good results.
Sadly, it looks unlikely that we shall be able to meet-up for the first Rose group meeting on the 21st April, but fingers crossed for later on in May.
If you have any photographs of your roses please send them to me. (NB Rose Group members have my address) otherwise please use igcnewsinfo@gmail.com.
Don’t forget to water your new first year roses every day in this extremely dry spell !
Best regards, Carelle
*** UPDATE ***
Jane Hickey has had, via Collisimo post, some late bare root very healthy roses delivered from Roseraie Ducher. https://roseraie-ducher.com/en/
She was pleased because they even sent her a potted one to replace a variety that was not available, plus an extra bare root of another just in case of failure! If interested they are still sending out potted stock. It’s a good very good website with listed sections for dry gardens, full sun garden etc.
ROSE GROUP MEETINGS IN 2019
The last Rose group meeting of 2019 was held at the home of Sheila and Mike Harris.
The main aim was to do the ordering of rose plants from the UK which Ariane is kindly organising this year. Please Note : the order will arrive in late November/ December so anyone still wanting to order must contact Ariane quickly.
Eight of us gathered to discuss and enjoy a delicious tea, especially the carrot cake! Thanks to Annie Key for the photography. Whilst no one had many roses left to show, a few were still in bloom in Sheila’s garden.
We look forward to 2020 and the potential of our new plants flowering well.
SEPTEMBER 2019 MEETING
Dear all,
Just six of us met up, apart from Ariane and myself, Sheila Harris, Joy Collett, Lucy Shepherd, and Helen Gray. Sadly our specimens of roses were in short supply after the long, hot summer. My roses have all been ravaged by the deer, electric fence next year! But Ariane’s garden looked amazing, very green and verdant, some lovely Queen Elizabeth roses everywhere, as well as red and yellow roses still blooming. We enjoyed a most delicious tea, and mainly talked about which roses we would like to order at the next Rose group meeting .
Joy is going to redo a bed in her garden, and would like a white rose, not more that 1 m high, and I would like a deep yellow climbing Rose. Sheila suggested “ Bathsheba” (see picture) which is very vigorous. So many suggestions were made, for pots Lucy recommended “ Sevilliana” which has flowered all summer, and Helen said both “ Ivors Rose” and “Baronne Edmond de Rothschild that is a lovely pink and white climber, have flowered all summer. (See illustrations below).
Carelle Sherwood
NEXT ROSE GROUP MEETING
on Tuesday October 15th at 3 pm at Sheila Harris lovely home.
MAY MEETING
Sheila and Michael Harris hosted sixteen Rose Group members at their delightful home and garden, on the first glorious afternoon for a while. As you can see from the photographs the table was loaded with colour and perfume.
Nevilee brought Jardin de Granville and Burgandy Ice, and Janet a David Austin rose.
Jane’s bouquet included Generous Gardener, Teasing Georgia and Crown Princess Margarita. Lucy had Rugusa's, Versuvius, rambling rector, and more. James and Helen Gray bought Summer sweetheart, Rose Gaujard, Twice in a Blue Moon, Hot chocolate, Peacekeeper, Beatrix potter, and Rural England.
Jane and Richard brought Wisley, Desdemona, Simply Sally and Elaine Savage had a beautiful selection from Winchester Cathedral, le Notre, Perfume Royal, Masquerade, Pierre de Ronsard, Golden wedding, Happiness, James Galway, Queen Elizabeth. Ariane’s blooms were Sentimental, Blue Eden while Michael brought Blush beauty, Princess Alex of Kent, and Marilyn Monroe.
From Cilla’s garden came Pacific dream, Kimono, Pierre de Ronsard, and Burgandy ice. Joy’s selection was L' aimant, Desdemona, and Jardin d Granville. Helen had blooms of J de G, Papa Mielland, Gruss van Archan. Martin’s four lovely roses came from his new garden, and he is looking for identification, inspiration and new ideas?
Carelle’s roses were Etoile de Holland, Paul scarlet, For your eyes only, Pink petue, and Graham Thomas.
Sheila and Mike gave us an amazing tea, with artistic open sandwiches and blueberry cake.
