Category Archives: roses

roses

Blenheim in bloom

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Made a return visit to Blenheim palace today, for a lovely afternoon tea. This meant a return to the to rose garden. Last year, the rose garden was very damp, dreary and not very beautiful as it wasn’t blooming. Today was very very different. A full cascade of colour, with roses in full bloom. Lots of beautiful blooms, some of which actually needed deadheading. The beds were heaving with lots of flower heads. Much improved in comparison to last years visit.

As for the afternoon tea. I now have a second favourite tea, rooibos tiramisu.

project othello, roses

Gulab in the garden: rosey pinkness

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Gulab not only means pink, but it is also a term used for roses in Hindi/Punjabi. Now what you see is not the same picture twice; though it could’ve the same rose variety. Would appear that that some of the lost label roses on project othello are very pink.

Lost label roses, project othello, roses

Blooming buds of May:roses

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There is something in the air; that is for sure. Whilst William Shakespeare 2000 grows into a what is five headed hydra, the other roses are starting to slowly bloom into life. The more established roses have grown leafy, waking from their winter and spring slumber to start throwing out buds.

Last autumn, seven mystery roses were sunk. Mystery in that they were not labeled, therefore these are the lost label roses. Compared to the more established roses, these are smaller; but have definitely started to settle down. One of the roses has got a single solitary bloom.

There are two climbing roses, one is called golden showers; I forget what the other is called. But these are now also starting to send out buds.

Planting out, project othello, roses, Sampling Shakespeare

Sinking The Bard: William Shakespeare 2000

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Having celebrated my 30th birthday last week, a dear friend of mine has given me a rather apt birthday present.

Meet William Shakespeare 2000.

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Since it was his anniversary yesterday, it’s rather fitting that he arrived today.

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He is now sat on the very threshold of Project othello, next to the falstaff apple tree.

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There are two blooms nestled in there ready to explode. Rather looking forward to it 🙂

roses

Once in a blue moon

Blue moon rose
Blue moon rose

 

Over the summer, all the post roses flourished and flowered. A majority of them flowered more than once. However, there was one particular bloom that adopted something of a nonchalant attitude in comparison to it’s bedfellows. That would be blue moon. I was somewhat disheartened by this creature. First of all, because it is lilac and not blue. A sort of sappy lavender. Second. it gave all of two flowers and then decided to give up the ghost. It simply could not rouse itself to do anything else.

 

So I left it alone. Whilst the others, have bloomed, gone back to sleep, been dead headed and cut down. I didn’t fancy cutting this guy down. Especially as he had formed a few new flower buds. I would have gladly, taken my secateurs to him. Lopped him down. Only that seemed a bit sad. He was trying to make an effort. And here he is today. Blue, lilac, smudges peeking through the bud leaves. It’s dark, desolate and December, but I don’t think that Blue moon actually cares.

project othello, roses

Ring o’roses; pocketful of posies

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With the news yesterday that the dementors are coming to work; horticultural therapy is urgently required. Good thing I had a stash of roses waiting to be sunk.

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Spent this morning sinking 17 lost label roses. Would have been 18, but mama h has pinched one for the back garden.

I have no idea what they are; other than being hybrid tea roses or floribundas. Something of a surprise will occur in the Summer with them all being a mystery. Got pricked here and there with the rather sharp thorns, which was a bit of a negative. The roses have all been sunk on the project othello part of the plot. The wet heavy clay was a nightmare; no match for the magic spade and and hobbit fork.

There is something quintessentially English about roses. If you have ever been to Blenheim Palace; there is a beautiful rose garden there that is truly inspirational. Project othello will be something an avenue of roses. Just have to imagine it. A bit hard in the desolation of winter. This will hopefully build on the success on the roses that were sunk this time last year.