ROSE RAMBLER 7th May, 2020 – Hello Dear Rose Friends … another month of isolation slipped on by and our gate is still closed but you’ve all been very busy ordering roses at www.rosesalesonline.com.au for which we are most grateful – thank you!
We didn’t send a Rose Rambler last week out of respect for the passing of my beautiful sister, Veronica – she was the only member of my family who subscribed to Rose Rambler and it was a beautiful way for us to stay connected though our love of gardening, despite living such a distance from each other. One less reader this week…
No matter where you live in our beautiful country, you must have a covering for your soil during this autumn and coming seasons.
A thin mulch over garden beds of at least 5-10cms is ideal – whether its pea/oat/lucerne straw, maybe stones or bark chips.
All of the living biology below this mulch are insects, worms, nematodes, protozoa, microbes, fungi and bacteria at various stages of their life cycle and they all have an enormous influence on the health of our soil.
You probably can’t see them apart from a few insects and worms – maybe you have some interesting fungi occurring due to recent very wet conditions – but all those vital elements are breeding and surviving with the help of moisture and fibres by you giving them mulch and a safe, protective home.
Organic fertilizer and liquid tonics like seaweed and liquid manure created from compost and weeds in your own garden provide essential feed for these vital creatures.
We harvested our corn just prior to the frost – ooh, what a yummy feast!
Q. What has ears but cannot hear? A. A field of corn
Don’t ever burn a single pile of autumn leaves as these afford enormously valuable nutrients for soil in your garden! Pile them into your compost heap, over the base of the trees who shed them or bag them and bring them here to our Rose Farm but please, don’t EVER burn them!
Our dear little toy poodle Mooi spent a night in Vet hospital this past week after eating Seamungus which I had applied to trial over potted roses – she’s in recovery, on antibiotics and other medications but please, do take care when applying nice-smelling organic fertilizer which your pets can access in pots or in your garden – we’ve removed this product from all areas where it was applied – just in case!
We generally use and recommend COF (complete organic fertilizer) which is obviously well composted and not attractive to pets.
In closing, we wish the happiest Mother’s Day to every Mum, Oma, Nan, Grandmere, Grandma, Granny, Nonna and all the derivatives which apply to being the best woman in the eyes of the children who are part of your life and whom you probably won’t see this weekend.
Email us: info@rosesalesonline.com.au with any comments or questions.
Love to you all from Silkies Rose Farm, Clonbinane – Graham, Diana & Mooi