Edition 17th October, 2024
Hello Dear Rose Friends,It’s been fun to be part of the ‘betting’ on which rose flowers first and we absolutely love this photo from Ruth because she won the bet at her place with this magnificent ‘Gra’s Blue’. |
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| Now before you all rush to the online store to secure your own plant of Gra’s Blue, please note it is still in production and should be available by Christmas time. We’ll definitely let you know when we have lovely plants ready for sale. Meantime, store this picture in your ‘wish list’ folder … it’s a grand rose! |
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It is definitely an exciting time here at Silkies Rose Farm, Clonbinane where the roses are starting to flower and there’s lush, healthy foliage on every plant and tree after a reasonably cold winter.
Just last week we had a few severe frosts to minus 2 degrees which fried the flowers on a massive wisteria at the front entrance … such a shame that we’ll have to wait until next season to enjoy the spectacle of flowers – now you can see new growth emerging! |
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| Many of our more recently planted roses have also been affected by recent frost so we’ll have to journey around the gardens and ‘corrective’ prune by removing all burnt stems and since I always try to look on the bright side, this pruning will mean flowering will be staggered so it will appear that the roses are ALWAYS flowering this coming season! |
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HAVE A GIGGLE ...
Q. What did the triangle say to the circle?
A. You’re pointless! |
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NEW 10 METRE LENGTH OF GARDEN BED ... |
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| How interesting it was to see the soil structure change in just 10 metres of garden bed which we dug last week so that Jason can finally have his apples planted to espalier on the chook-run fence … |
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There were three very distinct soil types – at the top (eastern) side, it was very gritty with sand possibly left over from the previous owner who did a lot of propagation – there’s no other reason for course sand to be in our soil. There’s dark loam/clay which we experience in most areas of the garden, where Jason is seen forking the bed.
Then, right where you see Mooi in the action, there’s a seam of yellow clay. |
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It’s a brilliant location for a garden facing due north and now Diana and Janelle are conspiring about what to plant where. I’ll keep you posted as this project unfolds because the three apple trees are planted, one in each of the different soil types!
So, what did digging this garden prove to us? Don’t think that because you have roses planted side-by-side in a garden bed they’re going to perform exactly the same as each other because the difference in just one metre of soil can be dynamic and definitely affect and alter plant growth!
If/when you have a struggling plant in your garden, don’t leave it there to wither and die – lift it into a pot – give it a trim, soak with Fair Dinkum Seaweed Gold and nurse it to good health. Perhaps you need to correct soil conditions and then replant the rose when it’s right to go back in that location. |
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HAVE A GIGGLE ...
Q. Why do French people like to eat snails?
A. They can’t stand fast food! |
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SPECIAL OFFER THIS WEEK … |
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Create an awesome splash of colour in your garden by planting SUMMER SONG and MONICA … two of the loveliest orange shrub roses bred by two great rose breeders – David Austin, UK and Tantau, Germany. Both roses grow around 1.5 x 1.5 metre oozing with delightful fragrance and sturdy, healthy growth habit. $63.75 plus pack and post to your door.
Enjoy all the flowering glory of your spring garden … such bounty, such beauty!
Graham, Diana, Mooi and the team at Clonbinane. |
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