The climbing rose “Zephirine Drouhin”.
Along the drive in our garden is the truly wow factor of Rosa “Zephirine Drouhin”, a thornless, old French (1858) climbing rose. Pictured is just one rose on a north-facing wall.
This variety was a favourite of one of the most famous gardeners of all time, Gertrude Jekyll (rhyming with treacle) who had a pergola 100 metres long with 50 of these roses planted each side growing over the pergola.
In the UK, garden centres declared it the most popular rose sold. It is available here.
Close behind in popularity is the ubiquitous Rosa “Iceberg”. Even in Canberra so many paths leading to front doors are lined with standard Icebergs, a rose first made popular in the famous white garden at Sissinghurst Castle in England.
ELSEWHERE in the garden, there is the stunning fragrance of Michelia figo or Port Wine Magnolia. Introduced into Western gardens from China in 1789, it is closely related to magnolias.
If you don’t have any at home, head to your local garden centre and drink in the perfume.
Equally heavenly in scent is Michelia yunnanensis, described by Paradise Plants as the embodiment of the timeless mystery and peaceful contemplation of the temple slopes of China.
THE head gardener of Sissinghurst Castle gardens, possibly the most visited in the UK, says: “If a plant is not thriving where it is, you have either got it in the wrong place or you haven’t got the right place for it.
“If it is a special plant and not too big, move it at least once or even twice. If it is still is not thriving get rid of it, life is too short”.
In one garden, for example, I moved three-metre-tall camellias from the back to the front garden. And palms, five metres tall, from Yass to Sanctuary Cove in Queensland.
Floral art is a feature of the Horticultural Society’s shows.
It features a huge stall selling plants at cheap prices and there is a display of floral art, which offers floral-art students or flower-shop owners a wealth of new ideas.
Jottings…
- It is safe to plant tomatoes, although have covers on hand in case of late frost.
- Break up mulch that might have compacted with heavy rain with a hoe, removing weeds as you go.
- Remove the last of the winter flowers, such as primulas, and start planting summer-flowering annuals such as petunias.
- Plant dahlia tubers now. As with tomatoes, put stakes in first for tall-growing varieties.
- Besides the obligatory bird bath as the days warm, have a water bowl at ground level for the geckos and blue tongue lizards. They just love the snails!
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