COMPANION PLANTS - (The favourite ones in my garden)

Companion or complimentary plants, however you put it; I do not mind a bed of all roses, but I prefer some complimentary plants as a contrast. I have found with our very moist conditions that some that I would love to have, really do not work. I also find with the way our roses are set out, like, quite close together, then there is not much point interspersing them with other plants. Because of our conditions, (a greatly treed lot), our roses tend to get to be on the tall side. so we find our companion plants are best as border plants. Though, I really would like to dabble with more delphiniums and try them in between roses that may have a little extra space. They just may be tall enough to work with the roses. I love delphiniums. Up to now, my favourite border companion plants are Campanulas without question. Oops, I seem to be telling a lie right off the bat, because the taller Campanulas are in a perennial border in front of some climbing roses, but I guess the idea still works. First we have Campanula Medium Calycanthema, (campana - meaning bell). commonly called Canterbury Bells - This variety are often called "cup and saucers", because they do have saucers, and some are bells without the saucers. The one pictured here is Canterbury Bells Cup and Saucers. Others in that seed packet were double pink and white. They are biennials and each year, I do get some more surprises.

Here is a log arrangement of rosa Abraham Darby with two types of Campanulas, Canterbury Bells in the upright centre then campanula glomeratas at the lower edges.

Below one of my true favourites, Campanula Glomerata "superba".

Here is a stand of it, I try and grow as much as I can.

I use it in many arrangements, as seen below here, too!

No name for this Campanula, below yet, I will check to see if there is a tag tomorrow. I think it could be Campanula Lactiflora! I can not find it on the net. It is another favourite, but in the perennial border. It reminds me of phlox and it is quite as tall, but it is so fluffy and airy.

Like all of the taller ones, it does need staking (UNFORTUNATELY) I say that in capitals, because, staking is a huge part of our gardening, do I like doing this, NOT!!!! I should point out that this is a newish plant, so it will get a lot wider, if I can stop myself from dividing it while it is still young.:)

Beautiful!!

No name here either, sorry! I have a lot of this, it is one of the earliest bloomers, I need to go out in the daylight and check the name. I will come back for sure, if I can find a tag. It is a great one for sure

Ahh, Campanula, Dickson's gold. I have split it up already, once, I am saying this, because the border I use a lot of these companion plants in, is only two year's old. I think with this one, the foliage, is the star. It gets pretty bright gold, even at this time of the year, it seems hardy and the foliage out beats any other perennial!

.......and the beautiful white sister to Campanula Glomerata. Love this. Hoping to divide this year.

Not sure of the name of this Campanula, but it is certain seems to be a little more "blue" Than the rest. Again, it comes at a different time than the others. This is what I like about the campanulas. There is always some "blue" in bloom.

This campanula is a true beauty, Campanula Persicifolia, "Chettle Charm". I absolutely love the delicate colouring of this campanula. Another tall one, which needs staking, but a wonderful statement in the garden.

Picture below of some campanulas, not even photographed here, are the campanula carpaticas, "White and Blue clips" They are a big part of our rose border. The picture below was taken two seasons ago, when that rose border was only in it's second season. They had really spread last year, so this coming season, I will take pics all over again, and hopefully, the impact will be greater. I once had Light Blue Clips which were my ultimate favourite. Unfortunately, they passed away, I hate to think that it may have been neglect on my part, but I am willing to try again. Just cannot find them any more! Sniff!!

MY ROSES - "Ha to He"

HARRY EDLAND: Floribunda. Bred by Harkness.1975 in the United Kingdom. One of the nicest blue/mauves in this colour range. Quite clear and more blue than most of the ones I have seen. The fragrance is one of the strongest and it’s moderately full medium size blooms are formed in small clusters on short stems. The downside is that it inherits the poor overall health that roses of this colouring seem to have. That is my experience with this particular rose and I have nurtured it for years, though it has improved slightly over the last couple. The performance is barely acceptable, but I will stick with it for a while longer. It is beautiful in floral arrangements. Looks more blue in cooler evening shade.

HEIRLOOM: Hybrid Tea. Bred by Warriner. 1972 in the United States. Mauve in the hotter summer months and at the cooler ends of the cycle it takes on a more blue hue, especially in the evening shade. This is a beautiful rose with attractive large full blooms born singularly or in clusters on long stems. As with most mauve/lavender roses, the fragrance is strong and wonderful. I particularly love this colour in rose arrangements. I find my blooms are fuller than described on HMF. http://www.helpmefind.com/rose/roses.php

HERITAGE: English Rose. Bred by David Ausin. 1984 in the United Kingdom. Demure light pink. Beautifully cupped with lovely blooms born on long stems, usually in clusters. Strongly fragrant and an extremely healthy large bush which is very floriforous and constantly in bloom. Also beautiful when used as a climber on a fence. When free standing, it gets very tall, but the canes are strong and upright, so it does make an attractive shrub in the garden.

I love the combination in this picture, taken of our friends' beautiful daughter on her wedding

day. I made her bouquet with cream florist roses which were complimented by the soft pink of "Heritage" blooms. The back drop of our our Paul's Himalayn Musk helped to set the scene.

THE NAKED PHOTOGRAPHER

The things we do to get a good shot ................and the story begins! On the day of the event, I had just got out of the bath tub and Alan shouts Are you decent? I yelled, No! But he said, you should come here and see the California quails, there are hundreds of them! I quickly tied the towel around me, grabbed my camera and clickity split saw Mr. and Mrs. Quail, (Dale and Gayle) and another male (Mayle) and what looked like big bugs scooting all over the place. Oh, how cute!! My camera is set to perform and the towel bolts to the ground, but I, creeping along between soil, gravel and shrubs, could not give a care about being starkers - I had to make the shots! My husband was gob smacked! I fail to see why! Hope you are truly thankful that no one was around to take a picture of the photographer taking a picture of Mayle, Gayle and Dale Quail and their four and twenty day-old chicks. So here are some of the photos - hope you enjoy them! Unfortunately there is always sadness in nature. We kind of wondered why there were two males and so many chicks. (I counted 24 and they usually have about 12 in our area) There was actually two coveys of them. The mum would kind of sit on one group and spread out her wings drawing them all together, then go to the next group and do the same thing and they would all be neatly packed up in a tight circle (two tight circles). It dorned on us later that these were actually two sets of hatches and unfortunately one of the mum's must have come to a bad end. We had heard a lot of noise and commotion earlier that day but we could not figure what it was. Anyway, between the three adults, they seemed to be managing remarkably well.......but I do get very upset with nature at times!

THE HAPPY PHOTOGRAPHER (sequal to the naked photographer)

..............and just to prove that I do dress appropriately some times, my uncle took these two pictures of me in the pouring rain, when he was last with us from England. This goes to show there is no stopping a determined and happy photographer, when the prospect arises of some good shots.

Brolly won't seem to open quick enough,

got to keep the camera dry

This time, in pouring rain, my aim was to take some of the water fowl which graced this beautiful pond at one of our favourite eating spots, the Crow and Gate, which is an authentic old English style pub.

The residence of the pub owners

It is in a unique spot with lovely gardens and a great pond with an island (at least twice as big as ours), but this is sort of how I would like ours to look. This one is quite exposed, whereas ours is mostly in the shade.

My aim in the rain

One of a pair of beautiful black swans

A very attractive male teal

Thanks for looking.

Pauline :)

MY ROSES - "Ju to L D B"

JUBILEE CELEBRATION: English Rose - bred by David Austin in UK, 2002. Unusual colour of pink/salmon blend. Delightful, very full heavy blooms, and very fragrant. Lovely old rose look to these blooms. Born in small clusters on short stems. Certainly a keeper, I have two. Very vigorous shrub, forming many blooms throughout the season. JUST JOEY: Hybrid Tea - Bred by Cants of Colchester UK in 1972. Unusually beautiful succulent, peach shade. Huge blooms, one of mine measured 7" accross, last season. Large loose attractive petals. Nice fragrance, moderate, to my nose. Average flushes as far as HT blooms go. But definitely a remarkable rose.

L D BRAITHWAITE: English Rose. Bred by David Austin in the UK in 1988. Rich red colouring. Starts off cup shaped, but when fully open resembles a peony. This is one of my favourite Austins. Points lost for lack of fragrance, but a beautiful looking rose.