MY ROSES - 'Ga to Go"

GARDEN PARTY: Hybrid Tea. Bred by Herbert C. Swim. 1959 in United States. A beautiful classic bloom of off-white to creamy pale yellow with edges blushed with pink. It looks like a paler version of Peace to me. I think I prefer this colouring. Though the fragrance is considered mild I think it is very pleasant - reminds me of apple blossom and so does the colour of the rose. Usually born singularly on long stems - beautiful in arrangements and compliments other colours in roses. I really like this rose. I have two bushes of it.

GEMINI: Hybrid Tea. Bred by Dr. Keith W. Zary. 1991 in the United states. A very popular exhibition rose, cream to pink blend, fragrance is mild, but a keeper for sure! Classic Hybrid Tea form - has won many awards.........and rightly so! - I need say no more!

GOLDEN CELEBRATION: English Rose. Bred by David Austin.1992 in United Kingdom. Many petalled, beautiful classic old rose form, strong fragrance. To my eyes, this is the best yellow with hints of peach to give it that really warm look. Very floriferous. Blooms nod a bit, but there are so many, that it just gives a romantic aura to the bush. The rose that I have the most pictures of - I cannot stop photographing iy. It is truly gorgeous. Also it is one of the first to bloom in our garden.

BUTCHART GARDENS (in early Spring)

The Capital City of British Columbia is Victoria, which is situated on Vancouver Island separated from the mainland by the Straits of Georgia. I live about 1hr and 40mins drive from Victoria. It is a beautiful city with a very old British flare to it. One of it's most beautiful attributes are the famous Butchart Gardens, which beauty is enjoyed year round by travellers from all over the World. I try and visit at least once a year. It changes so much from month to month. The pictures below were taken in early Spring. I am hoping to go back again in late Spring and take more pictures. It will look very different then. Hope you enjoy looking, and if you have not already, then I hope you get a chance at some point in time to visit this beautiful place. Link to Butchart Gardens. http://www.butchartgardens.com/the-gardens/ Please click on images - you will almost feel you are there!

The Sunken Gardens

>Lake and fountains. I believe at Christmas time, the gardens are magical and beautifully illuminated, all through the gardens as well as these fountains. Hopefully there will be something about it on their web site.

Towards the exit of the Japanese gardens, (no pictures unfortunately), one encounters an unexpected look-out point, a hole carved out of the cedar trees, exposing this awesome view. ..............and stepping through a clearing there is an even better viewpoint of this little harbour.

The Italian Garden

Through the window of the glass room

and on the way back home, are awesome views of the coastal mountains on the mainland. As this is a high road along a mountain pass called the Malahat Drive, there are several look-out points where one can stop and take in the magnificent scenery.

MY ROSES - "Go to Gu"

GOOD LIFE: Hybrid Tea, bred by Cocker in Scotland. 1999. Apricot to Orange blend. This is a beautiful hybrid tea with classic large blooms born mostly singularly on long stems. It has a wonderful strong fragrance and is a healthy grower with very strong stems. GRACE: English Rose, bred by David Austin in United Kingdom. 2001. Apricot to yellow blend. Very floriferous shrub with medium sized blooms of unusual form with very many petals. Some petals are quite narrow for a rose and almost give the appearance of a different flower altogether. I do not detect much of a fragrance to this rose. Could be my nose!

GUY DE MAUPASSANT: Romantica Rose, bred by Alain Meilland in France.1995. This truly is a romantic looking rose, soft pink to medium pink blooms depending on the time of the year and time of day. I do note that in the evening light, some roses become quite brilliant or deeper in colour.

Unfortunately, I do not detect much of a fragrance to this rose either. But it is certainly a keeper in our garden. Beautifully shaped old fashioned blooms which are formed in many clusters and very abundant.

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!!