It is January and I am posting on the blog, hopefully I will keep it up this year. I've already begun the Spring tidy up and am hoping for as lovely a Spring and Summer as we had last year. 2020 was certainly a strange year but I confess I did enjoy being in the garden, no distractions, no pressing engagements. We made a lot of small changes, added numerous new clematis and roses and at the end of the season we extended the sunny border, made it deeper so we can plant even more.

At the moment we are just raking up dead leaves, cutting back the spent stems from last year and uncovering the emrging bulbs. For me, Spring is always a time of hope and healing. My head is jaded after being inside for so long and I begin to grow into myself again, like a rather tatty flower.

We should pace ourselves though because there are few projects left for us to do, we are running out of space and will only get bored if we finish all the jobs too soon. There is talk of another pergola near the house but that is by no means certain.

We've had some big storms that always bring the salt in off the sea so some of the evergreens are black at the edges. We also had a week of sharp frost which is unusual for our coast so I am hoping my jungle is holding up in the greenhouse. It is our second year of overwintering tender jungle plants and after losing some last year, we took the precaution of insulating it in the autumn - fingers crossed.

I've made a list of the clematis and roses we have, where they are located and when to prune. I will be updating this section as I go.

In the garden at Can Y Mor

Clematis in the Garden 2020

Montana Elizabeth – no prune May June – located on shed and to the right of the patio door. This is my favourite clematis. It brings back memories of my childhood with my best friend as it swamped her house and filled the street with fragrance.

Montana Rubens –no prune May June – located middle tree. Similar to Elizabeth, a problem free plant.

Montana grandiflora – no prune May June – located on shed. We planted this in 2020 to take over when Elizabeth ends. I will keep you posted on how it does.

Montana Mayleen – no prune May June – located middle tree.

This is a good doer. Very frothy pink blooms.

Montana Primrose Star - No prune May -June - located entrance to rose walk shady side

Jingle Bells - No prune December - February behind oil tank

Alpina Frankie - no prune group 1

Again, this is only its second year. Hoping for wonderful things.

Koreanna Amber – no prune group 1 blooms April May and September.

This is located on the central rose fence at the back of the long border. I am a bit worried it might swamp everything else.

Blue Dancer – no prune blooms April - May.

This was so pretty last year, its very appropriatly named. It is blue and it dances in the breeze.

The President x 2 – prune light group 2 May June September located rose fence.

I've two of these. It has been slow to take off but responded to extra feed this year.

Miss Bateman x 2 Prune light – group 2 May June September located to the left of arch and against the house.

A very good doer if it likes its spot. It does tend to discolour in prolonged rain but in good weather it sings. Blooms continuously if you dead head it.

Piilu – prune light group 2 May June September located in the jungle.

Multi Blue – prune light group 2 May June September – located in the jungle

Rebecca – prune light group 2 new large obelisk

Super Cute - New obelisk with Rebecca

Temptation – prune light group 2 (I think)

Niobe – Prune hard group 3 June to September located in chimney pot.

This one gets smothered in blooms and they are big too. a lovely plant that looks particularly stunning grown along side Jackmanii or similar purple.

Jackmanii – prune hard group 3 June to September – located on oil tank.

We lost the label to this and forgot what it was called and subsequently didn't prune it correctly. After a hard prune last year, it did really well.

Ooh la la – prune hard group 3 May to October located to the right of arch

A lovely bold brash clematis.

Warszawska Nike – prune hard group 3 June to September located centre wall of patio

This is gorgeous against the white wall of the house and seems vigorous and healthy so far.

Also on fence between us and Judy

Princess Diana – Prune hard group 3 July to October – located beneath magnolia

Such a pretty clematis. I am tempted to buy another. It is healthy, puts up well with competition.

Also near the arch between gravel and lawned garden.

Princess Kate – prune hard group 3 July to October – located on swing

This one grows over the canopy of my garden hammock and blooms all summer long. Wonderful waxy looking blooms.

Queen Mother – prune hard group 3 July to October – located arch

This one is either a bit trickier or unsuited to the exposed site we've planted it in. it is very pretty though and spreading nicely along the fence and over the arch.

This one perished for no apparent reason. I will buy another when I see it. Replaced with Princess Diana.

Bijou – prune hard group 3 patio planter to the left of the patio door.

This poor thing got lost among lobelia so I am going to keep it on its own this year to give it a fighting chance.

Comptess de Bouchard – prune hard group 3 June to September

Fascination – prune hard group 3 - new large obelisk

Viticella Purpurea Plena elegans – prune hard group 3 July to September. Located shed pergola and middle tree

I love this one. I have two because it is so understated and vigorous. we did have a bit of wilt last year but I think it was due to wind damage. it has come back healthy. fingers crossed.

Roses in the garden

Lady Emma Hamilton – Oil tank box

A lovely healthy rose. Always a cheerful greeting.

Olivia Rose Austin – in front of tank

Of all my roses, probably the best doer. Blooms all season, the second flush the blooms are smaller but just as pretty.

Buff Beauty - fence between us and Judy

Rambling Rosie – Rose walk

A new addition to the rose walk.she is currently sprawling rather than climbing the tree but we have hopes.

Tottering by Gently – Rose walk

I couldn't resist this because of the name and the bee friendly open blooms. it is such a jolly plant, full of bloom last year and was still showing a few flowers at Christmas.

Jive Front garden big pot no photo yet

Madam Alfred Carrier

I had this at my old house, the fragrance is superb and if you keep an eye on it is trouble free. She is growing at the back of my fernery, climbing the fence near my swing.

Banksia Lutea – under cherry tree near house

This is very slow to get going. I planted it last summer and she has struggled to get established but I am not giving up because she is beautiful.

Kiftsgate – rose walk and Rowan tree near house

This was here when we moved in and valiantly clambering up and through the trees. I pruned her back hard to let a bit more light to the roses growing beneath but she doesn't seem to have minded.

Madrigal - Sunny bed

Boscobel - sunny bed

Mortimer Sackler - fence between us and Judy

Pat Austin – oil tank box

Pat Austin can be a bit awkward. She sometimes loses her leaves but continues to bloom, even if she insists on hanging her head. Very pretty.

Sceptered Isle in oil tank box

This one was a bit temperamental last summer. She struggled and fussed and hardly bloomed until summer was over.Then she put on a lovely show all autumn. A bit prone to blackspot.

The Generous Gardener – Rose walk

another new one.

Harlow Carr – near mum’s tree

Another favourite. She grows in semi shade but blooms for most of the season. She is a bit prickly so watch her because she bites! Beautifully fragrant.

Mary Rose – bed to the right once you pass through arch

Oh Mary does struggle. I've had her for a number of years and some years she is splendid, the next she isn't. I have yet to discover her preferences but I will persist.

Desdemona – long border

I love this rose. she is pure and lovely and keeps on giving. Problem free - my only complaint is that I don't have more of this variety. I bought another one, in the long border next to Darcy Bussle.

House of York – long border

I bought this solely for the name but it is one of my best doers. it has lovely dark green glossy leaves and flowers constantly all summer.

Princess Alexandria of Kent – sunny corner, gravel garden.

James Galway – long border near apple tree

This is very vigorous. Bloomed continuously all summer long. I am going to have to prune it hard to keep it within bounds.

Charlotte – centre bed

This is pretty well behaved little shrub rose that I grow with tiny purple hardly geranium that makes a stunning combination. Gorgeous!

The Pilgrim – long border

This was a slow starter for us but when it did take off turned out to be a valued addition to the garden

Snow Goose – arbour

Tiny blooms that scramble over the arbour, not especially fragrant. it looks lovely with the small pink Rosa Banksia that partners it.

(Judith) – beneath palm tree

We dont know the name of this rose, it was here when we moved in. My husband christened it Judith.

Kew Rambler – in trees near house

This is planted in our border but climbs over next door to grow in the sun. Most annoying so last year we hauled it back and let in more light to encourage it to grow our side. We dont mind sharing but there are limits.

Albertine or Compassion – back of fernery

This rose was already growing t the back of the fernery when we moved in. It could be either Alberitine or Compassion. This rose was struggling a bit when we took ownershop so I've been molly coddling it and it is slowly improving.

Just Joey – blue pot

A lovely rose, gets a bit of spot and requires plenty of feed and love.

Great Expectations – centre bed

This was an impulse buy and what a good one it proved to be! It doesn't bloom early but once it starts forgets to stop. Very pretty!

Mystery Pink – front garden

I was sold this as Just Joey but it clearly isn't. It blooms for a long time, requires pruning in spring, a bit of feed and then dead heading. Very pretty rose that makes passers by remark on it.

Othello – front garden

I dont think Othello likes it here. He gets blackspot, greenfly and sometimes looks neglected but he still blooms!

Abraham Derby – to left of other side of arch

Lovely rose, late to start last year but picked up toward the end of the summer. Beautiful fragrance.

Mystery orangey pink – obelisk under magnolia tree

Rosa Banksiae Rosea – arbour

This grows up the arbour with masses of tiny pink flowers. Lovely.

Let’s Celebrate – centre of bed to the right of arch

My sister bought this for our wedding anniversary. It is healthy, with plently of blooms, raggedy edges to the petals: a very good doer.

Mystery red – possibly Shakespeare – long border

A lovely splash of red in the border.

Crown Princess Margeretta - sunny corner gravel garden

Queen of Sweden – Pot near The Mary Rose

A new addition that I haven't planted out yet. it is in a pot at present.The blooms last year were smaller than I hoped they'd be but exquisite.

Darcy Bussle – centre of long border

I was a bit disappointed with Darcy last year but hope she will pick up this year.

Princess Ann - to the right of arch

Very pretty, bloomed until winter but she lay her head in the soil. Hoping she will get stronger, if not I will have to get support for her heavy heads.