Recently I counted the rose bushes in my garden and was surprised to have more than forty. You'd exepct from that number to overwhelmed with rose blooms when you enter the garden but they are well spaced and blend in to the other planting. There is plenty of room for more. At my previous home I had a designated rose garden that was a mass of roses and clematis is summer but here I have to be more subtle. Looking around, I am constantly seeking new places to plant them. Luckily my trusty under gardener loves them too so when I suggested building a rose walk he was very willing. The shady place we walked right past Choosing the site took some time. We could place arches over the existing path, or a pergola against the house but in the end we opted for a shady part of the garden that was in definite need of brightening up. Although the ...

It is absolutely ages since I last posted and I have no excuses. I haven't stopped gardening, or breathing either, for that matter. I've published two more Historical Fiction novels and made a few historical gowns in that time as well as ordinary life things. There have been some changes in the garden too. The area near the greenhouse is now a very well established with soothing English country garden style planting. We added a central bed a few years ago and that is now chock full of plants that will need thining next spring. We also made a raised pond with planting area either side that adds another dimension to the space and added a pergola to the shed so that, having run out of ground, we can grow vertical climbers.                               I've also begun to experiment with jungle planting. I keep them in pots mainly. Our patio is shaded all morning and baking sun in the afternoon and into t...