“Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colours, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night”

Posted on by Di Baker

When I first began growing roses, I was like a child in the lolly shop, unable to decide which ones to choose from all the beautiful colours and styles. My choices were not always suitable, and I could not resist the enticing rose names so I often overplanted. Some didn't survive, but most have flourished, … Continue reading “Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colours, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night”

“You must fail at gardening to master it.”

Posted on by Di Baker

Nature wins this week in the garden. If ever there was a time one needed some inspiration to garden, this is it. Forget the heat and typical summer weather; the number of mosquitoes since our floods and storms are extreme and make being in the garden almost impossible. I usually head out in summer with … Continue reading “You must fail at gardening to master it.”

“Gardening is easy. Stick it in the ground the right way up and most plants will grow perfectly well.” Monty Don

Posted on by Di Baker

I must admit the garden this season has been a humbling experience with unseasonal weather that gave me a false sense of what a garden can be; lush and green, an array of prolific blooms and loads of growth. It was stunning, some days, I even thought that the garden looked like a 'proper garden' … Continue reading “Gardening is easy. Stick it in the ground the right way up and most plants will grow perfectly well.” Monty Don

“Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are.”

Posted on by Di Baker

I have few words left to describe 2021 so instead, I have a collection of my favourite shots of the roses in the garden this Spring and early Summer. The garden has had a fantastic year and the roses are wonderful due to the unseasonal weather. Like the rose and the thorn, life has two … Continue reading “Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are.”

“Flowers don’t tell, they show.”

Posted on by Di Baker

I'm in awe every day in the garden at the exquisite nature of the roses and the surprising array of rose blooms that at times appear so delicate, soft and angelic and yet some are bold, exotic, and majestic whilst others create an eye-catching display that is charming and elegant. The rose never fails to … Continue reading “Flowers don’t tell, they show.”

“I look upon the pleasure we take in a garden as one of the most innocent delights in human life.”

Posted on by Di Baker

The early stages of Spring in the garden this year were magnificent. The full flush of blooms I missed though, as I had to be away for several weeks. As expected, I was greeted by thousands of spent rose blooms ready to deadhead and thriving rampant weeds on my return to the garden last week. … Continue reading “I look upon the pleasure we take in a garden as one of the most innocent delights in human life.”

”The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.” 

Posted on by Di Baker

The unpredictable nature of rain has caused a few heartaches lately in rural areas where crops almost ready for harvest have been decimated from excess water. In the garden too, rain has been both a blessing and a curse. After the brilliant start of Spring this year, the roses have been ravaged by wind and … Continue reading ”The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.” 

 A Sense Of Place

Posted on by Di Baker

Gardens are a refuge, a solace from the world. We all at some stage, have been awed by a place where the buildings and landscape just seem to feel right, where a sense of harmony exists. In areas like this by simply being or planting a seed, or watching a rose bloom, or glimpsing a … Continue reading  A Sense Of Place

“The fragrance of the rose lingers on the hand that casts it”

Posted on by Di Baker

Walk through the garden on any Spring day and you are immediately taken by the rose fragrance. Not least of all roses bred by Delbards in what I like to call my French garden; Belle Parfume, Dioressence, Belle du Seigneur, Chatreuse de Parm, Grand Siecle, Mitsouko, Sour Emmanuelle, Cote d'Azure, Lousie de Amade, Madame Delbard, … Continue reading “The fragrance of the rose lingers on the hand that casts it”

Just Peachy

Posted on by Di Baker

As I worked in and around the garden last week, the colour of the peach roses took my breath away - they are the best I've seen so far. Crepuscule, Lady Of Shallot and Peach Profusion, are standouts. Roses in this colourway range from softest shell pink to rosé, peach, salmon, apricot and coral or … Continue reading Just Peachy

“Avoid being impatient. Remember time brings roses.”

Posted on by Di Baker

It is official, the roses this year are a triumph, and I could not be happier with the results. The chilly slow start to Spring and natures reluctance to bring out the sun has seen blooms open at a regal and leisurely pace, but now the brakes are off, and full bloom is upon us. … Continue reading “Avoid being impatient. Remember time brings roses.”

“If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.”

Posted on by Di Baker

Another week into October, and the rain has gone. This week is all about florescence, for everywhere you look, buds are unfolding, and blooms are appearing all in their quiet, natural manner. The distinct seasons in rural life have their charm, but Spring has to be the most enjoyable. It is like a party where … Continue reading “If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.”

“Life is trying things to see if they work.” 

Posted on by Di Baker

My garden has always been an experiment to see if, despite the rural location and tricky climate, creating an inviting, lush and colourful outdoor space was possible. I've tried things out with no certainty that the plants would grow and there have been many setbacks and disappointments. As time went by I've become more informed … Continue reading “Life is trying things to see if they work.” 

Flowers are the music of the earth

Posted on by Di Baker

Around the garden, hundreds of buds appear on the lush, dense foliage of the roses. Each day more blooms pop out, but after the recent rains and cool weather the process has slowed down. The weather is warmer now, and the first Spring flush is almost here. In some ways, it feels like waiting for … Continue reading Flowers are the music of the earth

“How lovely yellow is! It stands for the sun.”  

Posted on by Di Baker

I've always admired the soft yellow flowers of a climbing plant that I see covering archways, fences and pergolas as I drive into our local rural town. They are always a welcome sight at the end of winter. The words in the quote of Vincent Van Gogh above could easily have described this charming climber's … Continue reading “How lovely yellow is! It stands for the sun.”  

“To everything there is a season”

Posted on by Di Baker

The expression ' a watched pot is slow to boil' has been around since Benjamin Franklin first wrote the text in 1785. It has come to mind lately as anticipation of Springs first flush grows ever so slowly each day. A few buds are appearing, and the arrival of the first blooms, but because of … Continue reading “To everything there is a season”

“Je vois la vie en rose”

Posted on by Di Baker

Je vois la vie en rose means: I see life in pink; I am looking at the world through rose coloured glasses. Why not live with an ability to see beauty in everyday life and have a positive and optimistic outlook - a rosy way to see the world? One of the first roses to … Continue reading “Je vois la vie en rose”