Rose

I bought this rose in an impatient mood (overpriced in an expensive garden centre) and I've only had one flower on it in the last four years. It got cramped by some trellis, fighting for light between a Clematis and a Honeysuckle (not ideal). Then I read you aren't supposed to prune it in the first couple of years (oops) and that branches should be tied horizontally to encourage flowering (oh). It's my first rose so I didn't know this stuff.

I've brutally moved it (might have lost a few roots during dig-up) to this open sunny spot. I'm going to get some bright climbing rope to tie around the stakes to make it look a bit jazzy. The rose is a tea/yellow colour. What are my chances of it flowing this year?

The Rosemary edging looks rather frayed after the snow. I hope it recovers to look as good as it has in previous years.

Star for December

This little shrub is looking great right now. I don't know what it is. It's at the back of the border so I need to move it towards the front by about two feet. That's planning for you.

Hanging on

There are very few Field Maple leaves left. Unfortunately when these disappear we are back looking at next door. Roll on May...

By the way, I've made leaving comments easier so if you feel the urge, please let me know if you're reading (I need incentives this time of year).

All alone

This clematis, Ville de Lyon, is holding on despite quite a few heavy frosts. Can't quite remember when it started flowering but it's early days (only second year) and I didn't prune it last year. Have just read it's in pruning group three so I need to hard-prune it in late winter (mid-Feb) by cutting all stems back to 25cm above ground level. Each pruned stem needs at least one good pair of buds on it. So hopefully I'll now remember to do this (will write on the calendar).

Splendid woodruff

I seem to have woodruff all over now, under my shrubs. So easy to dig a patch up and move it along. It looks its best now. Good stuff indeed.

Herb pot

I never really have much success with herbs in pots. The Bay here is very yellow, the Greek Oregano has disappeared and I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to do with the Welsh onions. Still, Mrs Jessops' Upright Rosemary and the common thyme are doing well.

Dew drips

I can't help but love seeing the dew on the Euphorbia leaves. That makes me as drippy as they are.

Another star

I've been waiting a long time for this Aster frikartii Monch to flower. It was a plant on my list so when I found it in a garden cetnre it had to be bought. I'd read it's the best aster but can't remember now who said that. It's planted with red Helenium which is quite a colourful combo but seems to work. I dug up the Helenium in the spring and divided one plant into about six (it was overdue for splitting) and tried to remove the bindweed that smothers it in summer. It didn't work (I discovered helenium and bindweed have v. similar looking roots), and the bindweed is back. Oh well.

Star in august

I tried taking a photo of this Japanese aneneme the other day but it was so windy I was just getting a lot of blurred images. Today is really still so I had another go. I've got the white variety too - both were hidden under the gloom of the overgrown budleia when we arrived but I make sure they have a bit more light these days and every year they beef up a little more. I like seeing them flower but it does always feel like the end of the season. They seem to be the freshest thing around at this time of year.

Autumn in august...no!

My Forsythia seems to think that autumn has arrived. I'm in denial - it just cannot be. Not yet. Please.

Ver-bee-na

I always think verbena is a really summery flower. I bought two a couple of years ago and thought I had lost both in frosts but they seem to have self-seeded (when I bought them someone in the garden centre said they had really spread) - I've found them in various parts of the garden - I guess because they are so tall the seeds go quite a distance. Good news for me in my 275ft garden.

Things that collapse

This is only the second summer for this border and it's already choc-full. You can't even see the Griselinia hiding at the back but in winter they are about the only thing on show - I'm hoping by the end of the summer they'll be the height of the wall behind (there are three of them there). The yellow flowers at the front are Coreopsis verticillata Zagreb - I bought two very wee pots (I mean those silly inch pots you get in the garden centre early spring) and they seem to be doing as well as last year when they flowered well into October/November although I was a rather manic dead-header. Can't say the rain has allowed for the same this year.

The taller yellow blooms are Anthemis tinctoria 'E.C. Buxton, again bought in an inch pot. I'm a bit annoyed with them as I made sure I staked them (lesson learnt from last year) but this year they have tricked me into growing a foot higher so they all collapsed, hence the rather savage big cane emergency stake that's there. I'll be better prepared for next year.

Bee is for borage

At least the rain hasn't deterred the bees. The veg plot is buzzing with them, largely because the borage has gone mad this year. I can't quite believe how 'green' I was to buy a packet of borage seeds - absolutely no need, they self seed with a vengence and have filled up the space where my beans have failed (a very sad, empty cane wigwam - they were eaten, tedril, leaf and stem while we were on holiday). Just as well for borage I suppose, better than an empty plot.

Yet another star in May

This is of my favourites at this time of year. Looking in my box of plant labels, I see it is Clematis montana Marjorie. I think this might be it's second (or maybe third) summer on this fence and I have never pruned it. It's not as vigorous as other montanas but I'm hopeful it will reach the top of the fence for next year. Another patch covered. Good.

Another star in May

Okay, so it's completely impossible to have just one star plant per month. This is one I inheritied in the garden (one of the few things). It used to sit outside the shed but didn't really have anywhere to scramble over so I moved it to the long border (yes, behind the washing line) hoping it would realise it was supposed to hide the not very attractive fence. The silly thing seems to think it's a shrub and despite my alluring canes and ties refuses to climb. I'm not sure I would have picked this clematis myself (a bit blousey for my tastes) but have been impressed by it's impact (if you know where to look for it). It's called Sugar Candy.

Star plant for May

I'm a really big Euphorbia fan and have no resistance over buying them. This was one I bought last year although it didn't do that well last spring (it was only wee). This year I moved it to a more central location, behind the washing line, which I call my 'long border' (although it doesn't quite look like Monty's). This year it's been stunning and so qualifies for my new 'star plant' category. I'm hoping it takes over like Robbiae. It's full name (lest I forget) is Euphorbia griffithii 'Fireglow'.

Spring in bloom

Things are definitely on the move (although haven't had to wait long at all this year). This is my first Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus 'Roseum', aka Snowball Tree) which I bought in the neglected plant bargain spot at Westonbirt at the beginning of the year. I'm hoping it will soon hide the fence behind it although as it's such a long way down the end of the garden (beyond the end of the hose) so I will have to remember to give it a few drinks. BBC gardening has a great pic of it in winter so looks like it will be a good one to watch over the year.