| This forum - Snodge was one - encouraged me to plant teas in a new bed I had dug across my lawn. Well as a newcomer, I didn't know a tea from a hybrid tea but took the advice and planted Archduc J (Mr Tillier), Safrano, 2 Souv d'un Ami, a Mrs H Stevens, an ?? de Triomphe and a centifolia Fantin Latour.
I must say I am very happy. The Archduc is now up to my waist from a puny little bare root and is still covered in blooms as is Safrano and Mrs Stevens. Fantin L. Is also waist high and no buds yet but this one is seasonal I read.
They are going to look sensational when they get bigger. But I love them now and am experimenting now with perennials under them - I am trialling a number of things to see what works best.
Thanks for the superb advice about the teas. They are sensational plants.
I don't know how come I am so lucky but there is not a pest anywhere near any of the rose beds. An occasional leaf looks splodgy with black marks when I pick a bowl of blooms for my guests as I am still doing and I just cut off that leaf. But this place is swarming with frogs and birds and lady birds. I have never sprayed anything although was tempted in my first winter here but held out. However, I think it is not my management but the larger area - no one much around my immediate km sprays much - mostly dairy farmers around me or bush and a few neighbours a few hundred metres down but they don't spray either. When I lived in the city, it was impossible with aphids and I think the problem is the area's environment, not just what you do. |
