Stars of the Garden at the moment are Just Joey and Muriel Linton:
Just Joey, has a lot of blooms - didn't get round to pruning her beyond removing the odd dead twig this year, but she doesn't seem to mind and is producing probably the best flowers since I've had her and plenty of them, which is saying something....AND I can smell them for a change! Very nice indeed fruity even.

"Bishops Lodge Muriel Linton", is still a fairly small bush only planted last season, but good healthy foliage, new shoots coming and 3 of the most sensational large fragrant red blooms. The scent is every bit as good as what I refer to as my "glorious mislabel" (which I still suspect might be mme isaac perriere (sp?)). So far Muriel's perfume has been very reliable, no smell it one minute gone the next. Any time of the day, every day till petals fall, every bloom she's produced (which hasn't been all that many of course), heavy sweet perfume. Glorious, and worth carting carefully the hundreds of kms back from Hay. Best souvenir ever!
John Clare is helping add some colour too, He's performed very well and I'm very happy with him. I was put off by some less than enthusiastic comments in books and such, but glad I succumbed to the colour (saw him at Werribee). LD Braithwaite is budding up, but no blooms yet. He really is an outstanding rose, as is Sophy's Rose. Bought her really anticipating a niece of that name, what a trooper, she's been relocated, but already has a bud about to open, I reckon she'll end up a classic despite her lack of scent. So far for me a really functional floriferous little bush. If The Fairy can achieve stardom Sophy's Rose sure can.

Clbg Lorraine Lee is sending out lots of shoots all over having just finished a much appreciated winter flush of flowers that brightened up the garden no end. Bush, LL is settling in now she's out of a pot, but not showing a lot of sign of getting bigger, though she seems cheerful enough.

Radox Bouquet is seducing me with just the one lovely fragrant bloom. YUM! It was in the ground last year, newly purchased, and sat....and sat....and sat...didn't die, didn't grow, didn't respond to kindness...Queen Adelaide similar. Maybe they'll prefer their pots, see how they like organic life...either way, no loss for the garden bed they've been evacuated from. Up to them if they want to volunteer their spots to others.

My mislabel "Typhoo Tea" has been similar. I've had it gosh, must be 3 seasons, and while it has produced some absolutely georgeous blooms, it just doesn't get bigger, I've moved it, I've watered it. I've fed it. It just doesn't care. Makes Julia's rose (of the touchy constitution reputation) look like Arnold Schwarzenegger! I'm counting on this behaviour now, and have stuck in in a little pozzy by the bird bath where a bigger lustier rose would be a problem. The blooms truly are magnificent when they come, so I keep it.

I'm noticing some nice ripe hips just colouring (thanks for tip Thrip) might pot some up.

Abraham Darby is covered in lovely pink buds...I can hardly wait. Redoute is increasing flowers and bud output, lovely thing, Golden Celelbration and Molineaux both getting going as well with much promise. GC with several georgeous big blooms and stacks of buds.

Crepscule is covered in growth and liberal buds, sun hasn't quite swung over to her yet, but it won't be long now.

I might have to eat my words re Maman Cochet. She doesn't show any sign of sulking now, and has buds shooting appropriately in her nice warm pot, so fingers crossed...I must get myself some annual candytuft seeds...

Even Louise Odier (who I find doesn't like any shade at all at my place...though she's often billed as one who'll tolerate it) is (finally)looking happy and producing some very very pretty soft mauvey pink fragrant flowers. A really unusual colour.

All the relocated and potted up roses are looking happy if not thrilled, except Evelyn. Perhaps I didn't prune her hard enough compared to lost roots...I'll reduce her a bit more I think. I'm really pleased that Pat Austin doesn't seem to resent her move closer to the front of the bed at all and has some strong growth coming up. All the teas are looking just fine (phew)...and who would have thought with all this shuffling around, I've succumbed and acquried Mrs BR Cant, Mrs Reynolds Hole, Mme Wagram, Brother Cadfael and (drum roll please) Charles Mallerin (....for a pot and yes, I'm fully planning on molly coddling him....I belong to that group some of the rose books acknowledge who accept that he may be difficult to get good blooms from, but have seen and smelled a perfect one ...oh oh oh to DIE for! one a year will satisfy!)

The rose cuttings mostly seem to be doing well, especially Mme Berkeley...could have a few looking for homes later on.

I can't finish without a mention to the daffodils, sunny little chaps. Best variety I've tried is Welcome who's display is just starting to wind down, while the whites and pinks are just now starting to sing ..and so much fragrant in the garden just now, the jasmine is in bloom, the winter honeysuckle just finishing. The violets fill the air with perfume which competes for attention as you bend to sniff Radox Bouquet. And of course there's next door's weed tree (native pittosporum?)that's in flower and filling the air with perfume especially at night...and of course the manure on the garden and rotting lucerne mulch adds that lovely earthy touch just to round things off :o) but it's a satisfying smell as you imagine all the worms and plants enjoying it.

....oh isn't spring grand!

Marion

There is a race on with my roses seeing Crepuscule won the race, then yesterday Lavender Dream opened her first bloom, today I noticed Suduction, Mary Rose, Brass Band, Pink Bassino, Westerland, Lovely Lady and Oylmpic Gold all have colour in the buds, maybe tomorrow they will open or very soon.

I am hoping my Julia's rose will give me a few blooms probably a waste of money for here but I used to grow it in Melbourne when it first came out and loved it, only time will tell as it is a touchy one to grow. Your Garden sounds wonderful and probably smells that way too. Cheers...MM

My garden's nowhere like the heavenly patch of Yvonnes in SA, especially with all the disruption moving things around, (nice website BTW Yvonne), but I'm easily satisfied and can see things finally coming together.

I can't wait to hear how you like Sir Walter Raleigh. I was considering acquiring him for my Cigarettes, Whisky & wild wild women bed, which is still languishing as an idea in my head as I procrastinate about acquiring the necessary booze and cigarettes to go with Tipsy Imperial Concubine. I haven't mail ordered roses this year (had intended on being strong given the garden disruption).

One of my quirks is a liking for having rosey families in the garden. I don't buy stuff solely for this reason of course, but it does give me satisfaction having parents and children, and siblings around the place. It's interesting, and I guess not too surprising that I often discover close relationships between roses I've chosen. Blood will out?

Charles Mallerin joins Chrysler Imperial, and the kids, Papa Meilland, Mr Lincoln and Oklahoma. Oh how I LOVE these children. Mr Lincoln and Oklahoma live in the front yard, in probably the best position in the whole garden, and have stacks of lovely healthy red growth coming up. Should get a couple of dozen flowers off each flush in a few weeks time. It's getting light outside, so I'll be off to give them breakfast in bed of a generous serving of Organic Life and new mulch, washed down by a drink of fish tank cleaning water. Papa Meilland lives in a less comfortable position behind Chrysler Imperial down the back, he's SO tall, and unfortunately hard to reach to sniff the beautiful blackish flowers. Even when pruned he goes streaking for the sky again. He's in plenty of sun..wouldn't be so bad but just behind him is Alberic Barbier, an affectionate rose like albertine next to him. Always ready to give you a hug as you pass by. One of these days I'll have to identify another more accessible spot for papa. He's got one lovely black bloom at the moment too, which you can see from the house. I'll lose Mr L and Oklahoma (if that's what they are, they are absolutely indistinguishable from eachother to my eyes and nose) when we demolish the house, I've got a replacement Oklahoma down the back but haven't decided a spot for a replacement spot for Mr L yet. Can't do without them that's for sure.

I've got a number of others with close family ties too - quite by accident
Lovely Lady is a child of Silver Jubilee.
Royal Highness is a Child of Peace and Virgo, both of whom live down by the "swags". (I use the term swags rather loosely, I'm totally incompetent at training climbers I've concluded...or is it just totally lazy..). Royal Highness is well named. She fades quickly in hot weather, but in an even attractive way, so she looks white. In cooler months her blooms are the lovelies soft pink with beautiful red stamens and SO floriferous! She churns out blooms like anything. An absolute winner. She's got growth and buds to compete with Mr L and Oklahoma out the front, but she's in nowhere near as much sun at this time of year. Another I'll lose with demo, no replacement yet.

Anyway, I must go, the steady rain we've had overnight has eased and it's now light outside, I've some rosey breakfast to prepare!

Lucky for me one of my neighbours has just planted two crab apples in his front yard and they have got a smattering of flowers, not a bad show for small babiies. He seems to pull everything out of his garden and start again every couple of years, but here's hoping he sticks with this and we all get to enjoy the blossoms each year. It would certainly be lovely having one so local, as then you cannot fail to be there when the blossoms are in full glory. It's nice going around the gardens in the highlands or Blue Mountains, but you have to be lucky with the weather. First time I went with my Mum, we just happened to go everywhere at just the perfect moment. I'll never forget the spectacle of seeing a huge floribunda crab apple absolutely smothered in bloom, and the white flowering cherry at the nursery in Bowral in peak bloom with seats around the trunk where you could just sit and sigh at the glory of it. And of course, I will forever be grateful that I got to see Merry Garth at Mt Wilson at what surely must have been it's best. Built by a collector it was not only a spectacle of colour, but filled with fascinating rare bulbs and such. It's gone off more recently and was a sad disappointment when last I was there, more of a focus on plant sales and general garden maintenance clearly suffering.

In my garden the quince is in flower, and the nectarine and peach are just starting. The quince is the prettiest of the three, very lovely complemented by nice leaves. When the plum finishes Francis E Lester, which is climbing the plum will pick up where his host left off.

Every time I go out, I notice something new, and feel slightly guilty that I haven't thought to note them to the world in my musings....like Double Delight, working hard and being in a really warm spot, further advanced than everyone other than Just Joey, or Little white pet, coming up with plenty of buds and new growth after a heavier than usual trim this year....ah there's no end....
...I think one of the hardest things about spring is deciding whether to just stay home and enjoy my own garden, or get out into the countryside to see the spectacle in others...I always enjoy the jaunt out to Burnt Yards near Orange to see the fields of Iris and display gardens at Hillview. Last year, or was it the year before, they'd put in a big section of roses, but they weren't well enough advanced so early in the season when the irises are blooming, to do other than make you wish the garden was open more generally... Some things were flowering of course, the standard Crepescule was a delightful sight. I don't think I'll make it out there this year. Worth the visit for anyone who's within striking distance though.

Your descriptions of your roses make me envious. As I have mostly HTs and Floras,I am only just rejoicing in the new leaves that are sprouting after pruning - I love their shades of green, bronze and maroon, and their SHINE! I started pruning two weeks earlier this year and am pleased with the results. I had always waited till August due to the warnings about pruning later in frost prone areas.

Also pleased to hear your Bishop's Lodge Rose was worth lugging home from Hay.

I enjoy reading about what roses other people love - I have planted Betsy's Rose this winter ie Best Friend. She raved and raved, so can't wait to see it flower. Must really make an effort next year and get Fran's Rose - Parole.

Like you I get utter delight in finding a new rose has opened, this morning "Seduction" opened it beautiful petals, and as I turned around to see where this perfume was coming from and I see one branch of "Pink Bassino" with three buds opened somehow I missed them yesterday as they are carpet roses and as I turn towards "Chooky Heaven " to let my girls out for the day there is Iceberg on their fence with three buds almost opened and double delight with one , my girls ate half of that plant, both roses are climbers you see but I thought I had planted them both far enough away from that fence but I didn't.

And as I walk towards the front of my block to fill up the bird bath there on my left are my three "Lavender Dreams" starting to bloom like crazy and as I walk on to the front of the house I see "Lovely Lady" not quite opened same with "Olympic Gold" but what has happened to "Just Joey" this spring it is usually the first one to flower, sadly it does not even have any buds on it, over near the front gate I peek at "Alexander" a traffic stopper they said so I wait in anticipation for that first bloom and as I head towards the other side of the house I walk under the Arch where at the bottom the two "Crepuscules" are flowering past more roses where the buds have still to open, through the second Arch which is full of "Westerland" buds no time to look at the ones across the back of the house or visit "Seductions" mates in that new hexagon bed we made last Autumn as I have to get back to the real life of getting breakfast and the chores. O well there is always later. ..MM.

Chooks are an element of the garden I've long coveted, but haven't acquired. Good to know they share your love of roses! Sympatico! We....I guess I should really say "I" was thrilled to find the original well built chook shed down the back when we first looked at this property, and the neighbours had chooks too. "Heaven" I thought, neighbours with chooks surely won't mind us getting some, and all that fertiliser for the garden to boot...but I set my heart on Barnevelders and then found them difficult to get. I'm such an ignorant city kid, I didn't realise you need to shop for chooks at the right season of the year...anyway I've since changed my ambitions to bantam Australorps.. Not so long ago the neighbours got a bit too seriously old (or perhaps they died) and sold up. Bye bye chooks. Now I figure it might be best to wait for the dogs to die (elderly terriers), then I can let the chooks fossick around the garden sometimes without being chased. Yep, chooks and blue tongue lizards are future fauna in my backyard.

That bank of Lavender Dreams sounds delightful. I bought my specimen from Bunnings on an impulse a few seasons ago, as it's quite a simple flower, and my elder daughter greatly prefers single roses. I've never regretted it for a moment, though I do agree with the recent post asking why it is called "lavender" dream..not lavender at all here. It's a rose where nothing is as it's promoted really. They say it's not fragrant, but mine sure is! It's one in my garden that makes you look around for the source of fragrance when you're doing a bit of weeding..well it used to anyway...now I know who it is and just get up for thorough nose full, before getting back to work.

.....well that's finished it! Demolition on indefinite hold now! Thismorning, I dragged myself out at 5:45 to put out the bins, water the pots and shovel a few barrows of mulch before getting ready for work, and it suddenly clicked. That peeping of wrens that's been so persistent the last several days....it's a nest! Sure enough a beautifully crafted nest in amongst the flowering jasmine up against the house, right next to the rather inactive driveway!

Words cannot express the transports of joy I am currently experiencing! One of my major objectives in this garden has always been to get the wrens breeding on site. Now I'm thinking "no way am I interfering with a wren apartment block before I get a replacement established for them".

Down behind the shrubs in the native garden annual grasses have free reign for nesting material, but the wrens aren't silly! A few weeks ago I pulled a whole stack of annual grasses out of the driveway garden and piled them up on the concrete...never getting around to carting them off somewhere. I don't want to lose the organic matter by putting in the garden bin, but don't want to put the seeds on the gardens either (though why I should worry about that on the native garden I don't know)...I need to build a compost heap. ...anyway, the wrens seem to have used this handy nest material for their construction job... :o) they do say an excessively tidy garden isn't very bird friendly! LOL. The wrens also seem to like the apple tree carcasses we've just piled up on the driveway for the tree guy to mulch up when he somes to do some surgery on the coral tree down the back. I'm seriously considering keeping this pile, though I might consider relocating it! ..Graham Pizzey reminds me that wrens love this sort of hiding and displaying structure....

...anyone getting the impression I like Superb Fairy Wrens? They've been my favourite bird ever since I saw them at Taronga zoo when I was very small, I still remember that first sight of a coloured up male. Fortunately, I don't think wren habitat or redevelopment will be the only choice, but I am absolutely determined to ensure that any sections of garden at risk have adequate alternatives around the yard, before anything is done. It's not very often I find myself wishing for a few more aphids around the garden! The wrens do a brilliant job keeping them under control. No sooner than I notice one or two, or perhaps even a small colony, the wrens detect them and they're history.

The timing for this discovery is great really. Younger son, took to digging up 5 x 10 metres plus a bit, of the grass in front of the native garden with the idea of installing a basketball training area (an HSC stress reliever evidently)...he's changed his mind over the weekend and we are left with 50 odd square metres of degrassed and semi-levelled dirt. Various family members have been offering suggestions of what to do or not to do, but I've been reading the birds in backyards article in Wingspan (magazine of Birds Australia) and this has inspired a re-read of Graham Pizzey's the Australian Bird Garden (a really entertaining read BTW, his story about the ephemeral lake in his back yard is really interesting)...that stretch of dirt in my yard is in serious danger of conversion to indigenous or at least native plants...I don't think I'll get away with converting the whole lot though...hubby likes his grass..don't know why really, he can't sit on it, he's allergic to grass...still, it does set off the garden beds nicely.

I'd be tempted to snitch some more space for roses, but over there in the native half of the yard it would look a bit odd I think, and anyway my water resources are already severely stretched, with basix assessment looming. Before inviting more roses in, I figure I'd be better off giving what I've got a bit extra, and being ruthless as to what varieties I keep.

On the rosey front, like other areas over the weekend it was downright horrible weather here yesterday. Cold and windy. Snapped the first rapidly maturing bud from Princess de Monaco, finished of a number of blooms on Just Joey, and knocked Muriel Linton around a bit. Abe Darby's hanging in there, and Tropical sunset and Lolita both have blooms looking good. But blooms aren't all there is, of course. I too enjoy the the beautiful fresh foliage. Prize for shiny in my garden goes to Alberic Barbier - no question, while the reds in the front garden win for red foliage. Mr L, Oklahoma, Fragrant Charm and Camp David all pretty even in the race. "Happy Anniversary" (mislabel?) would be up there for limey green. Everyone else must be fairly ordinary inthe foliage department'cause I can't remember what they're like particularly.

Anyway, I'd best be off to dreams of ephemeral lakes, frogs sitting on rose buds and baby birds....