Since last Saturday it has been perfect gardening weather. I have taken full advantage; I weeded and mulched the two evergreen shrub beds and weeded and cut back the now combined circular rose bed and small island – still haven’t thought of a proper name for this bed yet!
On Wednesday I went to the Botanic Garden in Rome to attend a lecture about pruning all types of roses. I’m not very successful with roses, never having had a garden with the right kind of soil. They need heavier soil than the very free draining tuffo I have here plus I know I should feed them more. But at least I can do my best to prune them properly.
I wish I had taken before and after pictures of the Rosa ‘Clair Matin’ that I pruned yesterday. I know I didn’t prune them at all last year and although they produced a lot of flower, much of it was on top of the pergola rather than around the pillars. I cut out a lot of old growth (I hope not too much) and they are now tied in ready to send out their new growth. Some of the buds were already beginning to break.
Another tulip is in the vase in the kitchen. T. Van Eijk has joined T. Daydream.
Tulip Van Eijk
Tulip Van Eijk and T. Daydream
As you can see ‘Daydream’ has grown a lot in a couple of days and it is now showing the orange colouration on the petals so it is what it says on the label despite my doubts.
T. Daydream
T. Daydream macro
In the above macro the black centre looks blue, which is the colour that I think attracts the bees.
Tulip Van Eijk and T. Daydream
T. Daydream
Have a lovely weekend.
Creating my own garden of the Hesperides 
Kourosh has the same problem with the roses. I don’t prune them but I always feel free to criticise ;( The tulips are beautiful. Amelia
It sounds like spring is on its way in your part of the world and you have already gotten a lot of work done. We warmed up some, but had very bad freezes and most of my garden beds will have to be cut back.
Sad that most of your plants died back, but I remember that they grew back quite quickly last year.
This year’s freeze was much colder and I am hoping the roots and bulbs made it. Fingers crossed.
My fingers are crossed for you too.
Thanks.
Ohh,lovely tulips, very worth it! I never had success with roses -too much dealage for me and here, virtually impossible!
Being to have tulips this early is worth all the effort.
Nice post and pictures. Lucky you, the ground has been too soggy for me to do any plotting this week.
Thanks, and you too. xx
I’m sorry you haven’t been able to plot this week.
Thanks, but it’s not really surprising at this time of year. xx
Lovely. Glad the Daydream worked out!
It has also grown hugely in the vase not just the stem but the petals too.
I noticed that they had flared out
Christina I’m glad that you went to the Botanical Garden of Rome to learn about pruning roses. I have no idea for more books to consult. I find you very animated working with the weeding of different areas of your garden and with the pruning of the Rosa Clair Matin: surely you have left it perfect and will give many flowers this year. The Van Eijk Tulip is beautiful with its pink and green color below. The Daydrem Tulip is beautiful and I love its central interior area with that set of colors. The photos are magnificent. Thank you and have a good weekend. Greetings from Margarita.
You are very perceptive Margarita. Being outside more does animate me. Today has not been so nice but hopefully the sun will shine tomorrow.
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I love the tulips. Despite the number of times I’ve heard it said, it always surprises me to be reminded that they grow even after they’re cut. Our local botanic garden offered a pruning demonstration too but unfortunately it didn’t fit my schedule so I went at it as best I could last week. (I always worry about cutting too much too!) I don’t have many roses and mine don’t do particularly well here either, leading me to wonder if they don’t care for my soil, which I’ve learned is very sandy.
I hope your streak of good weather continues. Best wishes for a wonderful weekend!
Today was much less sunny. But the forecast for the weekend is good. Roses really don’t like sandy soils, the exception is the rugosa group which are supposed to prefer sand. Clay seems to be their usual favourite.
They are lovely!
Well done on your busy week – there certainly seems to be ‘something in the air’ that is triggering a burst of activity from us , just at is with new growth in the garden. Pruning roses always seems to be one of the defining moments of the gardening year for me, with climbing roses done before Christmas and others quite soon – I am always more confident with the climbers! I am taking advice from David Austin and cutting The Poets Wife and The Pilgim much more severely as they were far too tall last year for their shrub border position – perhaps do it this week. I really like the suffused shades of Tulip Van Eijk – having had it in a mix from Aldi I bought some in their own right last year and hopefully they will return. Hope you have another good week of gardening weather Christina 🙂
there’s some rain promised for this week, but not every day so yes, hopefully lots more will get done.
Good to hear your weather is making it fun to be in the garden again. Love the second tulip and the macro photo. 🙂
I hope you have some good weather soon Cathy.
It’s wonderful to get outside at this time of the year. It’s cold here but I can sniff spring in the air, we have turned the corner. Love your tulips.
Last week was when it suddenly felt that spring would arrive. At times the sun was warm. Back to rain today!
Hardly warm here, but the sun feels wonderful in an out of the wind corner, and the days are getting longer. Love the bright color of Daydream.
Daydream is a revelation, it is so big!
It is strange with roses not thriving in your garden when so many originated from the Middle East. Maybe some of the species varieties would do better, I am only speculating!😀
The problem is my soil. I know roses really prefer clay or heavy soil. Roses grow well locally
I love the inside of a tulip! Can’t wait for ours to arrive…
When do your tulips usually flower?
The earliest at the beginning of April, and the latest at the end of May. Then it’s peony time!
We have a peony farm near us, if you search my blog you’ll find several posts about it.
Ooh. I will check that out!
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Very pretty flower!