Floribunda

It is a lovely cool morning today. After taking Molly and Huckleberry for their walk - Molly full of anticipation and on high alert for rabbits basking in the morning sun, I thought it a good time for picking roses. Walking through the garden I see I have an aphid issue again. Caterpillars are also back - they're even eating little holes in the geraniums which can't taste that good. Between these and the puppy, flowers are having a tough time of it. But there were a handful pretty enough to arrange in a jug for our humble entrance. David Austin's roses are my favourite - 'The Alnwick Rose' (the raspberry coloured rose in the centre of the arrangement) which I put in the ground last winter, is completely covered in buds. The poor bush looks far too little for so many blooms - alas will have to relieve her and bring them inside. The fuller apricot roses, 'Jude The Obscure', is ridiculously fragrant this time of year. I added another two bushes to make a triangle of three last winter with the hope of an abundance of flowers next year - they're currently suffering a little from blackspot as the lemongrass had grown up thickly around them. My sister chooses a new David Austin rose for me each winter - first was Jude and last winter was Summer Song - beautiful, but isn't thriving, though it too has become swamped by other plants. I'm now in ruthless removal and prune mode in the garden. Will bring out the Austin book next visit for this year's choice. The pears are from an ancient pear tree in the garden. She was all but dead, so took to her with a chainsaw and in response has made a remarkable comeback. I pruned her properly for fruit production last year and we've been getting little clusters of pears since summer. Also in the jug are a couple of different Salvias: 'Santa Barbara' and something else, with some Achillea and Buddleja - all of which are from a buddy of mine at work. Half of my garden has been carted from News Magazines' headquarters. Cuttings and seeds, are delivered to my desk each deadline, potted in some rocket-fuel-cocktail of a potting mix, as these plants have all thrived in their new unfamiliar surroundings. Grazie mille Francesco.