I’m thrilled to see progress in my garden. While it’s not bursting with blooms yet, things are definitely heading in the right direction. Spotting fresh buds on the stems always brightens my day, even though the unpredictable weather—torrential rains one moment, scorching heat the next—keeps me on edge. To add to the drama, I caught a big locust lounging on my Miyabi bush this morning. Needless to say, I had to shoo it away before it turned my roses into its personal buffet!
My weapons in the fight!
To give my garden a boost, I’ve added a few new tools to my arsenal: Great Big Roses Compost Extract, Tree Grafting Paste, and Rosa Fungi Plus. I might dive deeper into each of these in a separate post, but for now, they’ve been game-changers for my garden care routine.
I’ve had the compost extract since last year, but I held off using it due to the heavy rains we’ve been having lately. Plus, it’s pretty pricey, so I’ve been stretching it out by mixing it into my weekly liquid feed. As for the grafting paste, I finally bought it about two weeks ago after seeing someone rave about it on a gardening forum. With the frequent rain and ongoing battles with dieback, I figured sealing cuts to prevent infections could make a big difference.
Then there’s Rosa Fungi Plus. My seller has been promoting it for a while now, and it seems popular among rose growers in the country. I was skeptical at first, but after reading about how it strengthens root systems, I decided to give it a try. Last week, I grabbed 50 tablets. Apparently, you just bury them under the soil and let them work their magic. Fingers crossed!
Welcome additions to the garden
This month, I’ve welcomed two new plants to the garden (last month, it was Cecile de Volanges, Dickon, and Roald Dahl). Say hello to Jules Verne and Paris. These IDs aren’t entirely new to me—I had them last year, but sadly, they didn’t survive the rainy season. These new pots are replacements because I genuinely love these varieties. Here’s hoping they thrive this year and bring years of joy ahead. On a sad note, I lost my Scheherazade plant to dieback, which was a tough blow.
I’m trying to keep my rose collection in check, so I’ve been extra picky about which ones to bring home. I’ve even resorted to avoiding my sellers’ pages to resist temptation. Still, every now and then, they send me a list of new IDs they think I might like—it’s a constant battle to say no!
Cautious Survivors
- Aoi
- Calypso – While the colors were a bit faded, I’m hopeful for healthier blooms next time.
- Cecile de Volanges – An old favorite—personally, I think this ID thrives in the local climate. Its colors seem to shine even brighter as temperatures rise.
- Chaleur
- Distant Drums
- Eisvogel – This rose tree was hanging on by a thread during the rains. With some TLC, it sprouted new shoots and surprised me with a stunning cluster of flowers.
- Heathcliff – Fingers crossed this one doesn’t succumb to dieback at this stage.
- L’ete
- Miyabi – Despite a tough battle with scale insects, this rose managed to bloom again. The flowers were smaller and fewer than last year’s, but I’m just relieved it bounced back.
- William and Catherine – This rose is quite the survivor, much like its namesake Catherine, The Princess of Wales, who’s currently battling cancer. Wishing strength and resilience to both Catherines.
