Reading this in bed after waking up very early (no kids, but middle age) on Bank holiday Monday. I've been dreaming of planting a white rambling rose so Madame Alfred Carrière is now on my list - but will force myself to wait for next season. I am heading away for much of May and already leaving my poor friends with too much to look after in my garden. Like the bare roots I potted up yesterday... Listening to the rain now and hoping for more of the same while I'm gone!
Beginning to understand my mother, who lives in NZ and will only travel at certain times of the year because she doesn't want to leave her garden. Meanwhile I will only travel at certain times of year so I don't interrupt my marathon training. May is my birthday month and my (ultra) marathon was last weekend so it seemed perfect - but in hindsight not the best time to head away.
A belated happy birthday, and congratulations on the ultra-marathon - am in awe!
I think the bare root I got in the post (Sarah Raven!) might be dead as looks like a bundle of twigs… but will have a go at potting it up & see what happens!
Mine were from Farmer Gracy and still looked in good condition despite me not opening the box for nearly a week (I was ILL). I don't think they have a good selection of roses though. I hope yours springs back to life, hopefully it is just dormant.
What an absolute dream of a day. Nothing beats seeing the tulips in real life in order to see their true colours. And I'm super-impressed by the pre-planning of ordering!
I think I'm concerned when someone with a garden is NOT obsessed by gardening. I'm "re-awakening" a neglected garden just now (Slow Growing in Scotland on Substack), and it fills most of my waking thought (apologies to my husband and young adult children) and sometimes my dreams. On dreams, tulips are a future dream of mine, but not until I've got the shape of things worked out. Meantime I'm planning my autumn bulb order for pots (see waking thought above).
Nice to meet another Edinburgh-ite, tho my connection was that I worked at the university. And yes, the yahs!
Ahaha - I just read your first post and laughed out loud at the taking a pickaxe to a lupin. And a cow running through the greenhouse - brilliant! I dream of having so much space to grow veg - was thinking more fruit trees here, but there’s an unidentified espaliered apple here which is clearly not self pollinating & I have no idea which class of other apple to plant next to it to improve the harvest (so far one apple in three years.)
Glad to know I’m not the only one on autumn bulbs!
Rukmjnj ….much joy reading your generous, funny, warm and delightful post. I love the detail. You are yummy! Clever writing and yup, you’re on my To Subscribe’ list - to be paid.
I have found another TULIP lover…alas, I don’t grow them …I just love them.
I imagine if you could eat tulips, YOU would cook them…imagine Sugared Tulip petals …mad …no, just glad to be alive or so it seems to me. Thanks for book recommendation.
It really does feel like that doesn’t it - focusing on this magical thing, the plants doing something visibly different every day. I’d love to set up a stop motion for the peonies if I had time/resources - one second they were little red sticks coming out of the mud, three days later they’re TRIFFIDS.
Can I recommend Sarah Raven’s latest podcast episode on species tulips? Optimistic for those of us whose increasingly wet winters are making growing tulips in borders increasingly difficult
Ooh how interesting, thank you! I had literally never heard of them before Polly’s book & def up for introducing them as perennials - maybe the benefit of a small garden is they’ll look less ‘lost’ if only 20cm rather than half a metre like some of the giants!
Thank you for the beautiful tulips! I have Madame Alfred Carriere climbing up the front of my house and however hard I cut her back, she’s always trying to peep in through my bedroom window. And I have to say that Five Minutes’ Peace is my favourite ever picture book. A friend gave it to me the year it was first published, when my one year old daughter was briefly in hospital. It helped us both cope.
It’s such a good book - am so glad it gave you & your daughter some comfort on a hospital trip, even if short.
Aah - I think Mme might reach the bedroom this year, she’s tripled in size just with us away for the long weekend! Out with the wires to train her tomorrow, before she entirely blocks the front door….
Love tulips, I’m getting some again for next year! Off to investigate the book.
The roses are lovely too. Peach Melba especially. My mum loved Blue Moon, Cardinal de Richelieu too. I bought some Christmas roses last year, remembering them from her garden. 💖 xx
Ah thank you! Yes, she rather thoughtfully commented that my sister doesn’t grow flowers like her grandparents and me, and I had to reassure her that her aunt prefers leafy plants 😂
Reading this in bed after waking up very early (no kids, but middle age) on Bank holiday Monday. I've been dreaming of planting a white rambling rose so Madame Alfred Carrière is now on my list - but will force myself to wait for next season. I am heading away for much of May and already leaving my poor friends with too much to look after in my garden. Like the bare roots I potted up yesterday... Listening to the rain now and hoping for more of the same while I'm gone!
Beginning to understand my mother, who lives in NZ and will only travel at certain times of the year because she doesn't want to leave her garden. Meanwhile I will only travel at certain times of year so I don't interrupt my marathon training. May is my birthday month and my (ultra) marathon was last weekend so it seemed perfect - but in hindsight not the best time to head away.
A belated happy birthday, and congratulations on the ultra-marathon - am in awe!
I think the bare root I got in the post (Sarah Raven!) might be dead as looks like a bundle of twigs… but will have a go at potting it up & see what happens!
Mine were from Farmer Gracy and still looked in good condition despite me not opening the box for nearly a week (I was ILL). I don't think they have a good selection of roses though. I hope yours springs back to life, hopefully it is just dormant.
Totally understand your Mum. My daughter lives in NZ and I've made it clear we will not vist in gardening season.
Hilarious. Similar winter travel plans only 😂
Now I have a garden (I've been in London 18 years and finally bought a garden flat in 2022) I'm beginning to understand.
I loved this, but especially your exchange with your GP, which I found so touching.
She’s such a legend - am lucky to have a proper old fashioned GP, will be gutted when she retires!
A wonderful and inspiring book to read :
Elizabeth and her German garden, by Elizabeth von Arnim.
I have this on the shelf, and haven’t read it! Pulling it off now!
Do do do ….Von Arnim was heavenly…. I have all her books in early editions and she is a quiet Goddess of Observation…
Thing is, your GP cannot diagnose something she's clearly suffering from herself.
And this is an unkind post for someone whose tulips are a) tiny or b) rotted or c) invisible.
What an absolute dream of a day. Nothing beats seeing the tulips in real life in order to see their true colours. And I'm super-impressed by the pre-planning of ordering!
Well, I know some buyers (Lucy) will be snapping up every Belle Epoque in sight, so better get my order in early 😂
Not reading in bed but always on a comfy chair with some tea and kids in another room.
Its my weekend treat. Pretty mich always laugh out loud. Thanks!
Also, I think will go make plans for tulips too!
Aah it’s so enjoyable to do! Esp with the colour and shape combinations. Now to narrow the choice down to a reasonable number of tulips…
I think I'm concerned when someone with a garden is NOT obsessed by gardening. I'm "re-awakening" a neglected garden just now (Slow Growing in Scotland on Substack), and it fills most of my waking thought (apologies to my husband and young adult children) and sometimes my dreams. On dreams, tulips are a future dream of mine, but not until I've got the shape of things worked out. Meantime I'm planning my autumn bulb order for pots (see waking thought above).
Nice to meet another Edinburgh-ite, tho my connection was that I worked at the university. And yes, the yahs!
Ahaha - I just read your first post and laughed out loud at the taking a pickaxe to a lupin. And a cow running through the greenhouse - brilliant! I dream of having so much space to grow veg - was thinking more fruit trees here, but there’s an unidentified espaliered apple here which is clearly not self pollinating & I have no idea which class of other apple to plant next to it to improve the harvest (so far one apple in three years.)
Glad to know I’m not the only one on autumn bulbs!
I’m an apple novice, but went to a fruit tree pruning course last month at Gordon Castle Walled Garden (https://www.gordoncastle.co.uk/garden/). They had recommendations of a couple of apple tree specialists and you might find one of these could advise you. https://rvroger.co.uk/fruit/ have a Knowledge Base online, and seem to welcome queries. They also specialise in espaliered apples. At https://www.scottishfruittrees.com/ John Hancox is a real expert. And I’ve found Chris Bowers excellent for soft fruit and they’re apple specialists too, with growing guides https://www.chrisbowers.co.uk/article/apple-trees-planting-pruning-pollination/
If you don’t see advice online that’s helpful I’d just contact these and ask!
How lovely! Thank you!
Thanks so much for reading!
Rukmjnj ….much joy reading your generous, funny, warm and delightful post. I love the detail. You are yummy! Clever writing and yup, you’re on my To Subscribe’ list - to be paid.
I have found another TULIP lover…alas, I don’t grow them …I just love them.
I imagine if you could eat tulips, YOU would cook them…imagine Sugared Tulip petals …mad …no, just glad to be alive or so it seems to me. Thanks for book recommendation.
That’s so kind of you! Ha, I will check on how edible they are - magnolia petals are apparently, and taste like ginger! So yes to sugared!
I go out to see the new plant life each morning and it is invigorating to see surprises growing up each day, I am sure it is good for me.
It really does feel like that doesn’t it - focusing on this magical thing, the plants doing something visibly different every day. I’d love to set up a stop motion for the peonies if I had time/resources - one second they were little red sticks coming out of the mud, three days later they’re TRIFFIDS.
Never too many tulips!!
Never!
Can I recommend Sarah Raven’s latest podcast episode on species tulips? Optimistic for those of us whose increasingly wet winters are making growing tulips in borders increasingly difficult
Ooh how interesting, thank you! I had literally never heard of them before Polly’s book & def up for introducing them as perennials - maybe the benefit of a small garden is they’ll look less ‘lost’ if only 20cm rather than half a metre like some of the giants!
Thank you for the beautiful tulips! I have Madame Alfred Carriere climbing up the front of my house and however hard I cut her back, she’s always trying to peep in through my bedroom window. And I have to say that Five Minutes’ Peace is my favourite ever picture book. A friend gave it to me the year it was first published, when my one year old daughter was briefly in hospital. It helped us both cope.
It’s such a good book - am so glad it gave you & your daughter some comfort on a hospital trip, even if short.
Aah - I think Mme might reach the bedroom this year, she’s tripled in size just with us away for the long weekend! Out with the wires to train her tomorrow, before she entirely blocks the front door….
Love tulips, I’m getting some again for next year! Off to investigate the book.
The roses are lovely too. Peach Melba especially. My mum loved Blue Moon, Cardinal de Richelieu too. I bought some Christmas roses last year, remembering them from her garden. 💖 xx
Oh how lovely! I just put a Cardinal Richelieu in too - v excited for the purple xx
What a lovely read! So nice that Alba is sharing your enthusiasm.
Ah thank you! Yes, she rather thoughtfully commented that my sister doesn’t grow flowers like her grandparents and me, and I had to reassure her that her aunt prefers leafy plants 😂