Friday, May 1, 2015

End of Month View - The White Garden Bed

If you compare photos of the White Garden Bed from the end of April with the ones from the end of March there seems to be less white color in the bed, which is due to the fact that two of the roses planted there ('Auckland Metro' to the very right and 'Chandos Beauty', second rose from the left) are done with their spring flush.

I decided to completely deleaf and prune back 'Moonstone', the rose between the two cycads, because it was so plagued by rose rust and powdery mildew that I thought this would be the last chance for it to recover. Only 'Pope John Paul II', the rose to the very left is gearing up for a new flush right now.

April 2015


 March 2015



Here is a close-up of 'Moonstone' after my radical treatment. I don't have much hope for this rose though, because it has been notoriously sick with rust and mildew for at least two years now and that seems to have weakened the rose quite a bit. I think I would be better off to replace it with another more disease resistant white rose. 


April 2015

 March 2015

The biggest and most impressive change in the bed from March to April is the made by the cycad to the left though, that is producing a new layer of fronds. Watching this new layer grow is really fun, because it is such a quick and impressive process, a real spectacle of nature.  



Here I zoomed in on the cycad. I wonder if the new layer of fronds will be able to reach its normal size, because of the ongoing drought and also the heat waves that we are having already. Today for example the highest temperatures have been 88 degrees Fahrenheit (31 degrees Celsius) and it is only spring! Summer with its real intense heat is yet to come. 



The only new plants that I have been able to add to the White Garden Bed in the last month are a six pack of dianthus 'Floral Lace White'. These poor things have been sitting in my pot ghetto for one year. Isn't it unbelievable? They must be very tough little plants to survive this and I hope they really will take off now that they are planted in the ground.



After planting I watered the dianthus with fish emulsion and I think they have perked up and the green of the foliage looks a bit darker already. 



One plant that positively has surprised me is the heuchera 'Venus', which I planted last month. It seems to be unphased by the heat so far. Only the snails have damaged it a little bit and it is time to put down some Sluggo, an organic snail bait, to protect the heuchera. I am still in love with its silvery leaves with the dark green veining. 


April 2015


March 2015

Another plant that has been a delight is the alstroemeria Princess Lilies 'Claire' (right in front of the left cycad), which is flowering continuously since over a month now. 



The Hybrid Tea Rose 'Pope John Paul II' is adding some dots of white color to the very left of the White Garden Bed. On the photos 'Pope John Paul II' looks good, but if you see the rose in reality you will recognize that it is badly ridden by thrips, causing the edges of the flower petals to become brown.

In all the years I am having this rose I only had that happen one spring flush so far. For that reason I hope, that the rose is able to shake of the thrips, when it flowers next time. The blooms of this rose are also substantially smaller than usual, which I believe is due to the drought and heat. But small blooms are better than no blooms, right?

Even though I am a day too late, I am linking my post to Helen's End of Month View meme at her blog The Patient Gardner's Weblog. Hope you join me in hoping over to her blog and have a peak at what other gardener's gardens look like by the end of April.

Wishing everyone a lovely weekend with nice weather and plenty of time to enjoy spring in the yard or somewhere else outdoors.

See you in the garden!

Christina



16 comments:

  1. Those cycads look extra fab when flushing like! And nice additions those Dianthus :)

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  2. In spite of your ongoing drought and early hot weather, your gardens still look lovely.

    Have a nice weekend ~ FlowerLady

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  3. I love the new growth on the cycad - it looks great against the blue sky. The pot ghetto - great name. And we all have one too...

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  4. Fascinating to see how quick the Cycad puts out a new layer of fronds despite the conditions Christina. The Alstromeria has been a star, hasn't it. Those Dianthus should do well with you from what I understand about the conditions they need. I hope that Moonshine is a fighter. You never know it might just surprise you. Have you verbally threatened it yet.....that often works :)

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  5. Those new fronds are wonderful, so dramatic. Thanks for sharing, I do enjoy seeing your blue skies and sunny garden

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  6. I got rid of 'Moonstone' last year--you are right it was a dreadful Ruster. Lots of split centers, too. I can recommend 'Snowbird', though it is more of a floribunda--like 'Iceberg' but with strong fragrance and 4x the petals. Good also is the 2004 'Bolero', lots of fragrance, lots of flowers. It is a slow starter, and stays smallish.

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    1. HooverBoo, aaah, that is not good that 'Moonstone' suffered badly from rust in your garden, too. One more indication that this rose simply is not suitable for our climate. I have split centers as well, but don't mind them so much ;-).
      Thanks for the recommendations of 'Snowbird' and 'Bolero'. Actually, I have a very neglected 'Snowbird' sitting in my pot ghetto and always planned to try 'Bolero'. In my White Garden Bed I had the vision though, that I wanted it to be planted with Hybrid Tea roses, but maybe I have to change that. In any case, I will see if I can revive 'Snowbird'!

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  7. I hope your treatment of 'Moonstone' works. I had a horrific rust problem with 'Pristine' in my former garden and used the same treatment. Sadly, it didn't work but I left the rose there anyway as it bloomed its heart out despite its ugly foliage and didn't seem to mind the regular removal of its leaves.

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  8. The new layer of fronds of the Cycad is amazing, and that in one month. I also like your new Dianthus, they love dry spots so they will do well in your garden. Such a shame of that 'Moonstone' rose, but it's always irritating when diseases repeat, so out with it.
    Wish you happy gardening on your sunny place. Love the view from your garden.

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  9. Your cycads are amazing! As is Pope John Paul ll. I love when I find plants that keep on performing, despite the weather. Our temps are going to be in the upper 80s this week,too. It is beginning to feel almost like summer, though it is still cool in the mornings and the humidity hasn't hit yet. But it is coming!

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  10. Christina, your white garden is still looking lovely, but I know how frustrating it can be when disease rage on your roses. Sometimes it is best just to choose something different and there are many lovely roses today that are very disease resistant at least in my climate – perhaps in yours too? But some roses are just too lovely to get rid of, my dark red rose has been allowed to stay for that reason, despite badly attacked by blackspot every year I have just kept on treating it as best as I can. Hope your roses recover, and your alstremeria is on my wish-list! Take care, Helene.

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  11. I love the looks of the cycads beside the curvilinear border of the pool.

    Life is too short for roses that just can't cut it.

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  12. How quickly the cycad is growing! This plant does not care of a little drought. I wish you some rain. Groetjes,

    Hetty

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  13. Simplesmente lindo...suas rosas exuberantes!!

    Grata pela presença bonita em nosso blog.

    Um ótimo final de semana,

    beijinhos,

    Lígia e =^.^=

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  14. what a pity about the rose, you shouldnt plant another one in its place unless your replace the soil. How about trying something different - maybe a gardenia, I think they have white flowers and would do well in your climate?

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