Bye bye, Eugene de B., bye bye...
Roses 'Eutin', 'Tradescant', 'Redoute', 'Cressida', and 'Eugene de Beauharnais' got the shovel yesterday. The first two were great roses made bad by tough locations. Redoute was mediocre in this climate, and not worth the water. The last two were superb flowers on dreadful plants. Goodbye, friends.
On the other hand, planting space!
The more one gardens, the easier it becomes to rip out plants--why is that? We learn the difference between a good plant and a great one; we become exacting, or lazy, our interests shift. I sense a shift here at home--away from collecting every last Agave, every new rose, one of every cool plant--and towards a garden with an overall beauty and sense of place. Onward, Ho!
The Azaras moved into the 'Tasman Ruffles' Pittosporum spots...
The 'Tasman Ruffles' Pittosporums took the Dodonea's location...
...the roses bloom on.
I hope your own garden projects for this new year will be fun and successful--or at least fun--or at least successful. Happy New Year!
Roses 'Eutin', 'Tradescant', 'Redoute', 'Cressida', and 'Eugene de Beauharnais' got the shovel yesterday. The first two were great roses made bad by tough locations. Redoute was mediocre in this climate, and not worth the water. The last two were superb flowers on dreadful plants. Goodbye, friends.
On the other hand, planting space!
The more one gardens, the easier it becomes to rip out plants--why is that? We learn the difference between a good plant and a great one; we become exacting, or lazy, our interests shift. I sense a shift here at home--away from collecting every last Agave, every new rose, one of every cool plant--and towards a garden with an overall beauty and sense of place. Onward, Ho!
The Azaras moved into the 'Tasman Ruffles' Pittosporum spots...
The 'Tasman Ruffles' Pittosporums took the Dodonea's location...
...the roses bloom on.
I hope your own garden projects for this new year will be fun and successful--or at least fun--or at least successful. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to you too!
ReplyDeleteThanks Alison!
DeleteI hope I get over my collector phase one day and can focus on the gestalt. My good intentions seem to break down during nursery trips. Happy new year!
ReplyDeletePlenty of time for that. Enjoy the collecting!
DeleteHappy New Year, Hoov! I'm looking forward to ripping out some plants myself this year!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy! :)
DeleteAnd the same to you! Best wishes for 2014!
ReplyDeleteThanks, M&G.
DeleteYou are starting off 2014 with determination! I admire your maturing focus on the garden as a whole. It's a development I would do well to emulate...maybe next year ;-)
ReplyDeleteNext year, or the year after...
DeleteLol, I am definitely stuck in collector mode still... At some point (very soon) I'll run out of space and will be forced to start shoveling. Maybe then my garden will actually start to look good... Either way, it will certainly be fun for me. Beautiful roses you have! Happy New Year to you and your plants.
ReplyDeleteFun is the whole point, isn't it? Be happy!
DeleteDo your plants duck when you walk past with your spade?
ReplyDeleteThat looks like Azara microphylla which will be filling the garden with a wonderful scent of vanilla next month. Gorgeous.
Chloris
No, they don't duck--they beg for water. I have no idea if the Azara will survive here. Too hot? Too dry? But I couldn't resist...vanilla...yummm!
Delete
ReplyDeleteI need to ply my shovel this year after planting things way to close in my impatience.
Happy New Year to you too, Boo!
Hi Ricki! I have no idea why that big space is there between your comment and your name. Are your plants trying to tell you they agree need more space?!? ;^)
DeleteGardening is like writing. The more we write, the more we edit. Not every word's a keeper. Happy plant ripping and replacing. :o)
ReplyDeleteI wish I was better at both. It's fun, though.
DeleteEugene was always a puny grower here by the coast and never lived up to his reputation. I've been prowling the nurseries for inexpensive gallons of leucospermum, preferably the yellow. I've got maybe two spots for a couple shrubs, the leucosp and Grevillea Moonlight. Always, always they're in expensive 5 gal. Looks like a very exciting 2014 in your garden, Hoov!
ReplyDeleteEugene's flowers did lived up to their reputation, it's the plant that was the problem. Have not seen any yellow Leucospermums for sale, expensive or not. I keep ogling the ones Roger's has planted in that sloped bed--they are double the size of last year and look fabulous.
DeletePray for rain!