SAPPHO OF LESBOS.e. 600BC

Many years ago I was talking to a girl who said that she didn’t like roses. I’m still puzzled by this! It seems to me that nearly everyone appreciates these traditional and well-known flowers and from the very beginning, the famous Sissinghurst gardens were planned by the Nicholsons to abound in roses. One of Britain’s most famous gardens, it is well worth a detour should you be in that neck of the woods (Kent). The roses, the white garden and the white wisteria are among many other things all of note. NB there is a book published in Association with The National Trust called ‘Sissinghurst portrait of a garden’ by Jane Brown and photography by John Miller: ISBN No 0-297-83350-2.

Rugged roses
Now for something more rugged. We have recently planted some more rosa rugosas. What useful chappies these are – great for rough areas and fine on their own in the middle of a lawn for instance. Very tough as regards diseases and parasites too. These are some of the many advantages to the rugosa being akin to wild roses.
They are hardy and dense, not too small and suitable for nearly any place or niche. The foliage is nearly luxuriant and they go blooming on all the blooming summer.
Often they have a reasonable to good scent, and they are followed by orangey-red (or even yellowy) hips for colour later on in the season. Good source of vitamin C too (remember rosehip syrup)? That is to say if you can be bothered and don’t mind all the hairy bits!
Try the following stars: ‘Roseraie de l’Hay’ is I think the most well-known and is splendid in gaps or otherwise with its crimson-purple blooms, 10cm (4”) across, with an agreeable velvety texture. This can grow as high as 1.5m (5’) and also they make damn good hedges.
‘Sarah van Fleet’ or white white ‘Blanche Double de Coubert’, David Austin roses, are good lasters and good scenters. For a smaller garden or area ‘Miss Doreen Pike’ is a pretty three-footer (height, not number of feet)!

Slimy tip
This may seem a little dotty to you, but a French pal of mine assures me that she uses snails’ slime on her face to help to keep it nice and smooth and she swears it works. (She looks O.K on it!) I have not tried this (yet?) personally so no guarantees from me. Incidentally I’ve heard that she was once incarcerated in an HP (loony bin) and she is a tad strange. She often talks to me about her garden and in particular snails!