My fourth attempt at planting a rose garden was made possible in August 2014 when through a sudden, but unexpected twist of events, I found myself living down in a newish housing estate on the South Coast of NSW, Australia. So far we have had abundant rain, lots of humidity and the summers have reached up to 32°C but for only a few hours on our hottest days. The winters are nice and chilly but not bitterly cold averaging 3° - 8°C overnight and up to 16°C during the daytime, but there have been a handful of lovely, warmer days in between. Being located not far from the coastline surrounded by Jervis Bay to the East and St Georges Basin to the South, we do have lots of very strong wind gusts from every direction. The westerly winds come to us via the Budawang Mountain Range, whilst the Northerly winds come via the Southern Highlands of NSW. It is amazing how rough, the mostly tranquil Bay and Basin can become on strong windy days when waves can rival some east coast (ocean) beaches I have had the delight to swim in over the times.
September, 2015:
A year down the track, and just a few short weeks ago this area experienced its worse flooding in some 30 years! Thankfully, my garden is high up and so it suffered minimum damage through the 500mm plus (around 20 inches) downpour over a three day period. The worse damage saw some soil erosion and I have now corrected that by adding mushroom compost and now mulching with shredded sugar cane. In a sense I am very thankful for this rain, not only because it has ensured a bumper Spring season for the roses (especially the newly planted ones), but because for the first time since my gardening experience, we haven't been plunged into a drought requiring much hand watering due to water restrictions.
So far, my dream of establishing a Rose Cottage Garden in the front of the property comprising of David Austin Roses and various companions is still on hold. I thought it wise to take one step at a time and get the back garden flowing smoothly first as that is where we do most of our living (when not inside the house). It is now evident that our abundant Kangaroo population still seem to enjoy nibbling at the weedy lawn and thankfully have shown no interest in the other vegetation out in the front yard. I have made a start with what I call the 'back-bone' and so far this includes four gardenia Florida shrubs (growing under the master bedroom windows) to provide privacy and shelter from the southerly winds and rains. Five small Murraya Peniculata plants with the hope that they will grow to provide privacy and scent along the eastern front fence. I also have assorted ferns and begonias planted (under the study window) and potted peace lilies, a weeping acacia Cognata and the Stephanotis vine (still in its huge tub but is days away from finding its permanent place growing on the front gate wall). I have now also planted two deciduous trees (a Chinese Tallow Wood (sapium) and a Forest Pansy (Cercis Canadensis) on the verge to further protect the property from the southerly gale force winds which build up over the basin area. I have never grown the Cercis before but have seen a few magnificent specimens down these parts. Both the plants are about a metre high at the moment (Sep 15).
In August this year, I have added 10 bare rooted Tea roses to the West and North boundaries as well as 12 David Austin Roses (see notes below).
August, 2014:
My seaside rose garden finally began to take some shape in October 2014 just 8 weeks after moving into my new home down in the Bay and Basin area of the South Coast of NSW, Australia.
The entire garden area consisted of mainly weedy lawns with a few odd, ailing plants, only two of which merited saving. These two are native hybrid Grevilleas, a red, and a yellow lime coloured one. The native birds (Rainbow Lorikeets, Wattle Birds, Rosellas, Magpies, Cockatoos & assorted wrens and Willy Wagtails) go crazy when the Grevilleas are in flower and so wanted to retain these to encourage the birds to keep away from the new shoots on the roses.
In the meantime, and with no little thanks and encouragement from the likes of Billy West, Di Durston, Hillary Merrifield and Pat Toolan, I have widened my rose growing repertoire to include some of the Heritage Tea Roses that these delightful ladies have worked so hard to collect, identify and preserve for future generations here in the Land Down-Under and indeed, globally.
The plan was for the back garden to have two long boundary borders of mainly Tea roses and already there are 8 Teas (18 by Sep 15) and breaking the rules, 3 DARs (10 at last count) at the eastern end and 4 DAs in big tubs whilst two in small pots waiting to find their forever home. The gaps in between the roses are currently being filled with lots of perennial blue salvia (low growing) and to-date cuttings of giant blue salvia (which have grown upwards of 2 metres in a previous garden). I now have some new salvia acquisitions from my friend up in Lake Macquarie (these new hybrids should only grow to a metre tall). The Feverfew (from Billy) has found its feet and has happily self seeded itself at random throughout winter. I have been busy transplanting the young plants to strategic locations. I just adore this herb/fern type plant, almost always in bloom whilst the scent wafts far with each brush of a dog's tail. There is still the odd self sown tomato, lettuce, rocket, spinach etc, mostly migrants from the potted veggie/herb tubs, but also from burying my kitchen scraps directing into the soil.
The service area of the back garden has been fenced off and already the weldmesh fence is almost completely covered by Comtesse de Labarthe (Tea) on the north side but facing west and Abraham Darby (now joined by William Shakespeare 2000) on the south side facing north. On the eastern side of CdeL I have planted Darcey Bussell (2015) as I found this rose to grow quite large and in my previous garden was seldom without multiple blooms. It should make a lovely contrast to the Comtesse who is a week or two away from bursting into a wall of luscious, pink blooms (Sep 2015).
At the feet of the back garden shed I had planted Souvenir de la Malmaison, Mme Isaac Pereire and Lamarque (2014). These three have been joined by a grafted Passionfruit vine. A year down the track (2015) and the sight of the shed is gradually disappearing. The sight of the 4,000 litre rainwater tank is also becoming a blur as Renae (2014) continues to engulf it at great speed. Alas, Buff Beauty (2014) has not made much progress, but he is facing south and am hoping that this Spring will see him climb to fence height which should then see him 'take off' and claim a large chunk of the fence.
The back garden needed to retain its long lawn area so that my two German Shepherds (Lord Aslan & Lady Shiloh) have plenty of room to chase balls flicked to them using a hand held ball launcher. They love this activity and now seem to think that the only reason I go outside with them is to play ball :) So far, both have been very good and have not dug up any plants or chewed the soaker hoses :)
