Skip to main content

Featured

RHS Wisley (Surrey, England)

I'm up to the last day of my trip to England last May, and we ended with a trip to the second most visited garden in the country - RHS Wisley (Kew Gardens is the most visited). Most of the previous day was spent at the Chelsea Flower Show , which I will cover in the next post. I did not realize how huge this garden was until I started going through my photos. It is more than a garden - it is a horticultural institution. The garden was originally created by businessman, scientist, and inventor George Fergusson Wilson in 1878. He used a small portion of the estate to create the "Oakwood Experimental Garden" where he grew plants that were unusual in England at the time. Among his horticultural achievements was growing lilies outside the greenhouse and water gardening. Wilson's garden attracted notable visitors during his day, including fellow gardeners Ellen Willmott and Gertrude Jekyll (Jekyll actually worked some in the garden with him). Wilson died in 1902, and the pr...
1 comment
Read more
Labels

Forecast for the coming weeks: Roses!

We had a beautiful weekend and I spent almost all of it working on getting the containers planted. I didn't realize we had so many! I finally took a break and started looking around and noticed that the roses are really starting to take center stage. It is good to stop and smell the roses but is there really time to do that this time of year? I did manage to drag my weary self out late Sunday and take some photos.
The first photo is the scene toward the pergola. The rose on the left is "Buff Beauty" and the roses you see on the pergola are "Rambling Rector" and "Reve D'Or".

Another shot of "Buff Beauty" - I would put this in the top 5 of my all-time favorite roses.
This isn't a rose but I had to throw this in. This is one of my favorite flowering shrubs - Beautybush (Kolkwitzia amabilis). I don't know why more people don't grow this and I never see it in nurseries.

One of my favorite views of the garden, with the Beautybush on the left, "Buff Beauty" in the center and the variegated dogwood "Wolf Eyes" on the right.

Next to the pergola, a grouping of beared iris and Siberian Iris grow next to the rose "Gruss an Aachen"

Rugosa roses normally don't perform well in the south but "Hansa" is an exception.

The climbing musk rose "Prosperity" with Beautybush in the background.


Russell's Cottage Rose

Back up near the patio, "Lamarque" graces the archway.

This pink rose is "Carefree Wonder" growing with Iris and Spirea "Goldmound"

"Sally Holmes" on another archway -



"Nearly Wild" surrounds our fountain inside the circular hedge.


Stay tuned for more roses in the weeks ahead!
Email Post
Labels:

Comments

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said…
It's beautiful. All of your plantings and benches, etc are so nice. I love all the arbors you have for the roses to climb!
Container plantings are a lot of work, I'm starting that project in a couple of weeks.
April 27, 2009 at 8:32 AM
Sheila said…
Your garden and roses are beautiful! I agree, Buff Beauty is one of my favorite roses also, but mine never gets that big!
April 27, 2009 at 8:34 AM
Gail said…
Phillip, I was thrilled to see your forecast was for roses and are they ever beautiful! You have created a delightful garden, for all the senses...I could sit on the bench or lie down on the garden floor and just look at the beauty surrounding me...If you hear a knock on the door, it will be me, all ready to have a picnic out there! gail
April 27, 2009 at 9:38 AM
Unknown said…
Your garden is just exquisite! When you're ready to invite me to dinner, I'll cook!
April 27, 2009 at 10:24 AM
Monica the Garden Faerie said…
Love how the white roses "pop" against the dark green background. I can almost smell them!
April 27, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Rob (ourfrenchgarden) said…
Hello Phillip,

You know, I was reading down through this post thinking this is a long one when sadly it came to an end!

I don't know of anybody else blogging such beautiful roses from their garden. Simple as that.

I wish you a blackspot free season.

Rob
April 27, 2009 at 11:02 AM
Roses and Lilacs said…
Phillip, your garden is perfect. It has that old English garden look which can't be easy to attain in Alabama. I envy you the roses. Here in the north they never reach any size.
Marnie
April 27, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Unknown said…
Oh my.... let me know when I can come over. I am in love (with your garden!) I have many, many roses....but your scenes are breathtaking. I just pray in a few more years mine look just half that good! Consider me a fan...lol....Brooke
April 27, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Annie in Austin said…
The whole garden is wonderful, but oh, that 'Buff Beauty', Phillip! You are inspiring me to first figure out where to put one, and then remember to order one next season before they're sold out. Obviously another archway is involved.

Reading your blog may be expensive as well as inspirational!

Annie at the Transplantable Rose
April 27, 2009 at 12:17 PM
chuck b. said…
You seem to have a giant estate garden!
April 27, 2009 at 12:56 PM
Frances said…
Hi Phillip, you have the most beautiful roses ever! Love the iris too. Sigh, for the vision you must have while outside or in. Your garden is a lush paradise, designed by a master. :-)
Frances
April 27, 2009 at 1:07 PM
Les said…
I agree with everyone else on your roses. I agree with you lamenting the fact more people do not plant beautybush. I had 5 nice sized, blooming specimens to sell at work and decided to move them out of obscurity to a more visible spot on the main aisle. The next day I only had one left.
April 27, 2009 at 1:58 PM
Anonymous said…
OMGosh Phillip, You have got a magazine worthy backyard. I love not only your plantings and how you've placed them but your statuary choices and placement are equally impressive. Total eye candy. You should be very, very proud.

I'm looking for more photos.
April 27, 2009 at 2:21 PM
karenleigh said…
Oh, I love your Russell's Cottage Rose! I was going to plant Cl. Cecile Brunner over my pergola, but now I'm not sure since seeing Cottage Rose.
April 27, 2009 at 4:31 PM
Iowa Gardening Woman said…
Very beautiful, Alabama is several garden zones south of Iowa so it is great some real garden photos this time of year.
April 27, 2009 at 5:12 PM
F Cameron said…
Phillip -- I want to tour your gardens! :-) Such a beautiful haven you have there.

Cameron
April 28, 2009 at 5:07 AM
Randy said…
Oh I'm very excited! I can't wait until Saturday!
April 28, 2009 at 5:22 AM
Lisa at Greenbow said…
All I can say to these roses is WOW. You really must give yourself time to stop and adore them. They show all the hard work you do to create this blooming wonder.
April 28, 2009 at 5:48 AM
Phillip Oliver said…
Thanks for all your comments!

Annie, I've heard that you can grow "BB" much smaller or even as a climber.

Chuck, it's not an estate garden. I think the actual size is around 3/4 acre or close to 1 acre. It does seem like too much for us at times.

Cameron, do come and I give you the tour!
April 28, 2009 at 6:20 AM
Anonymous said…
How wonderful are your fotos. I just found your blog because I looked for roses. I have had a lot of problems with roses this winter. I live in the north of Germany and the winter has been very hard and I lost a lot of them.
I mysself this months started to write a blog. May be you are interested to have s short look.

Wolf
A garden friend from Germany
http://www.garten-anders.de
http://www.garten-anders.blogspot.com
April 28, 2009 at 7:02 AM
Dig, Grow, Compost, Blog said…
Such a classic collection of old garden roses. It is nice to be able to sit back and enjoy them. I tried to grow Buff Beauty once but I think it may not have gotten enough sunlight as it didn't do that well. I'll bet the fragrance in your garden is unbelievable!
April 28, 2009 at 2:45 PM
sweetbay said…
Gorgeous roses! You have so many I'd like to try.
April 28, 2009 at 5:23 PM
Kaye in AR said…
Phillip, I can't wait to see this fabulous garden in person.
April 28, 2009 at 7:53 PM
Jan said…
Oh. My. God, Phillip! You live in a Botanical Garden, no kidding!! It's amazing. I can't get over how many roses and plants, bushes, etc. that you have there. It must be overwhelming to the sense, but in a pleasing way, to visit in person! You've given me a great start to my day, thank you so much for your wonderful photos!! Have fun (as I know you have been) in, and out of, your garden, Phillip!!! Jan
April 29, 2009 at 9:29 AM
Niels Plougmann said…
What a feast for the eyes to see these roses and your beautiful garden Philip. I really like the way you use plants with different foliage and texture in your garden. I am planning to plant more ornamental grasses and even remove some roses to improve the look of my garden create more all season interest.
Seems like the roses on the arbor recovered well from the hard prune you gave them. Hope you enjoy your garden and roses.
April 30, 2009 at 3:35 PM
Antonio said…
I love that time of year: Rose season! I'm not sure which ones I like more... Gruss an Aachen or Gay Paree. Wherever would I fit more roses in my garden...
May 1, 2009 at 7:15 AM
Anonymous said…
Phillip,
I would never leave the garden if I had one such as yours. It makes me happy just to see the photos. The fragrance must be a delight as well. We are so lucky you took the time to make photos. Thanks.
Donna
May 1, 2009 at 9:08 AM
Carol said…
Hi Phillip, Just seeing this post ... we are now in August... Wow! I am just blown away... gorgeous gardens!!! I felt like I was going through pages of a book... your book??? Inspirational! Ah to have a partner in gardening!!!
August 29, 2009 at 11:15 AM
Strapper said…
Not sure how I came upon your blog but glad I did. Such nice roses and iris (Gay Paree) plants! Subscribed to follow you. Keep up the gorgeous gardening! Everything in your photographs works, a very professional, artistic eye it is rather obvious.
October 12, 2011 at 1:40 PM
Post a Comment