On Saturday I noticed that many of my roses were producing what are probably their last blooms for the year - and probably their best year so far in my garden. I adore roses. I could drown in them and their catalogues without even caring, and it's been a shock that I've struggled with them for the first couple of years here. But now I think maybe we are coming out the other side. And I have learnt so much!
I've searched the internet to find a rose bowl like my grandfather used to have sitting in the middle of the dining room table for his Hybrid Teas when I was young. It had special glass holes to take the rose stems. Eventually I realised (silly me) that I could use any low container and a little bit of chicken wire to keep the roses upright. I did once ask for oasis in a florist's shop here, but was met with a blank stare - maybe my French?
My vase is not really a grand flower arrangement, but I wanted to record a few of my friends before they go, as well as their happy friendship with Verbena bonariensis this summer. So it's a 2014 'goodbye' posie. My little stars are ...