jueves, 6 de diciembre de 2018

Too many plants

It's december and the heat keeps rising, I am not spending much time in the garden during the hottest hours, I only garden very early in the morning and late in the afternoom. Lately I've been thinking of a problem I've refused to accept: I have too many plants and oddly most of them are plants I don't really like or plants I downright hate or poor performers I refuse to remove ¿why is it so hard to discard and dig out plants? Roses are my favourite flowers and I have many of them but sadly not all do well in my climate, Hybrid teas are the most problematic roses to grow here, they are - with a few exceptions-  very prone to all kind of diseases and look very bad most of the time: ugly bushes with a few diseased leaved holding on for dear life, this makes me sad because I consider Hybrid teas the Queens of Roses, they boast the most impeccable, picture-perfect form of any rose. Earlier this year I finally found a local nursery that sells David Austin Roses, I planted four in february when heat was at its worst here and they grew and bloomed marvellously and practically without signs of disease while most Hybrid teas were agonizing. Then in winter had decided to replace Hybrid teas with English Roses, I  did it..partially. You might laugh but I didn't have the heart to dig out and discard all the HT roses, I said to myself what I said many times when I faced this dilemma " I will give them their last chance this year" and then spring arrives and they fared as poorly as aslways whereas english roses look much better. I even decided to keep in planters the Hybrid Teas I dug out to plant the english roses.. I just can't discard a rose, this is very embarrasing and it's not only roses what I hoard: I have lots of pots cramped all across the garden with plants I don't really appreciate or plants that occupy precious space in the small garden: palm tresss of many types, Alocasias, Philodendroms, Cycas, Cordylines, different types of Ficus, lots of Amarylis ( I like them but there are too many of them), invasive crocosmias,  Euphorbias, Agapanthus , Frangipanis and many others plants that are mostly gifts from friends, relatives and neighbours who don't know my taste in plants,  you don't see these plants here since I only post pictures of the plants I like (mostly Roses, Camellias, Water lillies) but all these unwanted plants demand time and effort from me and this is something I want to change. I decided to "let them go" and do my best to find those plants new homes this summer. I want only the plants I like in my garden. Please forgive this disgression! I know you surely want to see the pictures of what's blooming now in the garden.


There are still some Roses blooming and defying heat but unfortunately chilli thrips attacked earlier than ever this year and many buds were ruined.

















It's also hibiscus time, a bit later this year because of the unusually cool and long winter




Water lilies love the heat





Miscellaneous blooms!







What's blooming in your garden these days?

21 comentarios:

  1. I too have a hard time giving up the "losers" in my garden, sometimes out of sentimentality and sometimes because I can't help remembering better days pre-drought when the plants performed well. But, as I run out of room to plant new things I want to try, it gets a little easier to make space by getting rid of those that have repeatedly disappointed me. Your featured flowers, as always, are beautiful. Only one Camellia sasanqua is blooming well in my garden right now - everything else is waning but the rain we are currently enjoying may pick the garden up soon.

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    Respuestas
    1. Kris, I gave away some plants to neighbours today, I could finally take that step! I will continue clearing the garden from unwanted plants and poor performers tomorrow! I hope you'll getting more rain soon!

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  2. Your flowers are really gorgeous,roses or not!The water lilies are stunning!It is a pleasure visiting your beautiful blog.Hugs.

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  3. Hello dear MDN,
    I think that we are all struggling with the same issue. My garden is a very small one. Certain things I want out of my garden but I don´t do it fun!! If you plant a rose at a place where another rose was growing don´t forget to dig a hole and first puting a box of carton in the hole and fill it with new soil. Well you maybe think your roses don´t do well but I love the flowers of it that you are sharing. Have a wonderful weekend ahead. Rosehugs Marijke

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    Respuestas
    1. Marijke, I started to "clean" the garden from unwanted plants today, it will take some time untill all the plants I don't like are gone but I feel good just for finally having started. Have a nice sunday!

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  4. Hello MDN,

    I admirer your lovely roses. They are so lovely. I know the problem with too many plants. I have too many both inside and outside in my garden. Enjoy the summer! Here it's snowing again :)

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    Respuestas
    1. Marit, summer is the least enjoyable season of the year, our summers are long and brutal with temperatures that rise over 40 for weeks, I wish I could travel to somewhere cold for the next 4 months! Have a great Sunday!

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  5. As always, your garden looks like a paradise, dear Marcelo, and I can imagine it needs a huge amount of work. Your decision of finding new homes for some of your plants is definitely a good one.
    I'm sorry for you because of the summer temperatures and Christmas. We are lucky: Christmas brings joy and light to the dark and cold wintertime. When we have renovated a guest room or a cottage for guests, we'll invite you to spend Christmas in Finland.
    Have a happy Sunday!

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    Respuestas
    1. Thanks for your kind words Sara! Many plants found new homes last weekend but many more has to go yet. I'll keep working on that. Have a wonderful week.

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  6. Tienes precioso tu jardín MDN, las rosas son una maravilla cual de ellas más bonitas. Felicidades por tu jardín y por las hermosas fotos que nos muestras.
    Que tengas un feliz domingo.
    Un abrazo

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    Respuestas
    1. Gracias! ahora con el calor aumentando cada día habrá menos rosas hasta que las temperaturas se enfríen con la llegada del otoño, en los meses de verano la mayor preocupación es mantenerlas con vida.

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  7. I have had the same problems with many plants, Manolo. I decided to leave the simple in care plants only, no HT roses, no tender plants. I love your pictures, roses and water lilies are stunning, I also liked your fuchsia, we call them 'ballerina'.
    Happy Sunday!

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    Respuestas
    1. Hello Nadezda, I gave away several plants last week and removed some roses to make room for David Austin varieties which fare much better. Fuchsias are so beautiful I think I should have more of them. Have a nice day!

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  8. I envy your collection of Roses and Water lilies ...beautiful blooms of hydrangea and fuchsia .have a great week ahead.

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    Respuestas
    1. Arun, since summer is almost here roses are not blooming a lot lately but water lilies love the heat!

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  9. Hi Marcelo, still plenty of beautiful roses in your garden, despite everything. Good luck ridding yourself of unwanted plants...such a hard thing to do. I feel mean and uncaring when I dig something out and dispose of it!

    My lovely Julia’s Rose developed rose mosaic virus as soon as I planted it and I had to throw it out. I didn’t even know this disease existed! It’s hot here too, but we’ve had some rain which was most welcome.

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    Respuestas
    1. Jane, I'm sorry about your Julia's Rose, I never understood the real damage that mosaic virus can do on roses, I have some roses with Mosaic virus and they bloom as good/bad as the others, the only difference is the occasional spotted leaves.

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    2. You know, Marcelo, I’m now wondering if I should have just let it go on growing to see what happened, but the literature I read stated that a rose with mosaic virus should be destroyed. Oh dear!😢

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  10. Manolo, a merry Christmas to you, your family and friends! I wish your garden grow and keep wonderful in 2019!

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  11. Olá, realmente não me recordo se já passei no teu espaço
    para te desejar uma boa entrada de ano.
    Abraços.

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