The Old Vicarage B&B, Little Ouse

The weather was dry and other than a slight wind was very comfortable for digging borders for new roses and erecting some bamboo wigwams. These canes have already done a couple of seasons in the vegetable plot, so will need to be replaced with a more long-term structure at the end of the year.

Placing a row of climbing roses in bamboo wigwams by the pathway that leads to the Church.

To balance the climbing roses that are to grow by the pathway that leads to the Church, I have also planted some on the other side of the path, by the yew hedge. All of these roses were the ones that I purchased from the supermarket a few weeks ago as packaged bare root plants. They have all started into life, probably as a result of being in a warm supermarket, so I immediately moved them into pots. I have plunged the pots into position. I will probably not plant them until the end of the year — Firstly, though I don’t believe they have put on much root growth, I don’t want to disturb them. Secondly, there are two or three that I don’t think are probably the right colour for the area, so I would end up having to dig them up.

The rose wigwams can be seen flanking both sides of the path. The grass by the car park disappears a little bit more each year. In a few years this will become a mixed border, with the yews at the back, the roses on frames and bushes, perennials and annuals filling it up.

The view going to the Church with the climbing roses planted between the horse chestnut trees.