A few roses plus a thing

[@wendybartlett6717]

I wondered what you were going to show there Nik! I've always enjoyed watching the birds flying off with bits from my garden when they're making their nests. I've stopped taking down the hanging baskets at the end of each summer as a few years ago I'd unintentionally left them up then months later saw a couple of birds ripping the coir liners, tugging at the plants and flying off to the trees and bushes at the bottom of my garden. It's amazing how much they can hold in their beaks per visit.

[@nikkonch]

It was a bit sad seeing the nest on the ground after watching the House Martins feeding over recent weeks. But there was at least one brood that fledged from there, so it served its purpose.

[@soulgirlktf]

Hi Nik, I'm glad the thing wasn't a dead bird ! The nuts must be from a squirrel like you say, such a shame but could have been worse. Your Sweet Honey is ahead of mine such a lovely long lasting bloom but very very thorny, I have to watch it when I'm handling that one :)

[@nikkonch]

I was glad it wasn't a dead anything - although I must confess that just for a moment I thought it might be the sparrowhawk which tends to speed around our house at the moment looking for a small bird to eat, and that wouldn't have been bad news as far as I am concerned.

[@soulgirlktf]

@@nikkonch Oh yes the dreaded sparrowhawk :( I chase him off if I spot him. We have hedges front and back full of sparrows year round.

[@peterhaymaker7562]

'Just a quick one today,' very interesting though Nik. 'Thing' mystery solved and a look at some of your lovely roses. Every day recently I've been leaving our greenhouse door open wide as things down here are hot and so dry. I think of you, and others, when I see the weather forecast and then look for some rain down here and............nothing. We might get some on Saturday it seems. We'll see as we really do need some as things in the garden are suffering. It's a long time since I've seen any House Martins, Swallows or Sparrows around here. We seem to have fewer birds each year around here. We do also have a Sparrow Hawk zooming through occasionaly and Buzzards circling overhead most days. Too many squirrels and Magpies also which don't help the bird population. We have 1000's of new houses going up around here too which doesn't help the wildlife. Yes, I mean 1000's. Oh happy days. What would we do without our gardens? Cheers! P.

[@nikkonch]

Things change every year now, don't they Peter? We've had pheasants in our garden and even coming up on our decking and tapping on the glass of our sliding door since we moved here 7 years ago - but not one this year. What we have got this year is badgers - birdfood that's dropped off the birdtable just outside our kitchen has suddenly attracted a family of 6 badgers.We live in a hamlet of about 30 homes and so far we are being spared massive new developments, although we see new estates cropping up around us.

[@acasburn1460]

Is BRING ME SUNSHINE similar to THE POETS WIFE or CHARLES DARWIN??

[@nikkonch]

The best thing I can do is refer you to Ben Hamilton Anderson's review of Bring Me Sunshine on KZbin. I have not been very happy with The Poet's Wife just because it seems to be growing low and sprawling - although it is possible that as with other roses it will over the years get more upright. Ben's young BMS is very vertical (with some support) and other people here have said how prolifically it has flowered for them, that it is healthy and has a good fragrance, which was enough of a recommendation for me.

[@gavinparry5426]

@@nikkonch BMS is not similar to TPW imo. TPW very flimsy/floppy etc. I dont have CD so can't comment. Been very pleased with my BMS after 3 years

[@Raj-45a]

I have TPW rose 5' tall, in 2nd yr grown in 62L pot. Yes, its flimsy hence several stakes for support. It has intense fruity lemon fragrance and large, yellow lemon blooms. I suppose I would still have to support BMS if TPW is replaced with BMS. Still worth looking at BMS as it is supposed to be more prolific than TPW.

[@nikkonch]

@@Raj-45a TPW 5 foot tall - that's much taller than I thought possible, even with staking. I'll have to try that next year.

[@Raj-45a]

@@nikkonch Nik, this TPW rose has one stem grown to 5' while others under 4'. I plan to give hard prune next yr to grow strong stems. All my roses have stakes support ( green plastic coated stakes various lengths) to protect against high winds/gales especially in rain + winds. I have to remove these when pruning and feed / mulch, ground cover bark in spring and then back again.