Autumn Reflection.

We have had some nice rain lately and the temperature is dropping steadily from the high teens to the low teens. Snow down to 700 metres predicted for this week. It will miss us though, we are lower than that.
The roses are doing a final bloom. New Dawn is looking good with sprays of pale pink blooms spiking skywards. Pink Perpetue is putting out a flush of brigh pink. And my new little Jubilee Celebration is flowering its little heart out. I think this rose has a big future in my garden.
Other varieties are showing a flower here and there.
I never seem to get on top of the black spot problem. We are too slack with regular spraying. So I am going to get rid of the worst offenders. Australian Centenary of Federation is going to get the chop. It loses all its leaves in the summer. I have a new red called Temptress which has grown like a bush, sending up long sprays and flowered all summer. I think I will strike that to replace ACOF.
Any others that have been miserable bloomers and unthrifty are going to get potted up and sold off at a local market next summer. They may do better in someone else's garden.
To save changing soil so another rose can go into the same spot I think I will plant dahlias in the gaps for a few years. Bill will be very pleased not to have to barrow soil from one place to another.
So it is time for reflecting on the season's performance and plan changes. A gardener's job is never finished! Just as well, what else would I do?

Hi Dee, I am also reflecting on the last 15 years in rose growing and have come to the conclusion that all HT's and DA's are problems in my area.
We have had extremely wet weather during the past two months and I haven't sprayed at all as I don't think it makes a great deal of difference.
Two days ago I started removing all the dead or dying canes just to tidy up a bit for a few early winter blooms.
I cut more dead wood from the DA's than any others followed by yellow or apricot HT's and then all other HT's . Reasonable HT's were Princesse de Monaco, Kardinal, Elina, Aquarius and an unknown I call Lisa Treloar as all attemps to identify it have failed. The Tea's only needed dead heading as there was no dead canes and vertually nothing to remove.
I think you could offer a reward of $500 for anyone who could come up with a healthy DA or Yellow HT and your money would be safe.
I have contemplated growing Dahlias and tossing out all those rotten unhealthy roses but am going to give the Tea's and AC's a good try as a last resort. Have budded a lot of Tea's this season with breeding in mind . Was going to germinate a lot of seeds but can't see a future in using DA's and HT's so will have to wait for the breeders to mature.

Well I have had a great season, very little PM due to out hot days I would say, and yes still lots of buds and a few in their last flowering times now, and yes I will be culling a few and popping in the best of the potted roses, then more room for more pots LOL, I will be taking 2 weeks of in mid Winter for the big chop

Yes... I've been reflecting on the rose year that was too Dee... So I now unceremonioulsy dubb this year... the year of the weed LOL. Dee... I'll be digging up my big purple and gold dahlias this year and moving them. Would you like some? I have to find a place where they can spread out a bit more and are less battered by the wind.

Yes! yes! I would love your big purple and gold dahlias! We should be coming up your way sometime before spring.
I am looking at the 20-30 rose bushes I am going to cull in light of where I could put 8-10 Tea roses. There is not a spot available.

Every rose that is going is either going to make space for its neighbour on each side or the spot is too shady for a Tea.
I think i will have to postpone buying my new Teas until I can work something out.
I still have room for dahlias though. Also I need to think of something low and fluffy to grow in the beds that don't get a lot of sun.

You might regret putting these dahlia in Dee The purple one takes up an area 6ft wide and grows to about 5ft tall. Not really what I'd call a 'gap filler' That's why I am moving it. I moved it from a spot on a slope where the wind raced over it and broke it. The area it went to, next to my big buddleja (Black Knight), was about 4ft x 4ft... 'Maurice Utrillo' is next to it. Poor Maurice has been overgrown by the dahlia two years running now... so it's time they came out and were moved again... I have just the spot for them in front of the new trellis 'frames' for the climbing roses out of the wind. The gold one seems much more restrained and has a much bigger flower in a deep coppery/gold. Both are really lovely but the purple one.... talk about roses taking over a garden

It's been a cold start to winter here too... got down to 1 degree last night and expecting our first frost tonight... will be keeping a close eye on the Teas during all this but think they will handle it just fine. Dee... did you know there is a photo of a row of Mons. Tillier in the new Tea book on page 4 taken at Port Arthur? If they can make it there.. they can make it anywhere in Tas I reckon.

Simon does this purple dahlia have a big dinner-plate flower? I have a spot for it I think. Thanks for warning me about the size.
I was going to order the Tea book from the library today but we were too late getting there. I have heared about the hedge in Port Arthur but I have not seen it. Interestingly places on the coast like Port Arthur generally are warmer than our frosty, foggy valley because of the water tempering the climate.

This is the purple one Dee. I guess the flowers are a bit larger than a hand-span (see 'Maurice Utrillo' trying to stick its head out from under the Dahlia on the lower right side of the clump). These photos were taken in summer, 2008. The clump has grown significantly since then.

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This is the large coppery/gold one:

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Abbi... Since you are also a fellow Tasmaniac would you also like some of these?

Dee... did you freeze last night? We got our first frost last night as expected (lots of dew, freezing cold, and no wind or clouds)... almost looked like it had snowed this morning. Going to be an even bigger one tonight I reckon... so cold here atm.

Simon, They are fantastic.Do they grow from seed as my little bedding ones do ? Carole

I've looked for seed and never found any Carole... and I've never found any seedlings around... so in my garden... probably not... never know what they might do in a warmer climate though

WOW I would be happy with a show like that

YesSimon, Frosty nights = cold nose. Abbi thinks she has moved to the tropics though.

And how is Abbi going I miss her and still waiting to see pics of the new place as well

I think she is very happy.
I am enjoying her company very, very much too. I hope she never moves away.

Hang on one minute second I think I am lost - Abbi did you not live in the N. Tablelands and is not that warmer than where I am in the Central Tablelands and is not Tasmania colder than either of them. I am absolutely confused if this is right why Dee did you say Abbi thinks she has moved to the tropics. I have got something wrong or I have missed something. My head is spinning Please Cheryl, Abbi or Dee explain it to me. Carole

Ha Ha! Poor Carole! No wonder your head is spinning!
The other day we had our first frost. The temp was around -.5, only just a frost.Us proper Tasmanians were complaining but Mr and Mrs Abbi were scoffing at us and didn't even have much of a jumper on 'cos, where they have just come from the frost can be -12!!!
Apparantly ya can be a lot further south and as long as you are near the coast it will not be as cold as being inland and up high. At least that is the yarn they have spun me.

I have just checked the temp here and it is 4 .4 I have a great roaring fire going. 2 jumpers on. I cat on the bed and 4 cats in front of the fire. I cannot understand Mr. & Mrs Abbi . Look on the bright side if they are happy with that temp. there heating bill should be low. (you are not reading this are you Abbi ) Carole

AHA! I thought my ears were burning.......

Thee, I must pm you some pics. Sorry I'm not online much these days.
I am very happy here, and it's not as cold as the tablelands. I'd call it brisk and refreshing!

I 'm enjoying Billndee's company very much, and smelling those beautiful roses in her garden, as well as seeing them. We also go on "explore Tassie" adventures.

We had another adventure today, getting lost in the maze of forestry roads through the hills, that don't appear on any maps. Great fun and unbelievable scenery.

Simon, I would like some dahlias, especially that gold one. Thank you for the offer.

Carole....it's true, in fact we've seen minus 15 degrees in N. tablelands. Sometimes people confuse places like Tamworth with the tablelands. it's much hotter down in the valley. They've already had severe frost where we used to live, and -5 at night.

Dee, you say the nicest things...............

Abbi, We live on the C. Tablelands and I thought that the further North you went the warmer it got . David told me that Armidale, and round that area are much colder than us. So sorry, big mistake on my part. It sounds like you are really enjoying living in Tasmania and having a great time with Dee. The Dahlia's we loved the gold one too. Carole.

I'm so glad your settle and Bill n Dee are looking after you both

Thanks, Thee.

Trying to get gardens happening. seems the first requirement is a wallaby proof fence all around the garden area.

Dee is going to go through the rose catalogue with me tommorrow and help me choose the right ones. Will roses be Abbi's latest addiction? It's hard not to want them now I've seen Thee's and Billndee's gardens.

You won't be sorry except ofcourse for the thorns

YaY let us know what you decide on Abbi and I have a new rose garden since your visit

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and today ......

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Thee, that is very beautiful.What a wonderful lot of flowers for late autumn! i would love your green thumb. Or is it energy!