Climbing Roses

Early in the Moosey garden's history the fence by the woodshed was planted with pink roses, in a very narrow border. I planted a yellow climbing rose, Banksia Lutea at one end. Such a tiny thing, cutting-grown...

Banksia Lutea - Yellow Banksia Rose

The Banksia rose slowly decided to cover the fence and the washing line, rather than climb up and over the apricot tree, as was intended. Though lately I've noticed some rather high rose canes in the neighbouring plum tree...

The Other Side of the Fence

Banksia Lutea Climbing Rose

Banksia Lutea causes no problems at the moment - I look forward to its soft yellow flowers which are the prelude to spring. It's one of the very first roses to flower. I wonder if the fence and the trees are actually strong enough to eventually support it.

Cutting Grown

Such a huge amount of growth, so quickly, from a tiny cutting - from sprig to giant in just ten years! I expect to hear a dreadful crash one night when the wind is gusting...

Thornless

Banksias are thornless roses, making them pleasant to walk under, or pick branches from. There's also a white flowering variety, but I don't grow it. I doubt that I'd have any room!

You'll notice the pale blue forget-me-nots growing below the fence - the colour combination with the pale yellow rose flowers is very nice. There are also some pink campion flowers in the foreground - this is one garden area where campion is allowed to grow and self-seed. It's a pastel paradise!

Banksia Rose - Spring 2008

Nowadays the original pink roses I planted (Bantry Bay and Gerbe Rose) are almost invisible, and more than a little bit squashed. They of course flower after Banksia Lutea has finished, so all should have been well. It's just that that lovely yellow rose has become super-sized...

Where Have the Pink Roses Gone?

The next picture shows my first pink rose plantings in full flower. This was in the early days when the Banksia was still tiny.

bantry bay and gerbe rose - from the archives

Things have changed since this photograph was taken in 1998. Now you'll have to look much higher in the sky to see these two climbing roses in flower! And I'm cross with the Gerbe rose - it's rather forgettable, and has a tendency to black spot. For years I refused to give it a rose page of its own.