Thursday 21 May 2015

The Photographic Gardening Diary : Climbing Etoile d'Hollande

This rose comes into flower a few days after Mme Gregoire Staechelin: the climber "Etoile d'Hollande". 




It is very different in character, very elegant, dark crimson red. Unfortunately, its long and rather stiff stems are prone to break off and it is a good idea to tie them  horizontally against wind break. Its flowers have the perfect, a bit bubbly scent. When I put my nose into the first blossom in May, memories of an endless warm summer come flashing back. So stick your nose into the flower if you can find one and it will drive a smile on your face.
Here, it is combined with Taxus baccata and the climbing Hortensia, Hydrangea anomala petiolaris. 



I planted the small Clematis "Gravetye Beauty" next to it, hoping for a playful softening effect on the rather strict elegance of the rose, but Gravetye Beauty comes at her own time a little after the first rose flowering is over,  and unfortunately never together with the rose. 

And here is an update on Mme Gregoire Staechelin! She has a very good year and is full of flowers these weeks. A fine digitalis has seeded itself in front of the rose and grows in perfect harmony.


No comments:

Post a Comment