Right now I admit to a bit of frustration with my garden.
The hot, dry spell has been good for a David Austin rose, Jude of the Obscure, which resents rain - causing the roses to curl up in a ball.
It is a lovely rose, with a wonderful scent, but sadly, I can't make this rose last in a vase. David Austin roses are a passion of mine - their website is www.davidaustinroses.com
But my other roses are ailing, and I'm so tired of them I am ignoring them. They appear to be stricken with mites - the whole row of them - and the blooms brown, the stems blacken, and they are an ugly sight. I never had time to baby them with the Bayer fertilizer/bug repellent combo.
Next year, is what I think when I cast my eye around many eyesores right now. By the way, now is the time to stop fertilizing roses.
To add to my woes, a vole has discovered my magical woodland oasis under my oak tree. It has now chomped through the root systems of a curved border of hosta, and is now attacking my fragrant hosta, 'Guacamole.'
I hate that little vole, and as soon as I have time, it will meet its demise.
One critter repellent I can vouch for in terms of deer is Plantskyyd (www.plantskydd.com). Be forewarned it comes out bright red, it is ox blood, bound to horticultural oil. And it stinks. Not only will it keep deer away, it will also keep you away!
My plan this weekend is to dig up my prized fragrant hosta - truly, 'Guacamole' smells like jasmine - and pot it up until I can rid myself of the vole.
The trouble is, I have pity for even the worst pests, and I would prefer to chase the vole away than pour something like poison in the hole, so I will be searching for a solution that saves my plant and salves my conscience.
I do look forward to cooler weather to weed in (the weeds are getting the best of me, for now) and the gorgeous fall bloomers.
Somehow, these dog day of summers is hard on the garden - so many of my favorites have gone by - this is the time you wish you had planted 100 dahlias!
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