It has been a difficult season for gardening this year. Our William Baffin climbing rose from 2014 is just not making it and has all but died. We added a second substantial bush of the same type but it has been ravaged by sawflies. This type of rose was almost growing out of control at our last home, so, we're a little frustrated. Meanwhile, we have a zone 8 white rose from the grocery store (meant to be indoor decoration) that is thriving after we planted him in our west facing garden. I am determined to make it survive the winter!
Otherwise, our Virginia creeper has also been ravaged by sawflies, my containers are doing OK, but not great, and I can't figure out why, and one of my newly-planted clematis died after it climbed half-way up the trellis. I suppose there have been a few successes though; our shade garden (pictured above) is filling-in nicely once again, and my first year 'Cheyenne Spirit' cone flower is finally happy and growing beautifully after relocating it a couple of times.
With several 50ft trees on our property, it may be difficult to believe we have planted two more trees. The trees are smaller decorative columnar 'Gladiator' crab apples that have gorgeous crimson flowers in springtime. We had a space along our east fence that had been overtaken by (the neighbor's) raspberries and looked somewhat barren and lacked privacy. After removing the raspberry patch (if you know raspberries, you know they never really leave) and some grass, we added the two trees along with creepers and shrubs. The trees et al should grow in nicely and the trees will grow to be approx. 4-5ft wide and about 15ft tall.
Here is a 'before and after' of that area:
~ How's your garden growing this year? I hope you've had more success than I have! ~
