Strange Days Indeed, He Mused….

April 17, 2020April 18, 2020 / themoosbachgarden / Leave a comment

Olivia Rose Austin

If it feels like absolutely ages since I last posted then you are quite right. I have to confess at not being a particularly disciplined person, I have to be in the moment, in the mood to create. When my headspace is not in a creative mood I just don’t seem to be able give myself a good talking to and get on with it. So I guess that you will have to be patient and like me, wait for my brain to be in a compliant mode. I’ve been at home for 4 weeks now due to a combination of factors not any of them Corona Virus related. That in itself is strange in these surreal times. There have been some major changes here in the Moosbach Garden, some personal and many with the garden, especially how we manage and develop it.

It has been 6 full years since we arrived and in gardening terms they have been very challenging, harsh winters and then very hot, dry summers. As you would expect, these years have been dotted with successes and failures but that as they say, is the gardeners lot. This is the first year that we have really noticed how much some shrubs and trees have grown, perhaps we have just been too busy to notice until now or is it because we are getting better at knowing our garden and it’s limitations?

So what has changed I hear you ask? Well out of necessity there have been some role reversals, I have had to go and get a proper job, yes I know gardening is a proper and noble occupation but sometimes you have to be sensible. For those of you who know me, sensible is not something that I have EVER embraced. I still believe that running through a populated area with your arms outstretched like the wings of an aeroplane is liberating (very much frowned upon in Germany). I am 52 this year and I intend to keep doing it until I die. Embrace my uniqueness or move on, that what I say. Who wants normal, really?

When I lived in England my occupation was Information Technology and I did this for 35 years, I never went to college but learned on the job and got by through acquiring the necessary technical skills and by being able to talk to people. When I came to live in Germany with my Partner, I gave up the corporate life as we had a guest house and restaurant. We have lots of land so there were no limitations on garden size and most of the locals got used to my uniqueness, there were a few raised eyebrows and muttering about he’s from England but no drama. For the first 5 years I fitted gardening around waiting on tables and we got a reputation for having a beautiful ‘English’ garden albeit a work in progress (what garden isn’t a work in progress I ask?) I had always gardened as a hobby in England but now I had the space and the time to really give it a go and I did. Monty Don and all of the experts say that gardening is extremely good for life balance and it is certainly my ‘Happy Place’ and always will be.

Last year, we had to make some changes and it was decided that I should go and get myself a job. I had always worried about getting a job in Germany as my spoken German is not good although it has improved a lot. I once asked a male customer if he wanted a kiss when I meant to ask if he wanted a cushion for his chair, he wanted neither!

I never imagined when I left England that I would end up working in Information Technology again and initially I got a job working for a supermarket dealing with the plants and cut flowers but in the long-term it wasn’t the mental challenge that I needed. I went to an employment agency in Offenburg (never again, please) and registered for work and in the same day was asked by a customer if I would be interested as working as an IT Manager. It seemed too good to be true, I dropped off my Curriculum Vitae (that’s Latin you know) and thought nothing would come of it. A week later I was asked to attend an interview with said Company and then a second interview and then got offered the job. I started in November and admit to being rather apprehensive not having worked in Information Technology for over 6 years. One of the requirements of the job however, was to study and acquire a Microsoft qualification, an MCSA.

I realised that working full-time and studying would mean that I had no time for gardening as my employers wanted me to get the qualification as quickly as possible. At home discussions were had, things were said and it was agreed I would have to give up my gardening duties, along with my chicken and geese duties. My Partner was not a gardener when we met but he is a quick learner and he has had 5 years as the under gardener at the Moosbach Garden. He has now assumed the position of head gardener, Under gardener and general dogs body. It has to be said that he was always very good at structural things, you know cutting down trees, building walls etc but now he has good plant knowledge so he is a more rounded gardener than me.

Over the last 6 years we have become fanatical environmentalists and we don’t use any chemicals in the garden, we apply well-rotted horse manure to everything in the Winter, mulch in Spring with bark and water with a drip-feed watering system from March to October. We are lucky to have the space and over the last 6 years have increased the amount of fruit and vegetables that we grow here. It has stood us in good stead for the current and horrendous corona virus pandemic and we are growing even more this year as we suspect that everything will be harder to source and therefore more expensive.

I think everybody is considering trying to grow something for the table this year and it also highlights how dependent we have become upon Supermarkets. Maybe one of the after effects of this period of tragedy and hardship is that we will stop importing as much food and instead grow and source seasonable produce. I think when you grow your own fruit and vegetables it can rekindle the love affair with really good food, did you know that fruit and vegetables lose 80% of their taste and goodness in the first hour after they have been harvested? What better than to pick salad leaves, vegetables and fruit just before you are going to eat them?

We have sown seeds for all the salad, fruit and vegetables that we will be serving fresh from the garden to our overnight guests once the restrictions are lifted. Sometimes I think that we live in a paradise with a beautiful garden, fresh organic produce from the garden and organic eggs from our happy chickens. One of the upsides to the restrictions is that we have had much more time to get on with garden projects and I don’t think it will be long before we see the first rose, lilac and peony flowers. Currently flowering in the garden are the viburnum Carlesii Aurora which are filling the garden with the most glorious scent which I wish I could share with you all. For me one of the joys of gardening is the ability to share it with friends but that time will come again soon I am sure.

Today is gloriously warm and sunny and what I really want to do is go outside and get on with some gardening but I am afraid that I must study for my next exam. I hope to see some of my local readers when we are allowed to open the garden again but in the meantime I wish you all good health and happiness.

Viburnum Carlesii Aurora

October Is The Perfect Time For Planting New Roses

October 4, 2019December 29, 2020 / themoosbachgarden / Leave a comment

End of season sale €21,95 per rose, reduced from €28,95. Collection only.

The ever fabulous David Austin Rose “Gertrude Jekyll”, the scent is unbeleivably powerful and although this is a bush rose you can also grow it as a climber, it all depends upon your pruning regime. We have this rose available for collection from The Moosbach Garden (only 6 left).

Another glorious rose “The Lark Ascending” is simply beautiful and we have stock available.

Rosa ‘Thomas A Becket’

A/8A/07

Thomas A Beckett, The Lady Gardener, Roald Dahl and Jubilee Celebraton are also available but we only have a few of each available. Please note Collection only.

Rosa ‘Generous Gardener’

Rosa ‘Spirit of Freedom’

Frances E. Lester

Bobbie James

The above pictured climbers and ramblers are also available. Paul’s Himalayan Musk, Francis E Lester, Bobbie James, The Generous Gardener, Strawberry Hill, Spirit of Freedom and Etoile D’holland are also available. If you would like to buy any roses please emaail us at info@moosbach-schwarzwald.com.

David Austin Roses for Spring 2019

September 14, 2018December 29, 2020 / themoosbachgarden / Leave a comment

We have so many wonderful roses to show you that I am going to have to spread them across several articles. Why am I showing you these now, in September? Well, I am showing them to you now so that you have time to consider which ones are perfect for your garden. So sit back, relax and enjoy. All images courtesy of David Austin Roses Limited.

Jude the Obscure (Ausjo) English Shrub Rose

You really will be spoilt for choice

2019 will be our second year selling David Ausin roses and we have expanded our selection of roses for sale. For 2019 we have not only more shrub roses but also more climbing roses and a good selection of the best rambling roses. We have a limited number of each available, however, (10-20 depending upon the variety), so it is best to get your order in quick.

Our pick of the best shrub roses for you

The Lark Ascending (Ausursula)

This rose has graceful, medium-sized,semi-double flowers of a pleasing apricot colour and are produced from the ground upwards and are held in large heads of up to 15 roses. This rose is absolutely stunning, here in the Moosbach Garden we have a corner bed planted up with 3 of these and it looks stunning when it flowers. In a good climate it is not unusual for this rose to reach a height of 1 3/4 metres. My experience with this rose is that a puts up a fantastic display early on and although it does throw the occasional flower after this it should be treated as a bonus rather than be expected.

Scepter’d Isle (Ausland)

A pretty rose bearing numerous cupped flowers with yellow stamens. The rose is a lovely light pink colour with a powerful Myrrh fragrance. The rose has a delicacy about it that is really quite romantic in the old fashioned style of roses. Again, in the right climate this rose can grow to at least 1 1/2 metres tall. A good repeat flowerer.

Morning Mist (Ausfire)

A striking variety with large single flowers in coral-pink. One of the largest English roses forming a big bushy shrub with wonderful rose hips in Winter. It grows to a height of about 1.8 metres.

Molineux ((Ausmol)

This a smaller rose, (90cm x 90cm) but again given the right conditions it can acheive more height but probably suited to the front of a flower bed rather than at the back. It is a good repeat flowerer but only with a light to medium strength fragrance.

Rosa ‘Lady of Shalott’ (Ausnyson)

Rich orange-red buds open up to chalice shaped blooms that are filled with loosely aranged orange petals. It has a nice warm tea fragrance of a medium strength and will grow to about 1 1/2 metres in the right climate. The perfume has tomes of apple and cloves. This rose is also available as a climber and as a standard rose.

Lady Emma Hamilton (Ausbrother)

Blooms of orange and yellow paired with a strong fruity fragrance make this rose a firm favourite. It grows to just over 1 metre tall so is probably best suited to the front of the flower bed or even in a large teracota pot on a patio.

Jude the Obscure (Ausjo)

I simply adore this rose, it is just so beautiful, has a gorgeous perfume and a really good repeat flowerer. In the right situation will grow to 1 1/2 metres or more. This is in my top 5 favourite roses.

Jubilee Celebration (Aushunter)

Large coral-pink flowers are held gracefuly on arching stems. It has a strong fruity fragrance with tones of lemon and raspberry. In better climates it can grow to 1 1/2 metres.

Emily Bronte (Ausearnshaw)

An exceptionally beautiful rose of a delicate soft pink with a strong Tea fragrance. Can grow up to 1 1/2 metres in the right climate. Perfume exhibits tones of lemon and grapefruit. This rose has a strong, healthy, upright growth.

Olivia Rose Austin (Ausmixture)

This rose is simply top-class. It repeat flowers extremely well, is very vigorous and disease resistent and the flowers are perfection. A middle strength perfume of a fruity nature. Can easily grow to 2 metres tall in the right climate.

Brother Cadfael (Ausglobe)

A firm favourite here in the Moosbach Garden with a filled bloom more reminiscent of a peony. Lovely colour and repeat flowers well. Can easily reach 1 1/2 metres in height.

Boscobel (Auscousin)

A lovely rose with darker pink flower reminiscent of salmon. Can easily reach 1 1/2 metres high and repeat flowers well. The blooms last well in full sun and heat. It has a strong Myrrh fragrance.

Desdemona (Auskindling)

A beautiful white rose that start as peachy-pink buds, it has a strong old rose fragrance and can grow up to 1 1/2 metres. Very, very beautiful.

So I hope that this has given you some food for thought, I haven`t included all of the roses that we have on offer for 2019 but you get the idea. The sizes that I have quoted here are not guaranteed and do not come from David Austin roses but from my own experience. All roses do better with lots of direct sunlight and lots of water, in colder climates you should expect less growth. If you do not have at lease 4 hours of sunlight per day in the Summer than maybe a plant other than a rose might fare better. I aam always happy to offer my opinion or answer any questions that you might have.

A Golden September

September 12, 2018December 29, 2020 / themoosbachgarden / Leave a comment

Desdemona

Some people adore the height of Summer in June and July when the garden is performing at its peak and it has to be said that it is glorious with the sumptuous excess of roses, delphiniums and phlox flowering in all of their glory but for me September can be even better.

Golden Septembers are not guaranteed

You don’t always get that golden Summer when it’s gloriously hot but when you do I think that it’s special. What do I love so much about September? Well it is a time to be grateful for the gifts that natures bestows upon us. It is a time of picking the last peaches and the first apples and pears, of harvesting the last of the summer crops from the vegetable garden, it is a time of plenty. It’s also the time when the last few roses put on a dazzling display of beauty and I think that I enjoy them so much more because they stand out as beautiful highlights in the garden.

Brother Cadfael

For me it is also the time to take a breath now that things have slowed down a little, I can step back from the manic duties of Summer and see how the garden has developed in those Summer months.

The big surprise of this Summer

The biggest surprise for me this Summer has been the roses, as many of you will know, we planted a new rose garden this year and it has done exceptionally well. I have some varieties that have grown to a height of 6 feet or more, which really is incredible in their first year. Olivia Rose Austin (1st picture above) is a perfect example, David Austin say that this rose generally grows to about 1.25 metres high and yet mine is standing at 6 feet tall, shows no signs of slowing down and is flowering for the 3rd time this year. It has also been extremely healthy and has shown no signs of disease. he David Austin size guidelines are for the UK and in warmer climates they will grow taller and bigger.

Olivia Rose Austin

Just look at this perfectly formed rose and also see how healthy the leaves are, it has not been sprayed at all.

Harlow Carr

This rose, Harlow Carr, I planted in a group of 3, as recommended by David Austin, this is a rose that does so much better in the ground than in a pot, it creates a tall, bushy rose with lots of dainty pink roses that are highly perfumed. In my opinion it would be a perfect variety for creating a scented rose hedge, I also like Rusosa “Wild Edric” for this purpose.

Wollerton Old Hall

This is a climbing rose of great beauty, it is one the best scented climbing roses and repeat flowers all summer.

Living off the garden – is that not the dream?

Blood peaches are very tasty

At the moment we are able to get all that we need to eat from the garden. It is so rewarding picking and eating fresh fruit and vegetables from the garden, I feel like we are living like kings! The pears are absolutely fantastic, sweet and juicy, as are the peaches. We are still harvesting and eating fresh courgettes but we also have enough preserved in jars to last us the winter, along with peas, beans and herbs. So I think that September is a time to be grateful, a time to be thankful that we live somewhere that we can grow fresh fruit and vegetables and grow beautiful flowers. Is there a chance that we will end up taking it all for granted? Never.

When Winter comes

When Winter comes I promise not to moan about how cold it is or about how much snow there is, instead I will remember, as I open up a jar of some preserved goody, how wonderful the Summer was, how kind and how generous the garden and nature have been to us. Does that alone not make this wonderful planet worth saving?

My next post will be showcasing the David Austin roses that will be available in March here at The Moosbach Garden.

We have a small selection of roses for sale at a reduced price (25 euros) a saving of 3,95 Euros. They are all in flower and make an ideal gift for a friend (or yourself)!

The First Video from the Moosbach Garden discussing David Austin Roses

September 5, 2018 / themoosbachgarden / Leave a comment

Here is the first video from us talking about David Austin Roses, it’s only 5 mins long and not an indepth video. Hope you enjoy.

Preparing Your Autumn “To-Do”List

September 4, 2018September 5, 2018 / themoosbachgarden / Leave a comment

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Autumn is gently knocking at the door and whilst it’s not quite time to start putting the garden to bed, it soon will be. I always find it useful to make a “To-Do” list otherwise I tend to forget those jobs that need doing that I made a mental note of in the height of Summer.

Things to do whilst you can still see what is what

Once Autumn/Winter is finally upon us and all the deciduous plants have dropped their leaves it is more difficult to see what plants are. This is OK if you only have a small garden and you know exactly where every single plant is but here in the Moosbach Garden it’s impossible. There are always going to be instances, frequently during the early years of a garden, when a plant is in the wrong place. I’ll give you an example, I’m turning the top bed in the rose garden which is currently a mixture of delphiniums, lupins, foxgloves and Phlox into a hot bed or Jewel Garden as Monty Don likes to call it. Now, there are some plants still in this bed that don’t match the colour scheme, for example some Phlox “Giant David” which is white. So, now is the time when I will walk around the garden with bundles of different colour strings that I tie around the stems of plants that need moving. How you organise your colour coding is a personal choice.

Whatever works for you

There really are not many hard rules in gardening and everybody needs to find a rhythm that works for them. The Famous garden designer Gertrude Jekyll used to take photographs of all of the garden in the summer months, which she paired with copious notes for review in the relatively quiet period of Winter before making any changes.

The developement of a new garden should be part planned and part organic

What do I mean by this? Well my view is this, if you are starting a new garden on a blank canvas where no garden has existed before you are very lucky indeed. What a luxury not to have to work with and around somebody elses view of what the garden should be. When it is virgin ground you have the benefit of being able to measure the garden and then sit down with a big sheet of graph paper and decide where your paths, hedging and flower beds will be. Harold Nicholson and Vita Sackville-West had exactly this luxury at Sissinghurst Castle, although it should be noted that it was Harold Nicholson who measured the gardens and laid out the paths and hedging and Vita then crammed the different areas of the garden with plants. However, any plan for a garden will need tweaking, you can try to visualise how things will look in your head but it is only when they are in situ that you can see if it works but give it time. A garden needs time to find its feet so don’t keep changing things every week.

One of the Herbaceous borders at Sissinghurst

Dead-heading and planning changes

I find that this time of year is perfect for a little relaxed dead-heading of flowers to help prolong the season. One of the joys of gardening comes at the end of a long Summer of watering and weeding when you can relax a little, take your foot off the accelerator and enjoy your garden. I think sometimes when you garden you can be so busy with the many essential garden jobs that need doing that you do not have the time to see how the garden has changed in just few months. When I am dead-heading rose blooms I really get the chance to smell the different roses and immerse myself in their beauty. The roses in the Moosbach Garden are putting on their final “Big Show” of the year and they are stunning. Sometimes I sit on a bench with a cup of tea or a glass of dry white wine and it is then that I can objectively see what is working well and what isn’t working so well. I keep a notepad which contains my “To-Do” list about my person so that I can make a note of changes to be made when the garden is asleep. It is the only way that it works for me, 9 times out 10 when I say to myself that I’ll make a note of that later I don’t.

Dividing Perennials

Once plants go into their dormant phase you can divide them which can revitalise them, plus you get new plants for free. There is an article on this blog with instructions for dividing Phlox plants which you can do at any time whilst they are dormant.

Something wonderful to look out for

In the next week I will be unveiling all of the fantastic David Austin roses that will be available to buy on our website. Please note that we have a limited supply of each variety, so it’s best to order early. Roses will be available for collection from March 2019.

If you are looking for a beautiful rose now we have a few potted roses for sale that are currently in flower. Available varieties are

Harlow Carr (1 available)
Desdemona (2 available)
Brother Cadfael (1 available)
Thomas A Beckett (3 available)
Falstaff (1 available)
Boscobel (1 available)
Wollerton Old Hall Climber (2 available)
Olivia Rose Austin (1 available)

If you are interested in buying one of the above roses please email us.

New David Austin roses available at the Moosbach Garden

March 29, 2018December 29, 2020 / themoosbachgarden / Leave a comment

All images courtesy of David Austin roses. Visit our website for further details here

Gentle Hermione (Ausrumba). The David Austin Featured rose of the week. This is a beautifully formed rose for cutting

February 9, 2018December 30, 2020 / themoosbachgarden / Leave a comment

This is a very beautiful small rose only growing to a height of 120cm, so it’s ideal for the front of the flower border or even for a decent sized pot. It has the most beautiful light pink flowers, a wonderfully powerful perfume and the formation of the flower is one of the most beautiful of all of the roses. It is also fairly disease resistant.

I think that if you want to create a really stunning display that I would plant 3 of these intermingled with Munstead Lavender and a good really dark blue Salvia but you could also mix in some Scabious plants at the front of the border.

If you would like to look at more wonderful David Austin roses then why not visit the Moosbach Garden and pick up a David Austin Rose Catalogue, they are written in German. We currently have 9 different varieties of rose available at the Moosbach Garden but we would be happy to order a different variety for you.

You can buy this rose on our website by clicking here.

To see all of the rose varieties we currently have for sale click here.

Charles Darwin (Auspeet) David Austin featured rose of the week

February 2, 2018December 30, 2020 / themoosbachgarden / Leave a comment

The Charles Darwin Rose is part of the Leander group of roses which are renowned for forming large, robust shrubs with arching growth. They came into existence by the crossing of Old Rose Hybrids with the modern varieties.

This strongly perfumed yellow rose has particularly large flowers and the perfume changes depending upon the weather conditions. The perfume varies from a soft floral tea rose to lemon. The blooms are upward facing which is a real bonus as so many rose flowers droop towards the ground.

In habit, the rose is vigorous reaching a height of 120cm and a width of 110cm, this rose is also disease resistant which is fairly uncommon amongst roses.

We have three of these roses planted together at Moosbach in the top rose garden.

This rose can be described as eye-catching due to the large size of the individual flowers and their orientation, i.e. facng upwards. I think that a round flower bed with three of these planted together in the centre of the bed would make a stunning show piece in any garden. David Austin recommend planting three roses of the same variety together in a triangle, 1 meter apart. In time this will look like 1 substantial plant, of course not everybody has either the space or the budget to buy 3 roses at a time but if you consider how many years of joy this will bring you and visitors to your garden then it really is value for money.

Good companion planting for yellow roses are dark blues and purples like lavender and Salvia, these have the advantage of not growing too tall and are therefore ideal for the edge of a round border. I’m in favour of the use of perennial plants over annual plants as there is a better return on time invested but you could use annuals if you wish.

I would recommend using David Austin’s mycorrhizal Fungi when planting roses, one packet has enough for 3 roses and this helps the plant to get established and extends the root system giving the plant a larger area to extract water and nutrients from. Rose fertilizer should be used directly after the plant has finished blooming as this encourages the next set of blooms and ensures that the quality of the initial blooms is maintained. In winter, you can do nothing better for your roses that applying a generous mulch of well-rotted horse manure, in summer you will reap the benefits with better bigger blooms. You must make sure that it is well rotted as fresh manure takes nitrogen out of the soil as part of the decomposition process and you want to add nitrogen, not take it away.

There is an instructional video on how to plant roses on the David Austin Website – how to plant a potted rose and how to prune a shrub rose.

We do have a limited supply of these roses available on our website and you can order one by clicking here.

On the subject of companion planting, white and blue flowers go exceptionally well with roses and one of my favourite colour combinations are blue and yellow but blues also work especially well with light pink roses like Harlow Carr, Gentle Hermione and Gertrude Jekyll. Good choices of blue perennials are: delphiniums, Salvia, Lavender and Campanula. Peonies are also a classic combination with roses and have the added bonus of a long season of interest with purple leaves when they first emerge, stunningly beautiful flowers and fiery autumnal leaves. Here at the Moosbach Garden we have a combination of perennial and tree peonies but remember that tree peonies can grow as big as 2 metres so give careful consideration as to where you plant them.

David Austin Rose – Claire Austin (Ausprior). Featured rose of the week

January 26, 2018December 30, 2020 / themoosbachgarden / Leave a comment

Image courtesy of David Austin Roses

This beautiful English Musk rose can be grown either as a shrub or as a climbing rose. When the buds appear on this strongly perfumed rose they are of a delicate light lemon, however, when they open the flowers are a gorgeous creamy white.

The petals are arranged in concentric circles and you can get lost admiring the wonder and beauty of nature. The perfume is myrrh mixed with meadow-sweet and vanilla.

If grown as a shrub rose you should expect a plant 140cm x 90cm and if grown as a climber you should expect to achieve a height of 2.5m. If you have the space why not grow it in both forms.

For me there is something pure and untainted about white flowers and this rose would be perfect if you want to create a white border or even a white garden if you are lucky enough to have the space. Here at the Moosbach Garden we are creating multiple outdoor rooms, including a rose garden.

I’m a big fan of using Yew hedging as a backdrop for planting schemes. For me the dark green foliage of Yew contrasts beautifully with light coloured flowers and is a classic staple of garden design. Also, looking forward, as one can not help but doing with gardening, Yew is slow-growing so only needs cutting once per year and this is a very important consideration for the future.

I challenge everyone to have a go at designing their own garden space, it is amazing how satisfying it is to create something from scratch and slowly watch it mature. You can make this more affordable by buying small plants and allowing them to mature slowly. Even if you are new to gardening there are many things that you can do to create a wonderful garden on a low-budget. Carol Klein’s book “Grow your own garden” by BBC books (only available in English) is a fantastic guide to growing your own plants from seeds, cuttings and plant division.

As you would expect we have the David Austin Rose “Claire Austin” available to purchase on our website www.moosbach-schwarzwald.com or you can visit us at the Moosbach Garden and peruse all of the wonderful plants that we have for sale.