Back with a flourish…

lovely flowers. I especially like the paeony. do you know which one it is?

Those roses are wonderful! :-))

Your roses are just beautiful ... they look fabulous climbing all over the wall.

Thanks to you all for the lovely comments. I didn't plant the peony, it appeared after we cleared the brambles a few ago, and this year it's flowers are bigger than ever. I'll look it up in my book and see if I can identify it and let you know.

After looking through the books and on the internet the peony could possibly be a 'Mons Jules Eli' (double), though I'm not 100%, but the description and the pictures are very close.

Lovely photo's...Lovely plants...I love that rose around the door. There is always something homely about that!

Thanks Pottygardener. The roses are great for keeping the ants from coming into the house. We also have a Campsis Grandiflora mingling in with it for the same purpose after the roses stop flowering.

Your rose and peony are lovely,Frenchbean.I don't know if you had a winter as severe as ours,but I think the plants are looking better than ever this year,and more prolific,so wonder if it has been more beneficial in the long run,even despite the loss of some varieties.Of course,I could be totally wrong....Lol

I agree with you Bloomer. That has happened to my pot plants, and I visited a friend who has a large garden with lots of different types of plants and she said the same. For me, strangely, I have lost some of my bigger plants that you would think have had a better root system but smaller, seemingly more fragile ones have survived!

It all looks good and healthy Fbean, I love the elder do you make any wine from it?.

My neighbours have lost some of their big plants too,especially the Phormiums.They are more exposed to the elements,I suppose,and the smaller ones were more protected with the snow blanket,from the frost. and ice.That's my thinking,anyway,so it did have some advantages in the long run...Natures way ? I still hope we don't have another like it next year though....

Lovely roses round your door.

Thanks for the comments everyone. I wouldn't have a clue where to start making wine Stroller... but maybe one year I might give it a try. Our winter this year wasn't too severe, though we did have a couple of short snowy/frosty periods.
We did have a hot April then a very wet beginning to May, so maybe that could have had an effect.

Lovely photos. I'm pleased you've come out of hibernation now :o)

Thanks Hywel :0))

Wow!

Lucky old you to have a place like this to spend your time at! I've just read your first blog fromlast year.......what, if anything, did you do with the 'gravel area' after?

This all looks superb by the way with the rich colour and shrubs......

Thanks Oddbillie. The septic tank area I've been told to put on hold by Mr FB, as theres flagging yet to be done and he says if I plant anything it'll get trod on - so I'm still looking at that lovely view from my kitchen (Lol!!) until the Autumn!