Brave friends...

It's always a difficult time when friends are in distress, difficult to express your heart-felt sympathy without reducing everyone to floods of tears and of course whatever you say, never seems enough to you.
Your selection of roses are lovely, my daughter would adore the purple coloured one, she had one before which turned out a very wishy-washy colour!
Not a great fan of day-lilies, but they are lovely - I presume they are day-lilies? Look like Asiatic lilies.
I am sure that your friends appreciate your support.

the roses are very pretty but I love the deep hemerocallis. you are doing a wonderful job by just being there for your friends. Every little bit you do will help and trust me it is the little bits that help the most. It makes life that bit easier [not having to wonder if there is milk/bread etc.] it allows your friends to focus on their loved ones. so well done or your support.

Sorry I missed your last blog Waddy. Your friends are so lucky to have such a good friend supporting them - more power to your elbow... Such emotionally draining times take their toll on everybody and to have a reliable helper nearby must be fantastic. I love your beautiful roses.

sorry to hear your friends are having such a hard time, but you are helping to ease their stress and doing a great job, they will be very appreciative of your help even if they are too sad to say much to you at the moment. Keep up the good work your garden will be there again once things start to pick up in every ones lives. Roses are beautiful as are the daylilies look forward to your return to the site once things pick up for you.

I know from experience that the gardens can jog along on their own quite happily for a while Waddy, judging by your lovely photo's it certainly isn't doing it any harm because your not there every day.
I'm really sorry to hear about your friends, I too had missed your previous blog as I haven't really been on goy so much in the past few months, catching up on the jobs I couldn't do in recent years, it all takes time doesn't it, life has a habit of throwing spanners in the works at times..
Its good to see a blog from you, I hope you are taking care of yourself as well, I have given a like for your lovely photo's...

We seem to have reached that age when dear friends are being lost now and it is terribly sad.

Your beautiful roses are such a lovely sight, the lilac one is especially gorgeous but I have forgotten its name. I think it has a very nice scent too.

Your Roses are wonderful,Julia..and what lovely clear sharp photo's they all are..I'm sorry to hear about your friends too..You can only do so much to help,and it seems you are already doing that. Take care of yourself too..xx

Yes, many of my generation are coming to full circle now and the younger family members are too busy in the middle of their lives to pay attention, understand or attend to needs, so we should hold onto and support each other as much as we can. What a good heart you have!

Thank you everyone, you're so kind. The roses seem to have done particularly well, despite my absence. The only thing I've really managed to do is a bit of deadheading now and again. The purple one is Rhapsody in Blue, not very blue at all really, but she does have a gorgeous perfume. I managed to get away this Sunday for the last day of the Southport Flower Show, which despite the weather turned out to be a good day. The highlight for me was listening to a talk given by Christine Walkden on autumn container planting and having a gardening question answered by the panel, despite my blushing cheeks lol!
I'm hoping to get back into my garden more this autumn, as I have lots of plans.
Meanwhile, I'll keep bobbing in and out of GoY at the sametime as I continue to support my friend who has just lost her husband and my other friend who is still struggling with a husband who is very ill.

Your pictures are beautiful.
Life brings trials and tribulations, so it's nice that you've got such a lovely garden to enjoy, while doing your best to help your friends. What more meaningful life could anyone wish to have. You are very blessed.

Sorry to hear of one of your friend's loss and must say how your friends must appreciate your supprort at this sad and worrying time, your garden photos are so beautiful and a tribute to your tlc, take care hugs xx

Good for you Waddy....supporting your friends.what a shame it's all come at once.
Your roses are lovely but, in particular the one which I believe is probably Rhapsody in Blue...spectacular!

Lovely photos, Waddy ... it has been a tough year for many people ... you are a good friend to many.