How do they do that?

I cannot count the number of times I have planted new, inspiring plants only to find that they die,  either immediately or fade away during the winter months, never to be seen again.  I have learned the hard way that it is a good idea to choose the right plant for the right place.  It is not only good for the soul, it is necessary for the purse too.

But what about plants in the garden that grow in the most inhospitable places and despite your lack of attention, just keep on going?

Our ‘back’ door is actually on the East side of the house and there is nothing but the wall of the house, a tall boundary wall and a gravel path.  I keep an attractive hosta in a large container, pots of cyclamen and other bulbs in the spring - and little else.  There is the dustbin, of course, and it is a dark and gloomy place.  There is no soil. Oh, and I almost forgot, there are some orange Californian poppies and a beautiful pink rose......

When we moved here 7 years ago, the previous owner of Springfield proudly showed me the rose.  It was held up with a bit of florist wire and looked straggly and pathetic.  She said it was a nameless variety and was already in situ when they arrived, 40 years ago.  She assured me that although it was a sad specimen, it flowers every year.  And she was right.  For nigh on 50 years a rose has been growing with little light in a gravel path.

The blooms are large with sugar pink flowers.  The edges of the petals are a deeper pink and scent is heady and sweet.  When NOS got married 4 years ago, there were so many flowers I was able to make my own confetti, carefully laying the delicate petals onto cooling racks above the Aga.  (I had a broken foot at the time so it was a welcome distraction.)


The rose is never fed though I do prune it to help keep the shape more compact (!)  You can see by the photo that it continues to be straggly.  This year, it has not faired quite so well as in previous years because we had such a long, hard winter.  However, it is perking up again now and I expect it will recover.


The poppies arrived on the wind and are settled.  I often find that plants which seed themselves are best at choosing the best place.  I am not sure about the pale pink and orange colour combo but who am I to argue?


Sometimes it is best to leave nature to get on with things.  When we had the front gravel driveway laid, Doc and I lamented the loss of a nice little clump of snowdrops at the corner of the house.  But compacted, lifeless soil, hard core and coarse gravel have not deterred them. 


Each year that passes produces an even better show of nodding white bells and as far as I am concerned, they deserve respect.  When it is one of those difficult days, I pass by the spot where they do their thing and think that if they can push against the odds, so can I.