I’ve found that, amongst the shrub roses that I grow, ‘Queen of Sweden’ is the most useful for arranging in a vase because the stems are nice and long.
I’ve struggled for a while to get good germination on seed of Sweet William, but I’ve always remembered how well it did in our garden in Perthshire, Scotland, a very long time ago. And, most importantly, it reminds me of my sweet Uncle Willie from Glasgow.
Finally, success. This is the flower that I like most amongst the mix that I grew.
The nigella here are used a little bit like feathery foliage, rather than for their blooms, since they are only just starting out.
I hope you can’t see my gardening glasses, hanging from the hook just behind. I badgered the BV a few years ago to put these up to hang my orchids on during the summer (6 in all). The orchids didn’t like it – too cool for them at night, I think! Another ‘masterful’ plan that I learnt a lot from.
Now go over and see everyone else’s vases at Cathy’s Rambling in the Garden. And thanks for being such a gracious host, Cathy!
Garden Dreaming at Châtillon 
This is absolutely breathtaking Cathy. Beautifully romantic. The rose is exquisite. I am eager to know how you coaxed the Sweet William along. It is one of my all-time old-fashioned favorites but I can’t get it to love my garden (or even stay long enough for a cup of tea).
Thanks Susie – yes, that’s me, an old romantic. May is the right time of year for us! Perhaps we have the same problem with sweet william? Mine is the summer heat. Normally we are advised to sow biennials in May/June, but I find that when I prick them out they are not at all happy. So I’ve tried different variations on spring, summer, autumn sowings. These were very early spring and then pricked out in early summer, grown on cool and planted in autumn.
Thanks Cathy. I see what I’m doing wrong. You mean I can’t just plant seeds and come back later expecting they took care of themselves? Yours are just gorgeous.
I don’t believe you would ever do that! Thanks for your kind comment.
The colour of the rose is so subtle – really makes you want to stop and look at it a bit longer….what a beautiful arrangement!
Thank you! It’s a lovely rose, well worth growing (although I had to wash my blooms off yesterday, because I dropped some in the mud!)
When your post first popped into my inbox this morning I saw your Queen of Sweden and knew I was beginning to lust after her! She jumped out of the DA catalogue just a few days ago too, so your post must be a sign – I just need somewhere to put her before I get carried away further! Everything about your vase today is beautiful and the overall effect is stunning. What colour will the flowers of the nigella be? They almost look cream
It is an absolutely wonderful rose, Cathy. Very tall (even if you rough with the pruning!), so needs a special place – I think DA says it’s good for hedging, and I’d agree. The Nigella are blue and white. In that bit of the garden I think they are equally mixed, although elsewhere I get just blue, or just white.
Thanks. We shall see if I can find a space…!
It was on Gardener’s World last night, I noticed. How they managed to get it so small I can’t imagine!
Yes, it was good to see it ‘in the flesh’!
So beautiful 😍 xxx
On Mon 18 May 2020 at 11:15, Garden Dreaming at Châtillon wrote:
> Cathy posted: ” I’ve found that, amongst the shrub roses that I grow, > ‘Queen of Sweden’ is the most useful for arranging in a vase because the > stems are nice and long. I’ve struggled for a while to get good germination > on seed of Sweet William, but I’ve always remem” >
Thank you Paula!
That a gorgeous rose, Cathy, and I think the addition of the Sweet William adds a wonderful mood to the arrangement, lending a touch of mystery to a composition that might otherwise have been sugary sweet. Beautifully done!
Thanks Kris – I did think the dark Sweet William were the nicest with the rose.
Ooh, absolutely gorgeous arrangement, Cathy! Between the roses and sweet williams, I bet its scent is a delight.
It does smell rather lush, Eliza!
Those are impressive sweet William. They are so tall!
They are, but the flowers themselves never seem to be opening properly, which is slightly disappointing.
Do you mean that there are always a few individual flowers within a collective bloom that do not open? I believe that is normal, at least here in a semi arid climate. If they stay in the garden, in the right situations, more of them open, but by that time, the first to open are already deteriorating, sort of like the top florets of a gladiola. I never gave it any thought. I suppose that more should open in a more humid climate.
An absolute delight, I love the color combination and wish I could catch of whiff of the vase, the scent must be amazing. I never had any luck with Sweet William when I lived further north. Though I may try some in the winter….
It does smell rather sweetly – I’m glad I succeeded this year!
This is absolutely gorgeous Cathy! Worthy of adorning the dining table in a little ‘chateau’ ( 😉 ) Your roses are fabulous. 😃
Thanks so much Cathy. It is, indeed, on the dining table at the ‘little chateau’ – right where I can admire while cooking!
I love the combination of roses and nigella! Are the roses fragrant?
Yes – they do have a light perfume (especially when they haven’t been dropped in the mud!)