Climbing Roses Albertine

I have always loved Albertine, both varieties, the Proustian species and the climbing rose. It has always featured it in all my gardens starting with both grandfathers in Taplow and Edgware where it cascaded over the air raid shelter.

It also tried to blossom on the horrendous brown creosoted fence in the semi detached in Stanmore where it did its best. I did not help as I was learning to garden and I pruned it when I didn't 'oughter'. Climbing roses like to ramble and be left alone. This is easy because they have horrendous thorns and prickles.

All my neighbours dislike them and look out the rose that strays outside my garden. I can understand why because these roses can kill and I am forever resorting to the Fucidine when I forget to put on my gloves. I am old enough to know better by now.

My roses serve as a natural barbed wire barrier to the outside world. I can see why it took the prince one hundred years to find the Sleeping Beauty.

So here is a selection of my beloved climbers. Alberic Barbier is the first to flower in early November followed by Balmain, which fall over the pergola and Albertine which I am encouraging to flow over my studio. ( used to be the shed but has had an upgrade).

Wedding Day a fantastic rose as long as it does not rain, and Rambling Rector, which has few thorns but  trues to its name does get away if not tamed and lastly the old fashioned Dorothy Perkins around Christmas which not only gives the most amazing display down my drive on my side but carpets the car port like a persian rug.

All were grown from cuttings set in March.

A quich hack with the electric hedge clippers and that's it. Next year they will be even better. I love climbing roses.