Friday 27 May 2011

No, you can't



John asks if you can all uncross fingers and toes now; Hazel asks what's happened with the house check? Well, the survey of my house was carried out yesterday, and the report won't reach the buyer until at least next Wednesday. Until then, I can't allow myself to imagine that we are out of the woods; in addition, a survey needs to be carried out on my prospective new property. So keep crossing those fingers; you've done pretty well so far.

But the solicitors are busy doing their thing, and I have to notify the removals company - the ones who last year were so hopeful about having enough room on their biggest wagon to transport all my container plants from the back yard - that the move is on again. The buyer has indicated that he is no gardener (and in fact sounded totally uninterested in anything in the yard; I noticed that he ignored his mother's hint that the retractable washing line would save money on electricity bills) so I shall feel no guilt at all about leaving only the permanent planting behind.



I wish I had the nerve to dig up the Zepherine Drouhin, planted 3 years ago, from beside the front door - she who needs watering in dry weather, and is flowering beautifully just now. Does anyone know if I can do this without causing the death of a delicious-smelling rose?

17 comments:

Connie in Hartwood said...

You can absolutely dig up and move your rose! I have been receiving mature bare root roses from a nursery in desert California, which were cut back and dug and shipped across the US.

Wait till the last possible moment to do this.

1. Cut your rose back to about one foot high.
2. Dig as large a rootball as you can comfortably handle.
3. If you can pot the rose at this point, Bravo. If not, wrap it in newsprint, wet it down, and put the whole thing into a large trash bag. Keep this out of full sun!
4. Transport your rose to your new garden. If you were unable to salvage the soil on the rootball, soak your rose for an hour or so in a bucket.
5. Plant your rose in its new home, keep it watered, and it should be fine. If it's not fine, at least it hasn't suffered the long, slow decline that it would in the hands of its new non-gardener owner.

Good luck with your move! It's worth it.

jabblog said...

I love this rose! Ours is blooming beautifully at the moment. I have read that taking cuttings is easy - that is, they root readily, but I also read that August is the time to take them.
I think I'd take several cuttings in the next few weeks, bed them into pots, and finally try digging up the original. You could end up with a gardenful in your new home!! I've had rose cuttings standing around for months in pots without doing anything and just as I've thought they'd had it, they have surprised me.

Floridagirl said...

Beautiful arrangement! Hamish will come around-he's shy but not dumb. He's knows what's best. Congrats on your house soon-to-be-home buying. And all of us here including the furry ones have our fingers and toes crossed.

MLou said...

Congratulations! I missed the official fireworks post and want to add extra enthusiasm to compensate....a series of handsprings down cathedral aisle seems appropriate. And yes no wonder your blood pressure is high. House selling is at the top of the stressor list. I am very, very pleased for you.

Anonymous said...

Everything still crossed here. That's a beautiful rose.

Alicia said...

I have just been told that that CalTrans here in California will be taking my home to expand a highway, and they want it September 1st! (gasp) Imminent Domain says that for the common good of all I must leave my home, that my mother and father purchased in 1965, 3 years before I was born. I'm very sad, but I'll be too busy viewing new Condominiums over the next few weeks to think about it much. Keep your fingers crossed I find something I love so I can part with this lovely old house! I'll be thinking of you every step of the way and deep breathing all the way through it!

flwrjane said...

V difficult to arrange flowers with fingers crossed, doesn't seem to have hurt you though, that arrangement is beautiful.

xo Jane

dinahmow said...

Just what Hardwood said. And I'd add: give it a week or so to settle and as soon as you spy new growth water with weak seaweed solution.
Go for it, Rachel!

About the clock...

Catherine said...

Still keeping my fingers crossed and thinking good thoughts for you!

I would totally be trying to take as many of my plants as I could too!!!

Good luck!
xo Catherine

mountainear said...

Thwack me round the head with a something-or-other but I'd say get yourself a new 'un. Start afresh. If needs must I'll treat you. (David Austin is just up the road.)

So excited on your behalf.

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

Can't better the advice of Hartwood roses. Don't leave her behind. She is beautiful.

Hazel said...

Everything still crossed for you down here in Oz. :-)

Maggie Christie said...

I would definitely try to move that rose. When we last moved house I left roses and water lilies behind only to hear that the purchaser had immediately dug everything up, burned it (arghh!) and concreted over(for a dog's toilet). One of the roses had been a wedding present and I still regret it nine years later. My fingers are still crossed.

the veg artist said...

I'll send you one as a house-warming present! (If you receive this, it means that Blogger is now working again!)

Gwen Buchanan said...

I am so excited for you... I feel every little nerve wracking moment.. I'll keep my fingers crossed too... my best.

Judy in KY said...

Fingers crossed for you here until everything is settled!

Unknown said...

Good luck with everything , I will keep fingers and toes crossed for you too. xx

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