Today I have been pruning roses, climbing roses no less. Actually it started as rose pruning and descended into rose annihilation. The shrubs in question were growing (notice I say “were”) on the edge of a parking area in a strip (I am loathe to use the exaggeration “border”) approximately 15cm wide on top of a stone wall. They were supported, in their valiant attempt at growth in these less than ideal conditions, by a tatty piece of trellis. This trellis is to be replaced. “Do you really want to keep these roses?” I asked Lady Mantle, AKA The Queen of Hearts. “Not on your Nelly” she replied “Off with their heads!” So rather than the measured and tender reshape planned, it became a massacre.
Today roses have been clinging to me, snagging themselves onto any vulnerable spot. Long spiny arms spun round and clawed me at like demented krakens. My nose bled, my legs were punctured and hands gnawed at, and yes I was wearing clothes at the time. On one rather embarrassing occasion I had to ask his Lordship to remove a particularly persistent one that had attached itself to my posterior. He may have sniggered.
Revenge, that is was they were wreaking, sweet revenge. And I don’t really blame them.
Off The Edge Gardening 
Torture! And sniggering! Aren’t there some sort of Geneva Conventions that apply to gardeners?
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There should be! I will have a word with the management. 🙂
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Thankfully mine are still too young to need much discipline. But I’m watching them…
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They may look like innocents …… beware! 😉
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I sympathise – I can’t count the number of flowing skirts and dresses that roses have clung to and I’ve torn in an attempt to get free. Sigh. They tend to attack from all sides don’t they?
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They do and once snagged you can’t get out. Very inelegant fighting with a rose!
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Timely pruning hint as, finally, the days of rain have ended to be replaced by days of freeze (but I’ve got my thermals ready) and I can tackle an overcrowded malus. I won’t get pricked up the b** but will probably get dive-bombed by the blackbirds as I cut their crabs off. Malus aforethought?
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I can always depend on you for a good pun John! Hope all went well with the Malus pruning. 🙂
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ha ha! Power to the plants I say! After all they are fighting for their lives. Mine laugh in the face of leather gauntlets and big coats.
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There is no protection, they always find a way! 🙂
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I have a love hate relationship with my climbing roses. I love them when in flower and…well you can guess the rest!
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I can, and I totally agree!
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Still laughing here. Poor you. I can picture your discomfiture. Are there any gloves that are truly thorn proof- but you can actually still work in? My poor hands are full of thorns. Karen x
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Exactly! Someone please invent gloves that protect but don’t feel like you are wearing a couple of wellies on your hands. We are martyrs to the cause. 🙂 x
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I’ve got a mental picture of wellies on hands now. Waving back to you 🙂 xxx
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Hellllllooooooo!
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:)) x
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