During the past year, I have been giving my garden a revamp. I have completely ripped out some garden beds and transplanted various plants that I decided I didn’t like growing where they were. I have no idea how much I have spent on new plants, but all the time and money spent has been worth it, especially when I am rewarded with beautiful flowers, especially roses.

During winter I ordered several bare-root roses and could have ordered more if I hadn’t restrained myself. I could justify limiting my new purchases though by reminding myself that after I see how big the rose bushes grow during summer, I can evaluate how much room I have left. There’s always next year, and the year after, and the one after that … to buy more.

Desdemona has company in the vase, of course, including this pale pink beauty. Another David Austin rose, a climber called Pierre de Ronsard was named in honour of the French Renaissance poet. I have two Pierre’s now, I purchased a second this year, and have them growing on both sides of a garden arbour.

Going back to the star of this week’s vase, according to the David Austin website, Desdemona was named after “the tragic heroine of Shakespeare’s Othello”. Austin roses are often named after literary figures, which appeals to me due to my love of literature. Desdemona grows to one metre in height, but I suspect she may grow taller in our fertile soil. We’ll have to wait and see, given she is a newcomer to my garden.

The buddleia I picked this flower from has been in my garden for a few years now. I planted a Gertrude Jekyll rose next to the buddleia, then wondered why my rose never flowered. A quick read gave me the answer, Gertrude does not like being overshadowed by other plants. I was prepared to sacrifice my buddleia so cut it back close to the ground.

Gertrude thrived and bloomed! And so has the buddleia, but a smaller version of its former self. I actually prefer the plant now it has regrown, as it looks healthier than before and I regularly cut off the spent blooms to keep it in shape.

Yet another new addition to my garden this year is Verbena ‘Polaris’, a drought-tolerant plant which thrives in the summer heat. The foliage of the plant is rather coarse, but I love the delicate flowers and thought they would look beautiful sharing a vase with Desdemona.

Right at the back of the vase are a couple of sprigs of New South Wales Christmas bush, which I added for an extra touch of greenery.

I enjoy the contrast of the other flowers added to the vase, but I suspect that when my Desdemona rose bush has grown more and has more flowers to pick, a whole vase full of her blooms would be an amazing sight to see. 🙂

The weather is still overcast here this week. We have had an occasional touch of sun breaking through the clouds, but the house continues to be rather dark and gloomy for this time of year. I took most of the photos close to a window, for extra light, but my vase this week will be displayed on the mantlepiece, in front of a large mirror.

The reflection in the mirror makes the flower display appear even bigger than it actually is. 🙂

My vase today is a contribution to In a Vase on Monday, hosted by Cathy at Rambling in the Garden. Thank you to Cathy. 🙂