I think I am winning the aphid battle. A few consecutive days of spraying down the bushes with a good blast of water and a couple of days of a light soapy spray (thanks Adrienne) and they seem to be gone for the most part.
This is an Abraham Darby. I love the glowy centers. Tournament of Roses has a similar color but not as many petals. Both are work horses in the rose bed (Tournament of Roses has a better repeat throughout the season though).
The Abraham Darby gets so many huge, fat blooms on it I have to prop up the branches or it just wants to lay on the grass and take a nap.
Remember when that big old tree fell down and took out my green garden bench? We have another bench that we brought up from the pond (the pond that is always empty except for the berry bushes and who wants to sit on a bench and gaze at that?) and I want to paint it but I’m not sure how.
I mean I know how to paint I’m just not sure if I should paint the whole thing green or leave the iron bits black and just paint the slats. Or should I just leave it alone. I’ve never seen one of these benches painted.
What do you think?
Oh I’m so glad the soapy-spray is working. I think I should take a tour of my roses and see if I need to get my spray bottle out, too. I had a bench that looked like yours and I thought I would paint the slats and not the iron. Then I thought I would paint it all alike. Then I decided to paint the iron a different color and give new color and life to the slats. Yesterday I let it be hauled away because my grandson jumped up on it and broke part of it. He felt so bad but it was really an accident so I knew it was time to let the bench go. The reason it didn’t bother me is because it was the MOST uncomfortable bench I had ever sat on! Now I’m going to watch for a good deal on a different bench! ~Adrienne~
Paint the whole bench white or green to match the house. Happy May Day! I can not wait for my A. Darby to bloom!!
I would leave wrought iron black and the wood green.
Be sure and post a photo when hyou’re done!
Your blog is lovely! Great photos! I’ve enjoyed reading through your old posts!
I am a bit late but happy May day. I see we love the same rose. Clarice