We aim to use organic gardening principles among our heirloom roses here at Edgeworth Lley. That's because in the organic garden there is lots of activity.
At first you might not notice, but if you look closely ..
You will notice an artisan has been at work overnight, weaving an intricately beautiful piece of art - fine as gossamer and exquisitely wrought. Sometimes it is possible to see the tiny artisan clinging to the artwork.
If you go to sniff a rose, you may see a tiny pair of eyes peeping out from their rose eiderdown. At this time of year tiny green frogs hide amongst the petals and they have been known to continue to hide in the occasional rose bouquet!
Unlike modern hybrid teas, the heirloom rose bushes are not pruned within an inch of their life and allowed to grow to a more natural size. Monsieur Tillier grows into a large Tea rose, flowering beautifully.
There are also bird baths placed strategically among some of the more thorny rose branches, perfect for small birds to dart in and bathe and drink in safety. Birds of course are the perfect pesticide, feeding on unfriendly insects among the roses.
Because we don't use pesticides and nasty fungicidal sprays, we grow herbs among the roses. Here are the bright yellow buttons of Tansy, a strong smelling herb that acts as a natural pesticide.
Our rose garden is set in the middle of a field, or ley, previously used for pasture. The remnant forest trees surrounding the garden also provide safe haven for small fauna, including myriad bird species.
So whenever visitors sniff the roses in our garden and bouquets, we know they won't breathe in nasty toxins from chemical sprays .. and the roses are even safe to eat !!
The many pleasures and joys of using organic gardening principles ..
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