Lucerne mulch thick around the feet of the roses, as there’s not been much rain lately. My husband was astounded to find I had 300 or more (well I left a few out when he asked me in case he fainted), but then told his mates who said, "Gosh! We'll have to come up and see them."

"Eeeek!" says me, "Not until spring when they'll mostly be back in full bloom." Boy! fancy showing them a lot of summer-pruned bushes.

But there's plenty blooming away. Who said David Austin’s 'Evelyn' doesn't flower well? I think maybe you need to treat her MEAN. She's a tough wench this one, I think as I clip clip clip her five plants back. Perhaps too much TLC and you get growth but not many flowers. Her beautifully scented blooms borne in clusters like girls deb dresses are in a reasonably tough situation here and she seems to thrive. 'Golden Celebration' next to her seems similar in habit.

No need to touch Mr. Austin's magical 'Moonbeam'. Why oh why does she not get more promotion??? She looms, shining in the dusk covered in creamy waterliliy-shaped flowers and I just adore her -- tightly furled perfectly-shaped buds that open to blooms that truly do resemble waterlilies. Oh happy, happy sight and even happier that Roseworld at Moyhu is one of the few nurseries that sells her. So, another has been bought and is growing sturdily in the front bed. Why have one when you can have two!! Please try her if you get the chance, you won't be sorry.

'News' with it's peculiar purple/mauve blooms hasn't stopped flowering, surrounded by white plumbago (which needs a clip back lest it overtake all around it) the deadheading is considerable. 'Erfurt' planted in the tyre tower behind it is also in happy bloom. 'Madame Alfred Carriere' has begun as 'Graham Thomas' nearby has rested. The colours seem to take it in turns to bloom.

My dearest 'Buff Beauty', whose perfume when she is in flower fills the entire house, is covered in new red growth. A friend told me to attack her with the electric shears after her first magnificent flush. I did as he said -- the first time in fear and trembling with eyes closed. She rewards the severe and undignified haircut with another flush in six weeks.

'Devoniensis' is just coming into bloom again, and needs not deadheading but a bit of tying down along the fence. Near her, in the shade 'Cardinal Hume' is MAGNIFICENT... sprawling across the concrete seat. He does thrive in the shade and does not fade.

The pink bed - well it's pink and mauve, except for 'Gloire de Ducher', whose colour tones in for some reason, is between blooming. The 'Mutabilis' ditto. These two slender ladies get a quick clip and tuck in with the mulch. 'Squatter's Dream' is lovely -- like golden butterflies, 'Cannes Festival' needs a haircut, and 'Othello' has one -- just one -- perfect bloom.

'General Gallieni' is an enchanting rose -- must get another... or three. Why have just one when three would be glorious? Its petals have a silken quality.

'Iceberg' -- what can you say that hasn’t been said by millions? Reliable, beautiful in the dusk, with the white shining against light green leaves. Planting 'Golden Holstein' in front of her was a happy mistake, the gold and white, plus the California poppies in bloom blend beautifully.

As a red climber 'Dublin Bay' has to be the king of kings. His prolific red blooms draw visitors as soon as they get out of their car. 'Gold Bunny' in it's own way is as reliable as 'Iceberg'. 'Westerland' attracts visitors like magic, “Whatever’s this?” they ask. Another rose that deserves higher promotion.

I think if companion planting works with vegetables it must with roses as they obviously HATE Echium, and the climbers down near those plants sulk. The climbers down the other end of the path bloom prolifically, looking as if they have BMW’s and Rolls Royces parked outside, those near the Echium droop, as if they live in inner suburbs with only footpaths and public transport to sustain them. So, the Echium will go as soon as we have a free day to HACK them out and to test my theory. It must be right. When 'Pinkie' and 'Alberic Barbier' hang their heads in sorrow there has to be a reason.

Such an odd season. 'Albertine' is spotting, 'Seagull' ditto. 'Wedding Day' -- a few months old --is rampaging up the tree. The 'Joseph's Coat' I shifted seems happy in its new position.

On to the experimental bed planted in lucerne mulch and stable manure only in a raised mounded bed. I saw this done at a TAFE college so I copied it in a tough spot and they are growing very well: 'Bishop Darlington', 'Sally Holmes', 'Dapple Dawn', 'Pax', 'John Clare', 'Mme Abel Chatenay', 'Autumn Delight', 'Gruss an Aachen', 'Moonbeam', and 'Vanity', growing and flowering VERY nicely despite the weather.

I drift, clipping away, mind relaxed. The climber that was supposed to be 'Altissimo' isn't and turns out to be 'Cocktail' but loses nothing in appreciation. 'Cocktail' is pretty and fits ok where she is. 'Veilchenblau' is off and running since she finished flowering. 'Mrs Richard Turnbull' is turning (as expected) into a giant, and grabs me as I pass... oww! I'll have to tie her long arms back!! Up the hill her sister, 'Margaret Turnbull' is more restrained, such a lovely colour.

Turning towards home as it's getting darker, must clip back the 'Crepuscules' a little so they flower in autumn. The 'Renae' weeper is flowering happily. Little blue-banded Australian native bees making a last foray on the Peruvian nightshade bush saying bzzt bzzt bzzt as they dive into each bloom. They are funny little things that have only appeared this year and are more than welcome.

Finally, near the house the 'Lorraine Lee' I savaged a few months back with the big shears is blooming away and needs a bit of deadheading. I lean forward and am engulfed in the most exquisite perfume -- a blend of delicate friesia in a cloud of sweetest apricot pink. I think ohhhh, and go back for more. No wonder she was once the most popular rose in Australia. Apart from the fact she brightens the winter days and seems to flower when the others rest through the year, and her lovely colour is unique to her alone, the perfume is such that you become addicted, and sniff until your nose can work no more. I thought a thank-you to Alister Clark for her, and with the dogs happy that I have at last finished my (to them) peculiar ramblings when we could have been curled up on the couch, go indoors to put away the pruners and grab a cup of tea. What a lovely way to spend a warm evening.