Creepy Crawlies

I’m writing I’ve written a book about gardening. It’s more about what not to do. I have a chapter on Creepy Crawlies. Climbers are the bane of my life. This is the growth of ONE WEEK. The Akebia (Chocolate Vine) is tendrilling up the back steps so quickly that I must fight my way past to take out the washing basket. As soon as I turn my back, it’s winding up the veranda and draping all over the lovely Star Jasmine as a second layer. I’m not quite sure what to do. I nip it in the bud as fast as I can to stop it taking over but it seems to have a mind of its own, suckering profusely. Visitors admire the lush growth, reassuring me that they quite like the effect after I apologise for my lack of keeping it in check. I do have a soft spot for rambling scrambling plants – climbing roses, snail creeper, honeysuckle, cup-and-saucer vine, jasmine, and the delicate, civilised Clematis. Did I mention roses? Arbours and arches laden with scented sweet roses and roses clinging to old stone walls. It sounds so idyllic - until you need to prune them. Please kick me in the shins if I mention I’d like to plant any more, otherwise I shall be swamped in a tangle.

Then there are happy outcomes like this. The Cherokee Rose – Senica Alba - doing its thing robustly where it belongs. This hardy specimen is in the right spot to shine, draping happily over this timber fence. It’s thorny branches are out of the way and look spectacular with an abundance of large single flowers and glossy greenery.