NOVEL NEXT 23: Creating a Rose Garden
In the previous story, if you thought autumn had ended, I’m sorry!
This autumn, there’s still one big job left.
It’s not the year-end big cleaning, okay?
Now that it’s the season for thick jackets, I’ve decided to start making the front yard for visitors.
First, I’m planning to plant roses along the pathway from the front gate to the entrance.
Since it’s a noble family, the paths within the property are cobblestone.
There are many unpaved roads outside the property, like the main roads.
I wonder if they considered the burden on the horse’s legs during gallops and runs?
Carriages would find paved roads easier to travel on, I think.
Oh well, never mind.
I’m neatly lining up bricks made at the skill factory along the edges of the cobblestone.
Of course, the little lower-level spirits are helping out enthusiastically.
Thank you so much!
Keep up the good work!!
It’s the pinnacle of relying on others.
Yeah, yeah.
I’m neatly stacking them in three layers and firmly securing them. There’s mortar-like stuff prepared too.
Wow, my skill workers are amazing.
What can I say? It’s a beautifully finished job like a pro’s work!
As usual, I’m tilling and loosening the soil behind the bricks.
This time, it’s magic all the way!
About two meters wide for the hedge, I think that’s good?
This part is fine. I’ll finish it up later.
Next, I’ll prepare the foundation for the garden’s promenade. It’s like a walking path to the gazebo?
It’s a stylish garden path!
The gazebo and arches have already been made by craftsmen according to the plan.
No mistakes in my plan.
Once the promenade is done, I’ll make the flower beds. Building the foundation is a diligent task.
But I don’t dislike working with soil. I actually like the smell of soil.
Good soil has a nice smell to it.
It’s taken me a few days to get this far. Since the garden area is quite large, the work is tough.
And today, I’m going to plant the seedlings.
First up, the main roses!
I created roses in my botanical garden beforehand.
In this world, I think there are only original species roses or once-blooming old roses.
Actually, even in the medieval world over there, there shouldn’t have been roses like those today.
The history of modern roses is only about 150 years old.
Old roses are roses for intermediate to advanced growers, with many white and pink roses, and the red ones are more purplish-red than deep red.
This time, I created modern roses, attempting to reproduce the types I cultivated in my past life.
There are purple and deep red roses.
Since many modern roses are registered varieties, you can’t sell or give away those propagated by cuttings.
Sorry for copying in this distant world.
Modern roses are resistant to diseases and easy to grow now, but I’ve struggled a lot with powdery mildew and black spot diseases.
And insects eat them freely.
I hate the final boss, the sawyer bug!
Sorry, I got carried away.
Despite having thorns, roses don’t defend themselves at all.
Those thorns were meant to prick the people caring for them!
Still, I’m really happy when they bloom, and all the hard work and scars on my hands feel worth it.
Well, pests and diseases are the same for any plant.
But, however!
There are spirits in my garden now, so no pests or diseases!
With purification magic and low maintenance, it’s the best!
I’m going to temporarily place the large potted roses along the pathways and flower beds.
I’ll plant shrub roses along the pathways, staggering them back slightly and training them on obelisks. By creating height differences, it gives depth to the view.
On the garden’s promenade, I’ll use evenly spaced arches to train climbing roses. Between those arches, I’ll install obelisks, place bush roses at the base, and arrange various types of roses everywhere.
The larger shrubs will be towards the back of the garden.
That’s the plan for deciding locations and checking the placement balance.
“Doesn’t it look nice?” I ask Guri and Poko, my assistant site supervisors, who nod with their hands on their chins and give a thumbs-up.
“Alright, it’s a go!”
“Let’s start planting!”
The lower-level spirits move in a rush, sparkling and bustling—it feels like a fairy tale.
Of course, I’m helping too.
But hey, I’m the undisputed champion of slowness in this job, so what?
Tom and the servants who had free time also lent a hand.
After planting, I mulch around the base with compost and Kuu generously waters them.
I’ll also plant perennial flowers, carefully considering their flowering times, colors, and height differences.
Clematis, Christmas roses, astilbes, gauras, heucheras, sage, bugleweed… There are so many cold-resistant perennials, the list goes on.
Let’s plant them all.
Hehe.
Hehehehe.
I haven’t forgotten bulb plants either. Tulips, daffodils, anemones, hyacinths, lilies, and so on.
On the outer wall side, I’ve placed hostas and hydrangeas that can grow in partial shade.
I haven’t forgotten the edible fruit tree area either, with blueberries, blackcurrants, and others. Of course, I’ve planted apple and peach seedlings too. I’ve also trained emerald-colored grape vines on the pergola of the grape trellis.
The areas where I didn’t plant this time will have annuals planted next spring.
I’ll lay sod near the mansion and pave the promenade with cobblestones. I’ve created patterns by varying the colors of the stones. Yeah, it looks stylish!
Finally, I’ll clean up and it’ll be done.
I did it!
I’m satisfied. Yes, yes.
Right now, it’s still a garden with little greenery, but by early summer next year, it should be lush with foliage.
Technically, this completes my Natural Rose Garden. It’ll probably be a garden style unfamiliar in this world.
No doubt everyone will be amazed come early summer next year!
I’m looking forward to it too!
And with this, my gardening for this year is finally over.
Here comes another long winter.