Roses & Strawberries, Happy Companions?

I needed somewhere to transplant the strawberries I'd removed to plant peas. They sat in a flat first near the garden, then near the recycling bin. I weeded around the roses and thought, why not? Strawberries may be shade-tolerant, and if nothing else provide a shallow mat.This is before I did any research.

The soil below the roses is very loose. Partially because they are planted on the top edge of a hill and the soil is sliding down.

I asked google if you can plant strawberries and roses together? Gardenweb forum says strawberries like slightly acidic soil and partial shade - which the 20-year old rose plants can provide. And strawberries are aggressive rooters - which the old rose plants will be able to handle with no effort. Yet Gardening Channel says strawberries require 6-10 hours of direct sun. They also say not to grow strawberries where roses once were (along with nightshades and raspberries) to avoid sharing diseases. They don't specify what those diseases are.

Well, the deed has been done. Now I will watch the plants develop. See if the flowers become berries. See if the leaves turn yellow or mottled brown. Fun & games.

Pruning Play

So last weekend I pruned the roses, fairly hardcore. When my roommate saw them she was like - they look so ugly now! I was like it's OK, now they will show a burst of fresh energy and grow even more beautiful. At least that's what I've heard. From more than one source. So I have been watching this all week and this appears true for several of the plants. Although the climbing rose plant does not look too happy. I now have many cuttings being stored in a bucket that I will plant around the property. Here are some before/after pictures.

Lot's of buds and diseased leaves. I cut that down and found:

Pruning leaves you so naked...

With a burst of good energy for the better to come (growth from only a week long!)

In other pruning news, I took care of the berries, and my hair, but not yet the grapes. I also put in all these transplants: red kale, purple mizuna and purple rapa asian greens, golden and red sage, catnip, flashback calendula, imperial star and purple italian artichoke. The purple italian artichoke is choking! I keep it in my thoughts.