This weekend sees us celebrate Father’s Day. While I’m not sure this is true in the UK, in the States, the flower that has come to symbolise Father’s Day is the rose.

In some countries people can be seen even wearing roses on Father’s Day, with red roses usually signifying a father that is still living while white roses represent a father who has passed on.

So, have you got your father a gift yet? If not, why not nip out and buy him a lovely rose shrub for the garden.

I’ve got a few in my garden, with a couple looking really wonderful at the moment. The first is Tess of the D’Urbervilles. It is a striking climber bearing large, deeply cupped, bright crimson-red blooms, with a pleasing Old Rose fragrance. It is a relatively compact climber clothed in large, dark green leaves. I was given mine by two friends, Liz and Linda, who usually volunteer in the garden when we open to the public. It’s growing around the green folly door in the back garden.

The other is a beautiful rose, whose buds appear almost pale orange and then open out to display magnificent blooms that move from light to dark pink. It’s a rose that I was given and never knew the name of. Visitors to the garden have told me that it is most likely called Double Delight, whatever its name, it is pretty stunning.

A garden that opens for the National Garden Scheme, that is renowned for its stunning displays of roses, is open tomorrow too. Ringmer Park, near Lewes, has been developed over the last 35 years as the owner’s interpretation of a classic English country house garden. It extends over approaching eight acres and comprises 15 carefully differentiated individual gardens and borders which are presented to optimise the setting of the house, close to the South Downs. Roses are planted throughout the garden, over 600 in number with three main areas specifically devoted to them. The garden opens from 2pm to 5pm with entry £5 and refreshments available. The perfect afternoon trip for your dad, full details at www.ngs.org.uk

This week, we have seen a build-up of visitors booking to see Driftwood. It is quite nice seeing small groups of people and I’m sure the visitors appreciate having the garden to themselves to explore and enjoy tea and cake. If you plan to visit but have not yet arranged it, why not get in touch and sort out a date or go to the National Garden Scheme website and book one of our three open dates for them.

Read more of Geoff’s garden at www.driftwoodbysea.co.uk