A Harrowing Experience: Tying up Maman Cochet, Cl in the wind

14 years ago

There I was up on a 6' ladder in the middle of Big Mama with my head and shoulders well up there among 3 or 4 very prickly canes. And the wind decided to blow. For a moment I didn't know if I was going to come out of it alive, but the wind subsided, and I was spared. I moved the ladder to the next spot, trying to avoid the soft soil around the base of the plant. On the 3rd step of the ladder straining to reach the 8' top of the trellis the front right leg of the ladder sank - suddenly. I grabbed the trellis - and then didn't, having little confidence in my own construction. I finished tying that section by shifting my weight to the left rear while reaching to the right front, having no clue where to land if everything were to fall out from under me. Now MC's cascading canes are again above head height and looking pretty good. The question is for how long?

Any scary rose experiences you can report?

Sherry

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Comments (4)

jerijen
14 years ago
No sane woman would self-peg, by herself, a fully-mature Mme. Isaac Pereire.
I could say I'd never try THAT again, but I remind myself that I single-handedly tied up 'Lady Carolina.' And anyone who knows her knows that L.C. is incredibly vicious.

Jeri
patriciae_gw
14 years ago
I love the word harrowing-easy to see how that came to be if you have seen a harrow-so appropriate to roses! I once got myself stuck in an under an enormous R. macrantha-incredible huge hooked thorns-I was removing old canes from underneath and got trapped by the hooks-could not move back out withough being shredded nor forward because I would be moving into the center-finally had to cut my way out. I take a phone with me now..can you imagine the 911 call?

patricia
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jacqueline9CA
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Once I was on top (yes, on the absolute top - completely awful "ladder safety" protocol, as my contractor husband pointed out - after this incident he gave me ladder safety lessons) of a 6 foot ladder, pruning & tying up a giant Sombreuil that was on an arch. Of course, I reached out too far, and completely FELL OFF THE LADDER - all the way down onto the brick patio. I screamed, of course, and I have never seen my husband run so fast - very exciting. Luckily, I had on my full regalia of rose pruning armor: water proof boots, denim gardening pants with built-in knee pads, a canvas painter's jacket, long leather gauntlet gloves, and a straw hat. The most important thing turned out to be that under the right glove I had on a carpel tunnel brace, which included a metal piece about 6 inches long that braced my wrist & extended down my forearm. That part of that arm landed right on the rim of a metal bucket (which was full of ashes). My arm should have been broken, but because of the brace it wasn't, and instead the steel bucket had a 2 inch indentation in the rim! Not bad scratches or bruises either, as the rest of me was so well padded. So, now I never go out to work in the garden without my full armor on, as you never know what bright idea will overtake you about climbing....

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14 years ago
I don't have a fear of heights, but I DO have a fear of falling, and that includes off a ladder. I will rarely go up very high unless I know it's super stable. I've heard of numerous people that have fallen off ladders, roofs, etc. and died. Glad you're fine, but be careful - everyone!

A Harrowing Experience: Tying up Maman Cochet, Cl in the wind

Comments (4)

jerijen

patriciae_gw

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jacqueline9CA

holleygarden Zone 8, East Texas

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