31/05/15 Rosemary Cleave inspects the blooms at the rear of the property. In 1972 Noel (76) and Rosemary (73) Cleave planted a single wisteria vine
31/05/15 Rosemary Cleave inspects the blooms at the rear of the property. In 1972 Noel (76) and Rosemary (73) Cleave planted a single wisteria vine to brighten up the house they were renovating. Forty-three years later the plant has become so huge, enveloping all four sides of their home with stunning blooms, that the couple now say their home could implode. Noel said: ÒIn 1968, We bought two cottages, which had been derelict for 14 years and began turning them into our family home. They were freezing cold and when we first moved in with our two children. I remember the the water glasses freezing overnight. ÒI planted the wisteria vine two years later. Since then itÕs grown right around the house. ÒItÕs so huge that if it shrank for any reason, the whole house could implode!Ó he exlaimed. ÒEach year the new shoots grow about 20 ft. It takes a lot of work and I have to prune it for two days twice a year; in June and again January. ÒWe get passers-by stopping all the time to take photographs C especially Americans. And people are always asking us for cuttings. ÒI planted another one nine years ago on the patio and thatÕs doing very well tooÓ he added. The cottages were built on the Roman road known as the Fosse Way next to a small river in Crudwell, near Malmesbury, Wiltshire. They are thought to date back to the 1800s and are believed to have once been farmers cottages. ÒWe bought them at a time when everything was cheap around here - it was a once in a lifetime investment.Ó said Noel. All Rights Reserved: F Stop Press Ltd. +44(0)1335 418629
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Photo credit: © Rod Kirkpatrick / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
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Keywords: cleave, cottage, crudwell, flowers, fsp, garden, malmesbury, noel, press, rosemary, stop, wiltshire, wisteria, wysteria
