My Love For English Roses

My husband has made it clear that he doesn't like roses. Oh, when they're in  bloom, he'll comment about how beautiful they are and "don't they smell nice?" But apparently, that's not enough to make him like them. I asked him just what it was that he disliked so much. "They've got nasty thorns."  Well, I'll give him that. But for me, roses are worth the thorns.

'Jubilee Celebration' - July 2007

About five years ago, Jackson & Perkins had a deal on David Austin English roses - five of their choosing for some ridiculously fabulous price.  My mom had schooled me on these special roses and I decided I must have some of them. So that summer, I planted 'Golden Celebration', 'Falstaff', 'Glamis Castle', 'Crown Princess Margareta', 'Jubilee Celebration', and 'Abraham Darby'. That's six, because J&P threw in 'Falstaff' for free.

Just what's so special about English roses?  They are the work of David CH Austin, a British rose breeder, who began hybridizing roses over 50 years ago, combining the form and scents of old roses with the repeat blooming of newer varieties. In my own garden, I've found them to generally be more resistant to common rose problems such as black spot too, although they make no claim as such.

'Falstaff' - July 2007
It's hard to photograph the true color of this one. It's more red than it appears
here. To see a more accurate rendition of its true color, click on the photo,
which will take you to the David Austin site.

I've loved my English roses, even though 'Abraham Darby' went to live in that great garden in the sky a few years ago. It didn't die; I just didn't like its weak stems. I don't know if that's characteristic of that one, but mine drove me crazy when it bloomed and the flowers pointed groundward. They were beautiful flowers too, but for me, that one just didn't work.

'Abraham Darby' - June 2007

I've been more than pleased with several of the others though. 'Glamis Castle' is especially lovely. It's extremely floriferous and sometimes the blooms resemble butterflies as they're opening. A pure white rose is a breathtaking thing of beauty.

'Glamis Castle' - October 2011

'Glamis Castle' - June 2007
See? Butterfly!

'Glamis Castle' - October 2011

Both 'Golden Celebration' and 'Crown Princess Margareta' are also heavy bloomers and are the most gorgeous shades of golden yellow and apricot, respectively.

'Golden Celebration' - July 2007

'Crown Princess Margareta' - July 2007

Last week, the folks at David Austin Roses sent me four new English roses to trial in my garden. That means they were free. I was beyond thrilled when that box came. I squealed like a little girl when I opened the box and there wasn't even anyone around to hear me.

I got the roses planted in my garden this week (after the record-setting heat subsided) and they're already beginning to put out new foliage. I look forward to seeing blooms on them before the summer's out.  Here are the David Austin images of my new roses:

'Skylark'

'Jubilee Celebration'

'Princess Anne'

'Christopher Marlowe'

If you're paying attention, you will notice that they sent 'Jubilee Celebration' and I already have that one. That's my fault. They asked me which ones I'd like to try and for some silly reason, I put that one down as one I would like. Well, I guess I really and truly like it, don't I?  I kept thinking the one I had was something else, until I checked the tag yesterday.

They have some deeper-colored ones that I'd love to add to my collection.  (I have enough to call it a collection now, don't I?)  They were out of those, so I'll have to order them early next year.  'Munstead Wood' is especially attractive:

'Munstead Wood'

I also love the deep orange shade (they call it "copper") of 'Pat Austin':

'Pat Austin'

For more information about David Austin English roses, visit their website.

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Though I was sent four roses free of charge, there was no requirement of me by David Austin Roses to write about or promote their product in any way.  They only asked that I try their two new varieties, 'Skylark' and 'Princess Anne' in my Zone 5 garden and report back to them on how they do. I wrote about them here because I love these roses.