Rose Buzz: Hearing from the hybridizers themselves!

September 19, 2015September 18, 2015 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

There were so many wonderful things about the American Rose Society Fall Convention, but one of the things I will never forget is meeting and hearing from the top hybridizers from around the world. They are without exception, amazing men dedicated to bringing us the most disease resistant, sustainable, beautiful roses.

You can hear from them too and get some information that is hot off the press!

Check out their video at the bottom of this page. 🐝

Here they are…

Will Radler: Father of the Knock Out family of roses and so much more. (Hear him tell his story on Rose Chat here.)

Alain Meilland, director of Meilland Roses of France who first brought us the Peace Rose.

Steve Hutton, president of Star Roses & Plants.

Michael Mariott, chief designer of David Austin Roses.

Thomas Proll, head of the rose breeding program at Kordes Roses.

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT

With all the new sustainable and beautiful roses coming out it has never been a better time to surround yourself with the beauty and the fragrance of roses. Whether you have a big yard or a patio, there are roses to fit every spot. I can tell you there is nothing quite like picking your own roses to add to the dinner table or to take to a friend.

And, there is no better way to learn about roses than to join the American Rose Society. We have just installed Pat Shanley and Bob Martin as our President and Vice President and there are none more qualified or more excited about what the future holds. None are more committed to bringing us the very best.

Jump over to ROSE.ORG and take a look around … then SIGN UP! The American Rose magazine that you will receive bi-monthly and the newsletters you will receive bi-monthy will entertain, inspire and educate you as you learn and grow with roses.

If you have any questions, I would be happy to help.

🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝

David Austin Enchantment Continues

February 2, 2014 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

I am putting in another David Austin bed this year. I know. I know. This is not a big surprise, but aren’t you just a little curious about which ones I chose to plant in the new bed? There are hundreds of beauties to choose from and they’re all beautiful.

Boscobel

What David Austin Says:
Boscobel’ bears beautifully formed flowers of rich salmon colouring. They commence as red buds which open at first to pretty cups, gradually developing into perfectly formed blooms of classic rosette formation. The numerous small petals are of varying shades, mingling to provide a most pleasing effect.

Why I Chose: Michael Marriott of David Austin said it was amazing. He has never steered me wrong. Rose Chat interview with Michael … here.

Golden Celebrations

What David Austin Says: This is one of the largest-flowered and most magnificent of our English Roses. Its color is rich golden yellow and the flowers are in the form of a giant, full-petalled cup. It has excellent shapely growth, forming a nicely rounded, slightly arching shrub with ample foliage. It is very reliable and easy to grow. An ideal rose to mark any celebration or important event.

Why I Chose: I have succumbed once again to rose envy. All the pictures on Facebook and Twitter made this decision for me.

The Generous Gardener

What David Austin Says: A rose of delicate charm – its flowers being beautifully formed; their color a soft glowing pink at the center, shading to palest pink on the outer petals. When the petals open they expose numerous stamens, providing an almost water lily-like effect. It has strong, elegantly arching growth with polished dark green foliage. This rose would produce a wonderful effect towards the back of the border. It will also make an excellent climber.

Why: It was a wonderful Christmas gift!

The Ingenious Mr. Fairchild

What David Austin Says: The flowers are in the form of deep cups filled with crisp, upstanding petals – similar to those of peonies. The colour on the inside of the petals is a deep pink touched with lilac; the outside is of a paler shade. Looking at the bloom in more detail, one can see that the edges are an even deeper pink, giving a most delightful fringed effect – particularly in the earlier stages.

The growth is ideal with spreading, arching branches building up into a well-rounded, mounding shrub; its flowers nicely poised on its branches. It is very healthy and harmonises beautifully with other plants and perennials in a mixed border.

Why: This is another wonderful Christmas gift. Someone loves me.

Darcey Bussell

What David Austin says: Its beautiful flowers are produced freely and with excellent continuity. When young, their outer petals form a perfect ring around an inner cup; gradually opening out to form a perfect rosette. The color is a deep rich crimson that takes on a tinge of mauve just before the petals drop.

Why I Chose: Big winner at the Biltmore Trial. And, did you notice the color?? Basically, I just couldn’t live without it. 🙂

Do you grow David Austin roses? Have a favorite?

Here is a favorite David Austin from last summer…

Charlotte

David Austin Gardens
To see a video of the beautiful David Austin gardens read on.

2014 Rose Introductions: David Austin

October 2, 2013October 2, 2013 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

David Austin English roses with their old world fragrance and form are modern roses that are so reminiscent of the old gallicas, musk and bourbon roses that I love. The English Roses are some of my favorites — mixing old with new is what my cottage garden is all about.

Every year for the past 20 years I get completely giddy when it is time for the new English rose introductions and I am never disappointed. This year’s introductions are exquisite and are promptly going on my wish list!

Take a look…

Boscobel-a classic English Rose with pretty cupped flowers that evolve over time from deep salmon to deep pink, and a delightful myrrh fragrance with hawthorn character laced with hints of elderflower, pear and almond.

Heathcliff-a brilliant new deep crimson addition to this hard-to-achieve color range, with a beautifully shaped flower and singular fragrance of Tea Rose and Old Rose played off a minor base note of elegant dry woody cedar.

Tranquillity-a glistening white rose in a perfectly rounded rosette shape, with a crisp light apple fragrance.

Royal Jubilee-a stand-out beauty even amongst other English Roses, Royal Jubilee’s luscious, large, deep pink semi-double flowers are presented on an airy upright bush of exceptional strength.

The Lark Ascending-a very different look in an English Rose, with gently cupped flowers of just 22 petals in a heavenly warm apricot shade splashed with gold at the centers.

Michael Marriott

This week on Rose Chat we had the pleasure of Michael Marriott of David Austin English Roses as our guest. He brought us up to date on David Austin, Sr., the new introductions and provided us with many tips for getting our roses off to a good start and keeping them healthy. You may listen to the podcast here.

It’s been said more than once that I might have a crush on Mr. Austin Sr. 🙂 … I wrote about that here.

Are you beginning to start your 2014 wish list?

A Rose A Day: Graham Thomas

June 23, 2013June 23, 2013 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

Graham Thomas is one of the roses that put me in the winner’s circle at the Indianapolis Rose Show last week! (See pics of the Rose Show here.)

This rose is a rich, radiant yellow David Austin English Rose with a strong tea fragrance. If you want to grow this rose, know that he is very hardy and is sometimes grown as a climber so give him some room or be prepared to keep him trimmed.

For more details on this lovely shrub rose … read on.

The Naming of This Rose

This rose was named for Graham Stuart Thomas an English horticulturalist, garden designer, rosarian extraordinaire and one of the most influential gardeners of the 20th century. He actually chose this rose to be named for him.

Another fun fact about Graham Stuart Thomas — he was was mentored by none other than Gertrude Jekyll. He was starting his career as she was finishing hers so it was a match made in heaven.

His book, The Graham Stuart Thomas Rose Book, is a comprehensive reference on roses –especially historical roses.

Back to the Winner’s Circle…

After…

I was in the company of greatness….

Our society has some wonderfully talented rose growers, arrangers and exhibitionist! — Amazing!

Look at all this beauty! Our rose society is filled with wonderfully talented rosarians!

A Rose A Day: Mary Rose

June 2, 2013June 10, 2013 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

Mary Rose … David Austin English Rose

Mary Rose blooms have lovely old rose form and strong old rose fragrance-with a hint of honey says David Austin “Rose Nose” Michael Marriott.

It is considered one of the most widely grown English Roses. This rose is a very strong bloomer for me and does very well in my mixed rose border. I do keep my eye on her for signs of black spot. It can happen!

This lovely rose is one of the first to bloom in the spring and also will bloom way into the fall!

David Austin and Me

November 9, 2012August 8, 2013 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

For the past 20 years I have had a secret crush. His name is David Austin. He lives in England. He grows roses. Actually, he creates roses. He even created a new kind of rose … English roses … blending Old Garden Roses for form and fragrance with modern roses for repeat blooming and increased range of color. To me that is the perfect combination! Who wouldn’t be smitten!

My favorite one (for the moment) is Charlotte or is it Gertrude Jekyll … or it could be Mary Rose or Crocus Rose on any given day. All are beautiful, charming and sooooo fragrant.

Recently I had the pleasure of speaking with Michael Marriott of David Austin Roses on Rose Chat Radio who talked about the new releases for 2013. Listen here.

NEW RELEASES

Wollerton Old Hall

Wollerton Old Hall is the most fragrant new variety and, indeed, one of the most fragrant of all English Roses. Its distinctive strong myrrh scent has a delicious citrus element. Plump buds, with attractive flashes of red, open to form beautiful chalice-shaped blooms of soft apricot, eventually paling to cream. It forms a particularly healthy and bushy shrub with few thorns.

Lady Salisbury

Lady Salisbury exhibits great Old Rose charm, with some of the character of the Alba Roses. Rich rose pink buds open to reveal pure pink flowers, which gradually become a softer shade as the flowers age. There is a light fragrance. ‘Lady Salisbury’ flowers with remarkable continuity from early summer on.

Fighting Temeraire

Fighting Temeraire is a very different English Rose. The fully open flowers are very large at 4” to 5″ across, each with only 12 petals. The flowers are a rich apricot color with an area of yellow behind the stamens which later pales to a soft yellow-apricot.

England’s Rose

England’s Rose is a particularly tough and reliable variety. Deep glowing pink flowers are held in large clusters, the outer petals eventually reflexing back to reveal an attractive button eye.

The Lady’s Blush

The Lady’s Blush is a charming semi-double variety with delicate natural beauty. The flowers start as elegant pointed buds and develop into rounded cups in pure soft pink with a creamy white eye and often a white stripe.

Queen Anne

Queen Anne is a rose of classic Old Rose beauty, but rather more in the direction of the Centifolias or Bourbons. The medium-sized flowers are pure rose pink, the outer petals only slightly paler than the central ones. In habit, ‘Queen Anne’ is quite upright and bushy, with few thorns.

DAVID AUSTIN GARDENS

Visiting this amazing garden is definitely on my “bucket list”.

If you’d like to see a recent video of the David Austin gardens in England, watch this…