That was exactly my experience @Topbird - I thought I didnt like roses either until my local garden centre experimented with a small selection of potted David Austins. The local market didnt really take to them (they love their tea roses), but I bought an RD Braithwaite for my OH who wanted a red rose and suddenly I was hooked. Im still very much a novice rose grower, but he opened up a whole new world to me. Im not sure if I should be grateful or not, this rose malarky is an extremely addictive and expensive habit!
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Isn't it just! Apart from a Kiftsgate baby I brought with me and a couple of roses bred by a Belgian rose grower who also specialises in DA roses, and another bought here as a gift, all mine are DA roses. No doubt more will follow......
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I now mostly buy mine from a Dutch grower, Obelixx, which is about a third of the price than buying them direct from DA. I do have a guilty twinge about that sometimes as I do appreciate the huge cost and expertise of decades of R&D by Austins. I guess, like your Belgian supplier, they must be licenced to sell them though...
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Nollie - My Belgian supplier sold me rooted, potted DA roses that he knew were hardy enough for an Ardennes winter for the same price as I had previously paid for bare root roses direct from DA with postage to pay on top. He happily brought the roses for me to pick up from my favourite spring plant fair and offered advice on after care. One of his roses that I have - Breathless Charm - has DA rose Graham Thomas as a parent.
Happy to say I have found a supplier for DA roses here too and am expanding my range. Slowly discovering other more local roses and growers too as I visit gardens here but DA for perfume every time.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
@Topbird I had a school friend who's father did the same thing, wide bed down one side of the garden with only roses in them, very boring or so I thought at the time. We don't have many in our garden but they repeat flower all year in fact one still has flower on it now. Great value. RIP-DA
It is always sad to lose a gardener with a lifetime and wealth of knowledge. Some leave a bigger legacy than others, but they are all important. A life well lived is a common phrase. But if I say it, it is a heartfelt sentiment and well meant. We bought Snow Goose last year. I love it. Thank you Mr Austin
I think a fitting gesture to Mr Austin Snr, would be to highlight his very first rose introduction, which he bred in the late 1950's from a batch of seedlings he grew in his modest 8' x 6' shed in his back garden, and introduced in 1961 called 'Constance Spry'... which caused a sensation at the time in the rose world...
I include a famous photo below because it was this rose that another famous rosarian called Steve Jobs, founder of Apple and later the Pixar Studios in California, planted along a 100 metre walkway.... the late Mr Jobs loved roses, especially this one... perhaps he got the bug for roses because of his Syrian ancestry.. Damask [Damascus] roses are still grown today..
This rose was also made famous by the planting behind a seat at the world renowned NT garden at Mottisfont Abbey in Hampshire... and it can be found in so many public photos as a result...
Whatever... here is the en masse planting of 'Constance Spry' at Pixar... now sadly gone too like Mr Jobs and Mr Austin...
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Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I don't have a David Austin rose, but can't fail to be impressed by his impact and dedication. RIP.
Happy to say I have found a supplier for DA roses here too and am expanding my range. Slowly discovering other more local roses and growers too as I visit gardens here but DA for perfume every time.
RIP-DA
Some leave a bigger legacy than others, but they are all important.
A life well lived is a common phrase. But if I say it, it is a heartfelt sentiment and well meant.
We bought Snow Goose last year. I love it.
Thank you Mr Austin
I think a fitting gesture to Mr Austin Snr, would be to highlight his very first rose introduction, which he bred in the late 1950's from a batch of seedlings he grew in his modest 8' x 6' shed in his back garden, and introduced in 1961 called 'Constance Spry'... which caused a sensation at the time in the rose world...
I include a famous photo below because it was this rose that another famous rosarian called Steve Jobs, founder of Apple and later the Pixar Studios in California, planted along a 100 metre walkway.... the late Mr Jobs loved roses, especially this one... perhaps he got the bug for roses because of his Syrian ancestry.. Damask [Damascus] roses are still grown today..
This rose was also made famous by the planting behind a seat at the world renowned NT garden at Mottisfont Abbey in Hampshire... and it can be found in so many public photos as a result...
Whatever... here is the en masse planting of 'Constance Spry' at Pixar... now sadly gone too like Mr Jobs and Mr Austin...