@Daniel Rutherford I sent them an e-mail on Thursday and they responded yesterday and sent me the invoice. My order should be shipped next week. They communicate well, I recommend asking them if you want to be sure.
@edhelka good to know, I will email them tomorrow just to make sure!!
@Alchemist very nice choices, I have the first 3 of those and I also have royal jubilee on order. Lady of shallot is one of my favourites so far but I haven’t had enough time to judge desdemona or Kew gardens yet!!
@Daniel Rutherford thanks if only I could find the place. Had to reorganise and move every single plant in a border to get the 1st 4😓.
Good to know you are happy with lady of shallot. That’s the only rose I've not seen in being (only pics by Marlorena). I was leaning towards Jude which I have seen and really like.
I’m sure Kew and desdemona would do great at yours. These along with Ballerina and Bonica were the few that were full of flowers this Aug at Kew, whilst 50+ were without a bud and resting (rather disappointing to visit a rose garden during this period!). But was good to find out the ones with real fire power.
Possibly not the place to ask (so apologies if this is 'hijacking;') but since this seems like the 'rose thread' I thought it might work out without flooding the forum with yet another thread.
Long story short, due to various reasons a friend has been looking at buying some roses to try and brighten up some spots, as they quite like roses and they seem to grow alright in their garden even with the fairly minimal care they apparently get.
However they only have experience of hybrid teas, floribundas and patio roses (I have even less experience), whereas the ones they've decided to try are Shrub Roses, (Specifically 'Blythe Spirit' and 'Skylark' - David Austin roses).
Now obviously these are quite a bit bigger and denser/bushier than what they're used to, and I imagine as with most things the size guidelines offered are just that, guidelines.
Anyway, I just wanted to ask for any advice people would give specifically about pruning, spacing, care etc, and just how effectively you can limit their size if need be etc.
@Elothir ...that's ok, it's what this thread is for really, not only for pictures...
I grow 'Blythe Spirit' rose... I nearly got 'Skylark' this year but changed my mind... it does have quite large blooms on it, almost huge it seemed to me... I wonder why they've chosen these two roses... as they would not be amongst the front rank of David Austin roses.. but nevertheless they do have a certain charm... Blythe Spirit could almost be described as mutabile, due to its changing colours.... I should make your friends aware of that,.. it changes from canary yellow, through creamy white, to white flushed pink, all on the bush at the same time... I like it because it's unusual... ...it's also a carefree rose, and will grow in tough conditions and bloom all summer, when established... Skylark I have not grown...
Austin roses are tricky for beginners in my opinion, because they need some understanding and patience... they can be disappointing in the first year until the roots go down deep and provide them with all they need.. this takes time... you will not see them at their best until year 3, it's nearly always the same... this is quite different to hybrid teas and floribundas where you get almost instant gratification in the first year..
Maintenance is simple though... you don't need to prune at all for the first 2 or 3 years other than remove spent flowers.. just leave to develop their characters... later you can cut back by a third or so, or more.... with Blythe Spirit I actually use a grass shears and just shear the top off... it responds to this with vigour and masses of blooms... you can use conventional pruning if you wish... or cut back as much as the gardener feels is necessary... it's not a problem and nothing at all to worry about... best of luck ...
That was my main worry, that they might plant them in a spot that should be 'about right' and find they end up with a very vigorous, massive shrub swamping it's neighbours and/or otherwise having a detrimental effect, but be unable to really control/restrict it's size if necessary. But if that would just be a case of cutting it back as much as needed I'm sure they can manage that.
As for the patience, I don't think they need to worry on that front as last we spoke they were talking about expecting it to be years before they were mature/well established etc.
As to why those roses? I don't know, I assume something about them appeals. Personally I prefer the look of the 'single' flowered types (I find the fully doubled ones where you can't actually see inside the flower a bit over the top personally, but obviously everyone has their own tastes) but I wouldn't know a "front rank" rose if it hit me in the face probably.
So I decided against ordering from Europe and finished my rose orders today. I wanted to order some roses from Lens but decided against, for mostly cost and place reasons... maybe sometime in future.
The rest of my list are these:
'Alba Maxima' [alba] 'Belle de Crécy' [gallica] 'Souvenir de St. Anne's' [bourbon] 'Vick's Caprice' [hybrid perpetual] 'Crépuscule' [noisette, climber] 'Archduke Charles' [china] 'Super Excelsa' - weeping standard
It looks like tasting menu, I know I guess that's what it is. Together with 7 modern roses from TCL, it's going to be 14 new roses. And I was sure, in spring, that I don't have space for any more.
…only one of these is a DA rose... I think it's good to move away from them at times otherwise a garden will have too many of the same type..
...'Armada'... a large if rather odd looking bloom, but typical for this rose.. and so incredibly well named, deliberate or accidental I'm not sure.... 'Octavia Hill'... a continuous blooming Harkness rose... 'Armada' above is a parent..
'Scented Garden'... such pretty buds and so healthy... this is a remarkable rose.. and growing in my darkest corner...
'Mme. Antoine Mari' [Tea 1901]
'Blythe Spirit'... ...always producing buds... never stops till the winter sets in...
Salvia 'Amistad' has a long season, but I'm not sure how much I like it... I find it slightly depressing with its purple and black combination... I prefer bright colours and this depresses me somewhat... I only bought it because everyone raves about it..
Posts
2*Desdemona
Kew gardens
Ballerina
Royal Jubilee
Bonica
@Alchemist very nice choices, I have the first 3 of those and I also have royal jubilee on order. Lady of shallot is one of my favourites so far but I haven’t had enough time to judge desdemona or Kew gardens yet!!
ur garden will look very good next year!!
I’m sure Kew and desdemona would do great at yours. These along with Ballerina and Bonica were the few that were full of flowers this Aug at Kew, whilst 50+ were without a bud and resting (rather disappointing to visit a rose garden during this period!). But was good to find out the ones with real fire power.
Long story short, due to various reasons a friend has been looking at buying some roses to try and brighten up some spots, as they quite like roses and they seem to grow alright in their garden even with the fairly minimal care they apparently get.
However they only have experience of hybrid teas, floribundas and patio roses (I have even less experience), whereas the ones they've decided to try are Shrub Roses, (Specifically 'Blythe Spirit' and 'Skylark' - David Austin roses).
Now obviously these are quite a bit bigger and denser/bushier than what they're used to, and I imagine as with most things the size guidelines offered are just that, guidelines.
Anyway, I just wanted to ask for any advice people would give specifically about pruning, spacing, care etc, and just how effectively you can limit their size if need be etc.
I grow 'Blythe Spirit' rose... I nearly got 'Skylark' this year but changed my mind... it does have quite large blooms on it, almost huge it seemed to me... I wonder why they've chosen these two roses... as they would not be amongst the front rank of David Austin roses.. but nevertheless they do have a certain charm... Blythe Spirit could almost be described as mutabile, due to its changing colours.... I should make your friends aware of that,.. it changes from canary yellow, through creamy white, to white flushed pink, all on the bush at the same time... I like it because it's unusual...
...it's also a carefree rose, and will grow in tough conditions and bloom all summer, when established...
Skylark I have not grown...
Austin roses are tricky for beginners in my opinion, because they need some understanding and patience... they can be disappointing in the first year until the roots go down deep and provide them with all they need.. this takes time... you will not see them at their best until year 3, it's nearly always the same... this is quite different to hybrid teas and floribundas where you get almost instant gratification in the first year..
Maintenance is simple though... you don't need to prune at all for the first 2 or 3 years other than remove spent flowers.. just leave to develop their characters... later you can cut back by a third or so, or more.... with Blythe Spirit I actually use a grass shears and just shear the top off... it responds to this with vigour and masses of blooms... you can use conventional pruning if you wish... or cut back as much as the gardener feels is necessary... it's not a problem and nothing at all to worry about... best of luck ...
As for the patience, I don't think they need to worry on that front as last we spoke they were talking about expecting it to be years before they were mature/well established etc.
As to why those roses? I don't know, I assume something about them appeals. Personally I prefer the look of the 'single' flowered types (I find the fully doubled ones where you can't actually see inside the flower a bit over the top personally, but obviously everyone has their own tastes) but I wouldn't know a "front rank" rose if it hit me in the face probably.
'Belle de Crécy' [gallica]
'Souvenir de St. Anne's' [bourbon]
'Vick's Caprice' [hybrid perpetual]
'Crépuscule' [noisette, climber]
'Archduke Charles' [china]
'Super Excelsa' - weeping standard
Together with 7 modern roses from TCL, it's going to be 14 new roses. And I was sure, in spring, that I don't have space for any more.
...'Armada'... a large if rather odd looking bloom, but typical for this rose.. and so incredibly well named, deliberate or accidental I'm not sure....
'Octavia Hill'... a continuous blooming Harkness rose... 'Armada' above is a parent..
'Scented Garden'... such pretty buds and so healthy... this is a remarkable rose.. and growing in my darkest corner...
'Mme. Antoine Mari' [Tea 1901]
'Blythe Spirit'...
...always producing buds... never stops till the winter sets in...