@Nollie I would love to see all your roses, even the ones you’ve posted before. Roses are too pretty to have only one picture posted here.. they deserve more than that, at all sort of angles. please don’t feel like you could only post the same rose once.
Regarding the chat on marketing and website image - i do shamefully admit that I’m a classic example of a millennial gardener - I base my purchases on pictures, ease of navigation of the vendor’s website and online reviews. Part of my reasoning is that if a nursery couldn’t be bothered to invest in a decent website with decent pictures (I mean, even an amateur iPhone photographer like myself could take better pictures than those shown on some of the nurseries’ websites) - then what does it say about their attitude, their customer service and the quality of their plants? If they couldn’t be bothered to make an effort then why should I, as a consumer do their job for them to convince myself I needed one of their roses.. unless one is a rose connoisseur of course.. which I may become one day, who knows 😛
I know that a big chunk of what I pay for DA roses goes into their marketing but for the sheer enjoyment of browsing through their website I think it’s worth it. Just my 2 cents..
@didyw Ah lovely, Id looked at that before, its gorgeous, might have to try it! Is it containable or a rampant spreader?
I must admit I was delighted to receive the DA handbook for the first time and the beautiful packaging on the bare root roses was lovely, they do scream quality. It made it quite an exciting experience, I bet they are lovely as gifts too.
Thanks @celcius_kkw, I am conscious of hogging this thread, but fully expect you guys to take over soon... you’re right it’s good to get various shots, including of the full bush, which is valuable, since most vendors don’t bother. I also agree with your 2 cents, certainly from the perspective of new rose growers and millennials used to slicker presentation. Those of us in the know can consult various sources such as non-UK sites and HMF, but I do feel like bashing some vendors over the head sometimes! As Marlorena said earlier, do they want to sell roses or not?!
Buds! Can you dislike a rose purely on it’s buds?
Seems ridiculously petty, but I really don’t like these dirty yellow buds on Eyes for You, in my strictly no-yellow purple, pink and white East garden. I’m not sure I am in love with it anyway, taste is a funny thing..
I do love these downy little buds on Excellenz von Shubert, but so far, I love the rose too. Of all my newbies, this is the one that most excites me the most, which was unexpected. It has small, modest blooms, a delightfully fresh fragrance, a delicate beauty that speaks to this old romantic and wonderfully healthy foliage to boot:
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Not sure if the geum will be rampant as I've only just planted them @JessicaS but I hope they do spread a bit. @newbie77 - what a lovely posy! We have a similar vase but ours is light blue. Yours is perfect for your flowers!
That's really pretty @newbie77, what a nice little arrangement.
Please hog the thread @Nollie, I love looking at everyone's photos and you have some beautiful roses.
Some of the earliest forming buds, those that appeared before the series of frosts, seem to have died/be dying off. I noticed they had not got any bigger in all these weeks and when I touched a couple they dropped off. Would the weather have caused this to happen does anyone know? I don't think I damaged them by meddling with them.
Would this be suitable as a regular liquid feed on other healthy roses. I bought it to improve a particular rose, but I've got most of it left now and would be a pity to waste it.
Has anyone got any good tips on dealing with/ preventing black spot? I have a hybrid tea rose “Andeli” in a pot by my shed and with all the rain it seems to be suffering a fair bit. I’ve had to resort to Rose Clear but I still find myself picking leaves off- it’s being slowly stripped and it’s about to come into flower.
@Victoria Sponge ..yes I've had that happen too.. weather damage, frost or wind.. little buds are quite tender and succumb.. I've photographed buds in March that dropped off by late April/May..
@peteS ..I would say yes, not a problem really, use it up.. I might use only half measures though..
@ciaranmcgrenera .. your 'Double Delight' rose, which is its commercial name, is prone to black spot.. I'm surprised you're seeing any so early as it's too cold really.. please show a photo if you can.. I cannot advise on sprays, someone else will have to do that... I just pick the leaves off and allow it to grow new ones, but this doesn't satisfy everyone.. hope your rose looks better later on..
@Nollie I think they should employ you.. your photos are superb and your descriptions to go with them are not only informative but I think, erudite, is the word I'm looking for.. You could sell roses... do you prefer The Prince to Munstead Wood?..
@JessicaS ..thanks again.. yes I use the Excelsior strain of Foxgloves, it's very tall and suitable for climbing roses and suchlike... also the Giant Spotted, and the white 'Alba' , all favourites here.. I often buy in early Spring, so they flower same year... with shrub roses I like the Dalmatian strain.. in various colours.. it's a bit shorter.. do give some a try, they really give that cottagey feel to a border..
Ah ok, thanks @Marlorena. I did think it was odd they hadn't got any bigger hence my investigative poking. Two steps forward and one step back at the mo!
Posts
Edit: in the kitchen now
I must admit I was delighted to receive the DA handbook for the first time and the beautiful packaging on the bare root roses was lovely, they do scream quality. It made it quite an exciting experience, I bet they are lovely as gifts too.
Seems ridiculously petty, but I really don’t like these dirty yellow buds on Eyes for You, in my strictly no-yellow purple, pink and white East garden. I’m not sure I am in love with it anyway, taste is a funny thing..
I do love these downy little buds on Excellenz von Shubert, but so far, I love the rose too. Of all my newbies, this is the one that most excites me the most, which was unexpected. It has small, modest blooms, a delightfully fresh fragrance, a delicate beauty that speaks to this old romantic and wonderfully healthy foliage to boot:
@newbie77 - what a lovely posy! We have a similar vase but ours is light blue. Yours is perfect for your flowers!
Please hog the thread @Nollie, I love looking at everyone's photos and you have some beautiful roses.
Some of the earliest forming buds, those that appeared before the series of frosts, seem to have died/be dying off. I noticed they had not got any bigger in all these weeks and when I touched a couple they dropped off. Would the weather have caused this to happen does anyone know? I don't think I damaged them by meddling with them.
..yes I've had that happen too.. weather damage, frost or wind.. little buds are quite tender and succumb.. I've photographed buds in March that dropped off by late April/May..
@peteS
..I would say yes, not a problem really, use it up.. I might use only half measures though..
@ciaranmcgrenera
.. your 'Double Delight' rose, which is its commercial name, is prone to black spot.. I'm surprised you're seeing any so early as it's too cold really.. please show a photo if you can.. I cannot advise on sprays, someone else will have to do that... I just pick the leaves off and allow it to grow new ones, but this doesn't satisfy everyone.. hope your rose looks better later on..
@Nollie
I think they should employ you.. your photos are superb and your descriptions to go with them are not only informative but I think, erudite, is the word I'm looking for..
You could sell roses... do you prefer The Prince to Munstead Wood?..
@JessicaS
..thanks again.. yes I use the Excelsior strain of Foxgloves, it's very tall and suitable for climbing roses and suchlike... also the Giant Spotted, and the white 'Alba' , all favourites here.. I often buy in early Spring, so they flower same year... with shrub roses I like the Dalmatian strain.. in various colours.. it's a bit shorter.. do give some a try, they really give that cottagey feel to a border..