My Blog List

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Rose Quest




I am not a grower of roses. 
Truth be known I am a little afraid of growing them. 
But then here on many of your blogs I was introduced to
 and then encouraged to grow David Austin roses.
 David Austin is a British hybridizer of roses with a USA location in Texas.


First I ordered a catalog from the Austin farm in Texas.
 Then I mulled over it for one year.


Finally I placed an order, by phone, in January of this year. 
Three bare root Princess Alexandra of Kent roses arrived at the end of February. 

I soaked them in water and placed them in a bed I had prepared with my own compost. 
The roses are shipped at the time that is appropriate for your zone.

This rose has 160 petals per bloom. 
Amazing.


Each rose bush is covered in buds and the scent is exquisite. 
My rose quest was more than worth it.

Thanks to all of you who said I could grow David Austin roses.

Now I am hatching plans for places to put more roses next year.
 It is perhaps a good and beautiful kind of madness.


Olive





30 comments:

  1. That is beautiful. I have the knockout rose bushes because they are easy to grow. I would love some with a good scent.

    ReplyDelete
  2. That is just gorgeous! My usual green thumb hates roses and African violets, for some reason. Your photos almost make me want to try roses again. So very pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Olive, Those roses look fabulous. I am not good with roses myself. Although I have tried about 4 kinds. The 3 I had suffered thru winter here. I wish you many bouquets. xoxo,Susie

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am a bit afraid of growing roses too. We did have them at our home in Tempe, AZ, but that is because the previous homeowner had planted them. Although I love roses... just not sure I will ever attempt them myself. Yours are gorgeous!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Those are just gorgeous!! You did an amazing job with the photography! Those are pretty enough to be framed!

    Judy

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am not sure I could venture beyond my Lady Banksia and my pink climbing rose. Yours are quite lovely - especially the numerous ruffled petals.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Girrrrl, you can grow ANY Thang! Honestly, these are beautiful! Mary, mary, quite contrary how does your garden grow???

    ReplyDelete
  8. SWOON Olive! I have a little rose fear too but adore David Austin roses! Your blooms & photos are spectacular ♥

    ReplyDelete
  9. Color and scent, these are gorgeous roses you are growing.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hello Olive,

    We know of David Austin Roses very well having grown many of the varieties ourselves and having visited the nursery many times. It is an amazing sight to see literally hûndreds upon hundreds of Roses of all sizes and colours growing profusely, the nursery, near Wolverhampton is well worth a visit.

    The best thing about these Roses is that one can have the old fashioned Rose scent and cabbage shape with the vigour of a modern Rose. So, they tend to be more disease free and easier to grow. However, some varieties have heavy heads on weak stems and so they tend to flop or break, especially in adverse weather. So, choosing sturdy, more compact varieties is best.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Lovely photos. I love roses too! They Are gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Olive,
    How funny that we both posted about David Austin roses !! Our back garden faces North so, roses don't do too well there { although, we do have a few ramblers that flower well.} but, the front of our house is south facing so my David Austin St. Swithuns, does really well there. They really are beautiful roses and, I love the old fashioned varieties and they do smell beautiful. The Hattatt's are right though ….. some varieties can get top-heavy and flop over sometimes.
    Sorry not to have been commenting so much lately ….. my husband is pretty poorly at the moment but, I will try to do better !! Lots of love. XXXX

    ReplyDelete
  13. Just beautiful! I love the pink color. Good for you for going for it. I remember being afraid to grow them myself years ago, before I wound up growing several different bushes, as well as two climbers. I have only planted one here since we've moved but would love to get a couple more in. The roses and hydrangeas are those things I miss most about our yard.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Those are the most exquisite rose photos! Wow. I'm scared of growing roses, too. My mom told me she has a rose bush for me that she bought me for Mother's Day (yes, my mom buys me and my sister MD gifts, lol)...uh oh. I hope mine does as well as yours!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I could almost cry looking at your pictures! I lost all my rose bushes in this frigid awful winter this year. I really need to order some and hope that they survive this time. David Austin has the most beautiful roses of all! xo Diana

    ReplyDelete
  16. They are absolutely gorgeous! I have trouble keeping my roses blooming in the summer because it just gets so hot. Keep us updated on how your roses are doing later in the season. Your pictures are amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Beautiful David Austin Pink Rose Olive . . . like the water drop photos too . . .

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh Olive,
    this rose is not a princess ... she is a QUEEN!!!! So beautiful. Thank you for sharing!
    All the best
    Eliisabeth

    ReplyDelete
  19. I have no doubt with your green thumb that your roses will be beautiful :-)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Those are absolutely beautiful! You have done well with your new venture into the Rose world! Enjoy the planning for more next season! Blessings, Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  21. Simply divine. What a gift from nature. I just purchased my first 3 David Austin roses. My hubby planted them this week. They have been on my wish list for a while. Your rose is breathtaking. Wish me luck with mine.

    Janet

    ReplyDelete
  22. Uh oh, now you'll be hooked! :) Your images are beautiful, and you will love having roses to bring into the house all summer long!

    xo Kat

    ReplyDelete
  23. Gorgeous - my MIL in SoCal grows roses - they would be far too much work here....

    ReplyDelete
  24. The photos of your rose are gorgeous, Olive. I love the colour, the raindrops and can imagine the wonderful fragrance!

    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  25. Beautiful rose!!! I don't grow roses...too much shade, but I live pretty near the rose farm! I think you ought to just come and pick up your roses :^) Just give me five minutes warning, and you would even have a place to stay :^)
    Blessings,
    J

    ReplyDelete
  26. Beautiful rose!!! I don't grow roses...too much shade, but I live pretty near the rose farm! I think you ought to just come and pick up your roses :^) Just give me five minutes warning, and you would even have a place to stay :^)
    Blessings,
    J

    ReplyDelete
  27. These David Austin roses are beautiful. I have never grown them..My roses have mostly come from Antique Rose Emporium. I am thinking I should look at these roses too..Yours have inspired me...and yes, it is so easy to get hooked on this marvelous and romantic flower..
    Love, Mona

    ReplyDelete
  28. I adore my David Austin roses, I have grown them for about 12 years now. Beautiful pink! I will have to check that one out,

    ReplyDelete
  29. Wow!I Love Beautiful fresh Roses.Thanks for sharing Good article.
    http://www.cakengifts.in/cake-delivery-in-chanakyapuri-delhi
    http://www.cakengifts.in/cake-delivery-in-chittaranjan-park-delhi
    http://www.cakengifts.in/cake-delivery-in-connaught-place-delhi

    ReplyDelete

I adore your comments. They are like finding unexpected chocolates. olive