R.I.P. David Austin

yorkshirerose

An amazing man, who  inspired so many people to grow his wonderful plants. So much time and patience has gone into the breeding of roses for which he become known worldwide.
Long may his name live on.

Ladybird4

I remember years ago taking my Mum to visit his beautiful gardens in Albrighton. I will never forget that day and the wonderful scents that filled the air. He has left a great legacy.

yorkshirerose

I was lucky enough to visit behind the scenes a few years ago on a business trip from the Garden Centre I work for, I saw all the stages of how new varieties are bred.
I know his roses may seem expensive, but after seeing the trial fields and greenhouses filled with thousands of carefully labelled 'possibilities' , they are worth every penny.
It was pouring down during my visit, yet there was a lady busy grafting scions on to root stocks in the field.
A different field showed the results of earlier grafts, with roses of all colours and fragrances in flower. Our host asked our party to try and select just one which would then be propagated and be a new rose. An impossible task, yet this is how David Austin works. One rose from hundreds, the rest would be ploughed in.
That day was wonderful.

Ladybird4

For some odd reason the post I typed appeared twice so I've deleted this one.

Ladybird4

It is very difficult to choose a rose when faced with so many beautiful cultivars and types. You were so lucky, yorkshirerose to see the very beginning of the process which takes years to produce just one plant of merit.

Guernsey Donkey2

I planted my first David Austin rose this week - Iceberg.  I must say that the quality and size of this plant far outweighed the extra few pounds that I paid for it.