An Idolatrous Pilgrimage to the

As this was the year of the rose what more could a rose enthusiast do but than go on a  rose pilgrimage of rose, a tour of some of the best roses gardens of England.

Having seen many beautiful rose gardens: Portland rose garden, Heirloom Old Garden roses, Peter Beales roses, Mannington Hall, but the one rose garden that to me, sets the standard for fragrance and beauty is the David Austin Rose Nursery in Albrighton, Shropshire, England. If you are passionate about roses then this is the place for you.

The David Austin rose nursery is approximately a 2 hour drive north out of London. The nursery is well signposted courtesy of a series of brown cultural/historical signs that lead one off a major motorway all the way to one’s chosen destination, and in my case a destination that exemplifies rose heaven.

The nursery itself is situated along a country lane amidst rolling green hills and grazing sheep, a sight worthy of a Constable painting. As we entered the nursery we were greeted by a mass of crimson roses that adorned the nursery parking lot a colorful, fragrant teaser of the wondeful riches to come.

David Austin is to roses what Mozart is to Music, Michaelangelo is to art, and David Beckham is to soccer:

While awaiting my host, technical director, Michael Marriott I literally stumbled across David Austin himself. The gentleman graciously allowed me take his picture and gave insight into his newest rose, The Mayflower, a rose worth trying in my zone 3-4 Alaskan home due to its hardy Martin Frobisher heritage. Well coming all the way from Alaska does has its merits! From our conversation  one could easily understand how David Austin has started a Renaissance of sorts in the rose world, by his obvious passion and tireless indefatigible pursuit for more fragrant and more disease resistant roses. One can also see how this passion has brought such joy to so many rose growers.

Michael Marriott explained that for this year’s hybridizing operation nearly 250,00 crosses were completed leading to 150,000 seeds. Nearly 50 % of these seeds germinated. The pollen is kept overnight at 70 degrees before being applied to the parent rose using small paintbrushes. The immensity of this hybridizing operation was definitely nothing to sneeze at.

From here the seedlings are grown on to ascertain which ones are the most pleasing to the eye and worth growing in the test fields. Here they are subjected to all the elements including disease. It is here that the final selection is made. Truly, most of the roses in the test gardens were outstanding and like cats at an animal shelter one would sorely be tempted to want to take them all home.

As we returned to the main rose gardens one just has to stop and admire the awe-inspiring beauty of these gardens, the multitude of fragrances and profusion of blooms. Like a wine taster at a Bordeaux festival imbibing in the myriad of perfumes almost caused an olfactory overload. Touring these gardens is an experience to cherish, one that could have inspired the Romatic poet John Keats to compose the phrase, “a thing odf beauty is a joy for ever.” One can see why David Austin recommends growing three of more of the same variety as the rose were rich in number of blooms. The individual gardens Sculptures complemented the roses admirably, or did the rose complement the sculptures. Although all the roses looked spectacular, a few favorites did emerge:

The Mayflower rose it is believed is completely resistant to powdery mildew and blackspot, and fragrant too. In cold climates Michael Marriott suggested planting roses in at a 45 degree angle to encourage more shoots and the rose to develop its own roots. maybe this method might be worth trying in milder climastes too.

Another new Austin variety that could be hardy in cold climates is Lochinvar, a repeat flowering Scottish hybrid that will give Stanwell Perpetual a run for its money. Lochinvar should be available in the US in a year or so.

Jubilee Celebration is a rose to seek out: First there is the color, like an Alaskan sunset Jubilee Celebration is a warm salmon-pink.Then there is the fragrance, fruity, yet rose-like. It is infinitetly intoxicating fragrance. Again, like many recent Austin introductions this rose is expected to be very healthy. Although not yet available in the US, Jubilee Celebration, I am certain will become one of the best Austin roses ever.

The rose, Benjamin Britten honors a famous English composer and conductor. This rose too has an interesting color, red/orange. Michael Marriott describes this rose’s perfume like Pear Drops, an English hard candy that smells and tastes of Pears. To my less sophisticated nose the Benjamin Britten rose has a frgrance reminiscent of that wonderfully fragrant hybrid tea, Fragrant Cloud. Although not quite good enough to eat Benjamin Britten is certainly good enough to savour.

Two other roses that left a lasting impression were the crimson roses, Falstaff and the rose that first caught my eye in the nursery parking lot, William Shakespeare 2000. Both roses both have good fragrance again fragrant and an alluring crimson color that has the eye appeal of LD Braithwaite, an Austin rose that always stands out in a crowd.

Leaving the David Austin nursery is a most difficult task as one would rather linger there for a least a few days.

This was not so much a garden tour, it was an idolotrous pilgrimage, an experience to savour like the memory of a great vintage claret. To anyone who loves fragrant roses, do visit to the David Austin nursery.

The David Austin nursery is an intoxicating and sublime rose-lover’s paradise,  breathakingly beautiful, and free to boot.





Night Phlox - Zaluzianskya smells like powdered sugar at night. Again, start it in peat pots or where you want to enjoy it because it can be difficult to transplant.

Most of the seeds mentioned above can be obtained very inexpensively from
THE FRAGRANT PATH
P.O. Box 328
Fort Calhoun, Nebraska 68023

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