English rose, Sir Edward Elgar
I
have a confession to make… I don’t like rose gardens. Or let me qualify that –
I didn’t like rose gardens. The roses are regularly spaced apart, and a
good distance at that; all the plants are the same size; the foliage is the
same and the flowers tend towards the top of the plant.
English rose, Portmeiron
When
I first moved in to this house there were some roses along the driveway,
somewhat neglected but blooming away. I was going to take them out, and then I
had a revelation. Those plants had survived 5 years of neglect with no summer
watering… therefore they were drought tolerant! And with the ever present
threat of harsh water restrictions they met my major criteria for a plant in my
new garden.
David Austin rose, Golden Celebration
This
was the beginning of a journey into rose discovery, and for starters I wanted a
rose garden that didn’t look like the rose gardens I don’t like. I wanted a
rose garden that looked like a normal garden - plants jammed in and growing
into one another, lots of foliage, and flowers all over. And this is where I
discovered shrub roses. I read a David Austin book borrowed from my local
library (it is at my house very regularly and here at the moment if you’re looking
for it). In it he recommends close planting to create the effect of a large
shrub – about 500 mm apart (around 20 inches). Close plant a rose? You can do
that? Apparently so. And this from an expert.
Hybrid tea, Ian Thorpe
So
why am I telling you all this in a post about a visit to a rose nursery. It’s
because I bought more roses to put in and I’m looking to excuse myself. Just
following David’s advice.
English rose, Wise Portia
David Austin’s Ambridge rose
A blooming camellia hedge
