Members Roses 2018

I've just been browsing an email from David Austins bare root roses.

I refrained from my usual looking, admiring and making out a list. No doubt about it, some most beautiful roses. No wonder DA must be the world's richest grower/breeder. At nearly eighteen quid a root to twenty plus pound.

Made me wonder. If I or anyone else purchased several bare root roses from DA and had the misfortune that a few died. This does happen even to the experts. I wonder just how easy it would be to get a refund. So I have to sit, look and admire. Sadly HM Gov. Don't allow for such luxuries with my pensions. Enjoy your garden.

 

I would never spend good money on David Austin roses. They are far too expensive and the quality of the shrubs are no better than those from the couple of nurseries I currently use - which are also half the price.

Beautiful roses @Tetters. Is the fourth from bottom 'Lucky!' ?

 

Returning to the email. Some notes quoted said basically. Although some of the bare root plants may appear spindly, these will grow good in time.

My thoughts.......How long is TIME?

If I may relate something of a rose story.
It must have been in the 70's, when the IRA bombings in Woolwich took place. I was head gardener at a military hospital. One day the driver from BOC, delivering medical gasses asked me if I could supply him and his friends with some roses.

At that time there existed an open market in Beresford Sq. One flower stall that I often bougt flowers for my mother from, also sold rose bushes. I had a word with the owner who said he could supply all I needed.

Soon the BOC driver turned up with several orders. Next a removal type lorry arrives at the main gate. This gave way to some amusement. Strict security was in place. The gate-keeper was the typical little man, peaked cap etc. Think of the old saying. 'Give a little man a peaked cap and he becomes God'

Some days later. Our 'Little peak-capped God' stormed into my office. His outburst laid claim to the fact, I was't a Christian, that my parents had spawned a monster and of course, I was B******. He corrected himself or promoted me by giving me the prefix of F/B******. He then proceeded to display his wounds to me and my staff. YES little God had insised on checking through the rose bushes.

My BOC driver, Alf, had nothing but praise on behalf of his workmates. Great roses. Mick he said. I had terrible thoughts that you might get the roses from Mills in the market. Little did he know. In fact Alf passed away some six months ago, and he lived in the next street to my daughter, so we often saw and spoke to each other. Mick, he'd say. Those roses are still doing great. Stan Mills had plot/nursery in Malden Kent.

 

You could say I'm a little bit jealous @ARMANDII. I could do serious damage to my bank account in those nurseries.

I've seen David Austin roses in many garden centres over the years and haven't actually come across one that was fit to buy. The quality of the plants are terrible, but whether that's down to David Austin or the garden centres I couldn't say.

 

Some fabulous photos there friends, thanks for sharing. I have to admit, when posting I perhaps feared that I might be shouted down, as some members go for the best. Many thanks as along with my little story. The big names do not always produce the best.

When turning my little garden into a garden of rememberance to Val. I spent a couple of hundred pounds on new roses. Mainly from a well known firm in Hertfordshire. I was sadly disappointed, more so as now most died. I dod complain but never recieved a reply. Later I order a few bare roots from Peter Beales. One rose, Super Star was a bit scraggy. By return of post, I had a replacement and a note of apology. So sad. The family became victims of the grim reaper. Peter's wife suddenly passed away then very soon after, Peter died. That not being enough, Anada followed shortly after, leaving the business in the hands of Andrew. Should I require more roses, Peter Beals wil be my choice.

 

I buy my roses from local shops/supermarkets, usually cost around 2 to 3 pounds.
So far they have grown okay, I have had them for a few years now ( have a limited budget. )
I found that if i plant them completely surrounded with compost roots and all, and don't backfill with soil they seem to thrive, ( on clay soil here. )

 

Fortunately Mike, we found this lovely friendly place to chat about things that are important to us, and it is such a different scene to the one we used to try and share on that other forum we used to post on ..... good innit ..........

 

You post what you like mate

If anyone has a go at you, you come see uncle Zigs