New roses
I'm like a kid at Christmas time when I get an order from a mail-order nursery! Yesterday my order arrived from Chamblee's Rose Nursery. This is one of my favorite sources for own-root roses and their prices are the best. And best of all, I don't think they have ever made an error on my orders. I now have limited space for roses and my sunny areas are rapidly dimishing so I should be kicked for ordering more. In my defense, I have spots already selected for these and I did limit myself to 4 - that is saying a lot!
Here is what I ordered:
Graham Thomas & Heritage - Two David Austin English roses that are supposed to perform well in my climate. I have had limited success with these roses but they are so beautiful I can't resist trying new ones. People tell me that Heritage is the best performing English rose for the South.
Paul Neyron - A couple who have an extensive rose garden in a neighboring town swears by this one. They grow a lot of hybrid teas but this is one of the few old roses that they rave about.
Zephrine Drouhin - I had this rose for years on my pergola before it finally got choked out by Rambling Rector. I've always heard that this is a rose that should be planted close to your house because the fragrance is so divine. So I am replacing Climbing Old Blush (it just doesn't bloom enough and the flowers are not that spectacular) with ZD - it will be on an archway right next to the patio!
Here is what I ordered:
Graham Thomas & Heritage - Two David Austin English roses that are supposed to perform well in my climate. I have had limited success with these roses but they are so beautiful I can't resist trying new ones. People tell me that Heritage is the best performing English rose for the South.
Paul Neyron - A couple who have an extensive rose garden in a neighboring town swears by this one. They grow a lot of hybrid teas but this is one of the few old roses that they rave about.
Zephrine Drouhin - I had this rose for years on my pergola before it finally got choked out by Rambling Rector. I've always heard that this is a rose that should be planted close to your house because the fragrance is so divine. So I am replacing Climbing Old Blush (it just doesn't bloom enough and the flowers are not that spectacular) with ZD - it will be on an archway right next to the patio!
Comments
I know just how you feel! Since I live in a cold climate area, my Christmas joy is actually first thing in the Spring when my roses are delivered! In my garden I have over 100+ roses and most of them on their own roots. I feel that own root roses do better and last for ever.
I also like to collect antique roses such as Ispahan, Kazalik, Harrison yellow and so on ... they only bloom once a season but what a show! The scent is just unforgettable! However I am also running out of place so it will be very hard to cut down when the Spring catalog new arrival comes out around January!
Believe me I understand your dilemma! P/S I also have David Austin roses and they are not doing as well as expected! But like you I grow them because of their loveliness! California climate is totally great for them though!
Good luck! Marie Suzanne,dailyweeder.com
Zepherine smells even better! I have it near my back porch and it's a perfect rose for my walk-through arbor since it's thornless. Gotta love that!
I lost my Heritage through an unsuccessful transplant (Lost Roses, get it?) but it was the most prolific rose I've ever owned. You're going to be so happy with these!