Hello Dear Rose Friends,
Now we’ve only got two whole weeks of winter left and phew, we almost made it as we’re still expecting some standard roses to be dug! All other rose orders that should have been posted this 2023 season have been completed – some picked up, thousands posted and a few refunded due to lack of our ability to supply certain varieties.
At the very end, we got Blue For You, St. Patrick and others which dallied being dug. Some varieties never made it this season and standard roses remain an issue right to the end and we are so very sorry to gardeners who missed out this season!
… Well done to our magnificent team of humans who packed your roses so beautifully … Ben, Diana, Janelle, Jason and Stacey! Mooi and I acted as support by delivering parcels to our local PO at Wandong, keeping the packing shed tidy, the house organized and the chooks fed.
There were minor issues which were easily rectified – a plant missing in a pack, (yes, last week I forgot to put your FREE Claire Austin rose in with the other climbers so it’s on the way!) occasionally, there’s a broken stem (usually advantageous because we know lots of you don’t do the 1/3 pruning we recommend when planting bare-rooted roses) or an order overlooked in a timely manner.
It was delightful to hear a customer say: “this place has such a homely feel” because we are indeed a happy bunch who, despite the challenges of weather dealt this past season, we had fun and smiled while we worked!
A giggle for you ...
Q: Why do golfers wear two pairs of socks?
A: In case they get a hole in one!
WHEN IS A ROSE A CLIMBING ROSE?
With new tags on all David Austin Roses, we’ve fielded many calls from customers who noted the descriptions – here in Australia, most DA roses grow very well and much bigger than where they were raised in the UK.
Thus, descriptions on labels can be confusing so I’ll share this exchange with Sarah from DA Roses, UK, about one DA, Gertrude Jekyll which we have always described as a climber …
“… On a separate note, GJ is the one rose we sell as a climbing and shrub rose. The rose is the same when sent out, it just depends on the way it is pruned. If they wish to keep it more compact, it will need shaping. If growing as a climber, it would need training and tying in. I only mention this as not sure what you guys (in Australia) advise for this variety.
This issue is relative to several DA’s … we recognise and suggest that Golden Celebration and Abraham Darby grow as climbers, Graham Thomas has now also been declared a climbing rose.
In our history of rose growing, we believe that we, the rose gardener, can be in control and maintain roses to a height/width we desire rather than let the rose take over and be in control. We are the boss in our garden and every gardener has a pair of secateurs to maintain control!
Here’s Diana pruning her rose garden whilst the BIG boss, Mooi is observing …
A giggle for you ...
Q: What did the hat say to the sock?
A: I’ll go on ahead, you go on foot!
LAST ROSE BUNDLE OF BARE-ROOTED ROSES THIS SEASON – THREE OF THE LOVELIEST CREAM ROSES …
As we are potting all remaining bare-rooted roses now, it’s time to get your very last bare-rooted rose orders in for this winter, 2023 … soon all varieties will be listed as ‘potted’ when, of course, you’ll pay a premium price to have our lovely potted roses posted throughout the coming seasons.
Purchase this great bundle and we’ll post a
FREE ICEBERG BUSH ROSE
ONLY $99.95 INCLUDES PACK/POST TO YOUR DOOR
Enjoy the longer days and winter sunshine as you smile while you enjoy the early spring flowers in your garden … here, we’re enjoying wattles flowering along the creek, emitting their awesome pollen fragrance.