The English Roses
When the first edition of The English Roses, by David Austin, was published it became an essential reference for every rose lover and gardener. It secured pride of place in my reference collection and I have consulted it frequently.
David Austin has been breeding and hybridizing roses for more than 60 years achieving international recognition as the creator of the English Roses, an entirely new style of rose with unique beauty. His work in creating even better and more pleasing varieties is ongoing and so it is timely that this second revised edition has been produced.
The revised edition includes some of our old favourites from the first edition but also more than 20 new rose varieties, all with detailed descriptions and excellent photography.
David presents seven groups of classification for his roses, which helps us to appreciate them better and understand their diversity. This includes the original Old Rose Hybrids; a group he has called The Leander Group, the English Musk Roses, based on the Old Musk Rose; The English Alba Hybrids; The Climbing English Roses; The English Cut-flower Roses and Some Other English Roses.
By returning to the form of the flower of the Old Roses he has incorporated many different rich fragrances, a pleasing shrubby habit of growth with the ability to flower continually, throughout the summer, making these roses amongst the most beautiful and useful of garden flowers.
Some of the illustrations in this second edition have been updated and there are some superb shots of roses in vases for the home which not only look stunning but also display their versatility.
The book also includes advice on growing roses and there is a useful list of some of the earlier English Roses – some old friends which have been removed from David Austin's main list because they have been superseded or perhaps because they have failed to live up to Austin’s high expectations. However, as the book points out they grow somewhere in the world and nearly all are available at the Nursery.
David Austin was awarded the Victoria Medal of Honour by the Royal Horticultural Society in 2003 and the Dean Hole Medal by the Royal National Rose Society. He has received an Honorary Msc from the University of East London for his work on rose breeding and in 2007 was awarded an OBE.
From the nurseries at Albrighton in Shropshire more than 1.2 million roses are grown for sale each year. The rose gardens at Albrighton are popular with visitors where they can see David Austin roses growing in a garden environment.
The large coffee table format enables plenty of space for each rose description and illustration. 'The English Roses' by David Austin OBE is published by Conran Octopus – priced £30.00. If you love roses, in particular The English Roses, this book is a must.
You can order 'The English Roses' and David Austin Roses® online at www.davidaustinroses.com
