If you know anything about David Austin roses, you’ll know exactly what to expect from his book, David Austin’s English Roses: Glorious New Roses for American Gardens, and your expectations will be graciously met.
Deeply cupped, many petaled, and highly fragrant, English Roses epitomize the image we have of old-fashioned roses: lush, romantic, and beautiful, and Austin’s text is accompanied by lush photographs of beautiful roses and romantic rose garden settings. The photo of a voluptuous bouquet of English Roses on the dust jacket suggests that this is a coffee table book; the contents, however, offer so much more. Austin tells the story of how he came to create this new class of rose and describes exactly what constitutes an English Rose. He provides an overview of 15 groups of roses and “detailed portraits” of 80 or so of his English beauties. He devotes a chapter to the nuances of fragrance and another to the lengthy process of hybridizing. Not only does he offer suggestions for using English Roses in the garden and for the care they’ll need; he also discusses bringing roses into the home. Throughout this lovely book, Austin’s writing is also what one would expect: His vocabulary is educated and descriptive; his style is sophisticated yet eminently readable, and his tone is cultured while remaining conversational. The chapters are filled with his interesting story as a rose hybridizer, his practical advice as a gardener, and his thoughtful observations as an aficionado of the world’s most beloved flower. If you don’t know David Austin’s English Roses, this book will inspire you to become acquainted quickly.
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Patti Dee, Archives
December 2018
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