Outsourcing this trade might not only cause additional environmental pollution inside the country of production, facilitated by lax environmental laws if there are any at all and through international transportation, but it is often also a guarantee for unfair and unhealthy working conditions and underpaid work, see links below. I'm not sure where exactly DA grows his cut roses, or what his workers' conditions are, but I think that it is good to know these basics anyway. See also this link, BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/crossing_continents/africa/1260248.stm Here is a link that might be useful: flower growing in Kenya

Of my Austin's Abraham Darby is my favorite. Constant flushes of beautiful flowers. The stems get longer with age. But I'll admit they don't get past around 7 inches or so. The nodding blooms did improve greatly with age for me. He is a monster though. I'm training mine as a climber against a wall which I think suits him beautifully. Vase life is great with him. I just watched a video from a florist convention. And the Austin spokesperson highly recommended Constance, edith, carrie, and Juliet for vase work. This post was edited by Ordphien on Mon, Sep 15, 14 at 15:38

May I respectfully point out that Austin roses are under patent and really shouldn't be traded this way. There are lots and lots of true antiques to trade that are not under patent. Many provide the same romance although perhaps not the distinctive Austin color palette. Look at the Pemberton hybrid musks, the noisettes and the hybrid perpetuals..there are great large flowered climbers and true tea roses..

Please let me know if you ever have Bredon or Lilac Rose available! I have both roses in my garden but they are fairly old (12 plus years) and aren't fairing too well.