One thing to keep in mind when considering winter hardiness of any roses, including Austins, is whether you're talking about winter survival with or without reliable snow cover during the coldest parts of winter. Some things that I can't overwinter here in zone 5 without snow cover can sail through the winter with surviving cane in zone 4 if you have snow cover. For instance I'm on my fourth or fifth try to overwinter Golden Celebration, third try for Mary Rose, and second try for Brother Cadfael, and I've not been able to keep them alive, much less climbing. BC wasn't in the best of conditions so I'll be trying him again BTW. Under the snow it's always 32 degrees or so, and that is a survivable temperature for a wide variety of roses. I have some virtual zone 4 areas on the north and east sides of my house where the bulbs are always at least 2 weeks later than other beds, so I can report on Austins that are hardy for me without reliable snow cover in those spots. I can vouch for the following in my dry zone 4 (virtual): Teasing Georgia Lady of Shalott Carding Mill Tamora Queen Nefertiti Queen of Sweden I am reasonably confident that the following Austin roses would survive zone 4 given that they are cane to tip hardy in my zone 5: Heritage The Generous Gardener (infrequent blooms) Spirit of Freedom The Mayflower Gertrude Jekyll (but she almost NEVER blooms for me) Scepter'd Isle The Alnwick Rose Charles Darwin Olivia Rose Austin St. Swithun The Poet's WifeTess of the D'Ubervilles (but she doesn't at all climb for me) Darcy Bussell Benjamin Britten, Christopher Marlowe The Shepherdess Leander The Dark Lady and Tradescant - lose some canes but consistent survival I have recently had decent canes remaining but it's too early to know for sure: James Galway, Lordly Oberon, Wildeve, William Morris, A Shropshire Lad (in its fourth year but VERY slow to think about climbing), Charity, Chianti, Cressida, Princess Anne, Dies to the ground for me but survives in zone 5, may be iffy in zone 4: Immortal Juno, Boscobel, Tranquillity, Fisherman's Friend, Lillian Austin, Princess Alexandra of Kent, St. Alban, The Reeve, The Squire, Wenlock, Young Lycidias, Munstead Wood, Pat Austin, Charlotte, Crown Princess Margaretha (never blooms without surviving cane), Happy Child, Eglantyne, Pretty Jessica, Wollerton Old Hall, Jude the Obscure, Sharifa Asma, Winchester Cathedral, Ambridge Rose, Admired Miranda, Susan Williams-Ellis, L.D. Braithwaite, I have had to give a protected spot or otherwise had trouble overwintering in my zone 6 pocket: Graham Thomas (agree with the above posters), Abraham Darby, Strawberry Hill (sorry Straw! snow cover may make a difference), Potter & Moore, Molineux, Claire Austin, Evelyn, Prospero, Sophy's Rose, Lichfield Angel, William Shakespeare 2000, Crocus Rose and Comte des Champagne (might have been a poor location issue for the last two), Can't overwinter even in my virtual zone 6 - though some I only tried once: English Garden, Radio Times, Othello, The Prince, Lady Emma Hamilton, Claire Rose, Fair Bianca, Falstaff, Jubilee Celebration, Wise Portia, Grace, Noble Antony. So far Pegasus, Kathryn Morley, Perdita, Port Sunlight, Tea Clipper, and Sister Elizabeth have all died in zone 5 and I haven't wanted them badly enough to try again in zone 6 territory. Obviously there are zone 5 and even 4 posters that can overwinter some of my problem children very well, and at least some posters in zone 4 who have stellar photos of CPM that blooms all season, vs. mine that never blooms at all though puts out 10' of cane every summer after dying to the ground. So moisture, snow cover, wind, location, stress, water and a variety of other factors can contribute to winter survival or not. Mostly I don't protect my Austins much and I don't think it makes that much difference for me in my zone. I put windbreaks at the edges of the beds an cover all the rose beds to a few inches with leaves when possible, but that's about it. So YMMV, but in general if you don't have high blackspot pressures Austins can be good roses for cold zones. Cynthia

I have the "Handbook of Roses 2008" from David Austin, and it's 100 pages. It's his regular annual catalog of roses being offered. Yep, it's totally free, and beautifully photographed on high quality, thick, quality paper. Very tempting things within :-) Randy

No, Jumbo Jimmy, you got a great rose! Although they are all great,I think Sharifa is superior repeat bloom and bloom form. But Heavens to mergatroid, these are all so gorgeous, I would want them all. Sometimes it pays to have a husband put limits on rose ordering. Otherwise, I would order 2 of every one of these, as they are deliciously beautiful but ordering would be maliciously detrimental to my marriage.

Wow the photos are beautiful and so are the gardens. I hope to visit there someday. These pictures make me itch to order more DAs from Heirloom that are still in stock from my wishlist, but I know it's better if I wait until next spring. Sigh. I hope you enjoy your visit in 2017 - will be a lovely way to celebrate your birthday!