Suebelle! These are simply gorgeous! Your photos look as if the flowers came from a florist. The rain is troubling to my blooms also. We have not had much this year and sure enough as my roses start to put on their spring show, it has rained every day for the last week. Here, in Central Florida, we do not get spring showers, but spring drenching. Oh well, glad to see someone with rain survivors. Great photos. Thanks!

Jack

Wow, those look amazing! Beautiful.

Wow! I love it. I have never heard of it or seen it. Now on to HMF to read more about it. Your pics are beautiful. Judy

Very beautiful and feminine! That is what I call a perfect pink rose. I like pink roses like this where it is very light in colour.

Ooooh!!! Divine color!!! Every bloom looks wonderful - amazing!!!

Carol

I've seen this rose mentioned before on the forums somewhere, but never seen it. That looks like a bridal bouquet- how stunning! Must be a tough rose to make it through hail and so much rain. Will it last for a while in the vase?

Love it! And so many!

Outstanding!!!!! So beautiful.

I probably should have mentioned that Chaucer was one of the earliest Austin roses. It was introduced in 1970.
At some point in the early 90's it was taken off of the market. For what reason, I cannot imagine. It is one of my best bloomers and the fragrance is magnificent. I have grown it for many years on Fortuniana.

twintletoad - Yes, Chaucer does last very well in a vase.

Suebelle

Yes, it seems strange that such a beautiful rose be taken off the market. Maybe it's only beautiful for you. Maybe you have the touch. :)

Carol

I expect someone else knows the full/correct story, but my rough understanding was that around that time Austins stopped marketing many or all of their earlier varieties - including some of their best/ most popular ones - because of something to do with registration/royalties - it was simply not possible for them to make money from them - whereas after a certain date, perhaps after the royalty system became standardised/legal around the world, they were able to get royalties from every one of their roses sold anywhere in the world.

As I say, that's only my rather vague understanding of the situation - perhaps someone better informed can jump in and explain it properly?

Comtesse :¬)

Now I'm curious- which old varieties did they stop marketing? Are other businesses allowed to sell them? I looked up Chaucer and saw it on the Heirloom Roses web site, listed as out of stock. I'm wondering if they mean it's temporarily out of stock, or it's not available anymore.

Well, again only according to my very dim and possibly faulty memory, I think the old ones are all perfectly legal to sell wherever people still have plants available to propagate from. The problem for DA was that since they hold no equivalent of a copyright or patent on them, it's not really in their interests to sell them or publicise them. Instead, they 'push' all the new ones which they do have rights over, and which are, in effect, competing against their own old varieties for the same market.

I'm sure someone here must know the true details of this - please don't rely entirely on my version of the story. Perhaps a little research with Mr Google would bring more information to light..

Comtesse :¬)

Oh, just a guess, but perhaps Heirloom have sold out of Chaucer, or have just chosen not to propagate it for this year. I should enquire if you're interested in getting a plant. Without the DA marketing dept behind them, people may be gradually (or quickly!) forgetting about the older ones, especially with highly publicised introductions being constantly brought in. So if you want the nurseries to go on propagating the oldies, you may need to let them know you're interested!

Good thought, Comtesse. I'll inquire about Chaucer.
I hate the thought of losing the great older varieties- roses, other flowers and even vegetables. I with there were rose swaps, the same way they have seed swaps. I suppose such a thing probably exists somewhere!

Wasn't that the problem with Pretty Jessica? At least, my vague memory is that it was taken off the market by DA--that is why we have had so much trouble finding other places that propagate it. I finally got one from some place in Minnesota, but I noticed a year later they were not offering it any more. In fact, I'm not sure a customer can find a Pretty Jessica anywhere any more. And it is a lovely pink rose, about 3 or 3.5 ft tall.

Kate

Rogue Valley also offers Chaucer. It's out of stock right now though. I bought one last year. Very lovely pictures. I am hoping for a bloom this year.

Although it's the busy season for rose nurseries, and they can be slow in responding (or need a reminder), it pays off to inquire if they will be offering a particular rose any time soon. Heirloom has always been good about responding in my experience. RVR, hit or miss -- James was always very helpful. I don't if he is still there. But still RVR is great :)

I always suspected that this is the case! Anytime I see a D.A. variety on sale, which is hard to find in my area, I have to grab it or I may never see it again. I know that Mr. Austin may not get royalty anymore but it is still something he had spend time creating therefore he should still sell them for people who still wants them. Wealth is one thing but his fame will always live on in his roses.

In his book David Austin's English Roses (2nd ed 1996), Mr Austin lists 16 roses which he felt were superseded by newer releases. Amongst those 16 were Chaucer & Pretty Jessica. He did add that some people would disagree & where these roses were doing well, they should be retained & enjoyed. He also had a further 9 roses which he considered inferior and would not recommend growing at all. I am not sure whether royalties had anything to do with this or whether he just wanted people to see the best of English Roses.

Interestingly, it looks like DA is offering this variety in the UK, so maybe it does have something to do with royalties. Although your picture sells it to me much better than theirs does! http://www.davidaustinroses.com/english/showrose.asp?showr=102

Interesting--Pretty Jessica is listed on the English site, but not on the American site. Not sure what that means, but it doesn't sound like copyrights are the main problem. On the other hand, I find it hard to believe that Pretty Jessica grows better in UK, given that it grows superbly well in my American garden.

Kate

Looks like a gorgeous wedding bouquet.

Fantastic looking blooms!

Has anyone had a chance to find it lately? I've looked all over with no luck :(