Rebecca- your roses are gorgeous but so much work. I live in Massachusetts. It is so difficult to even dig a hole 10 inches deep with all the rock, boulders and ledge so I try to buy only own root roses. I have gotten some wonderful own root roses from DA and have some more scheduled for delivery next week. I hope they add more own root to their collections. I recently ordered 'Queen of Sweden' and 'Windermere' which is by far my healthiest DA rose and covers herself with delicate soft blush pink blooms from early summer till fall. She is cane hardy in my Z5b-6a garden. The only negative is lack of the "to die for" strong perfume scent that Austins are so known for. sharon

@Erasmus YES! Hortico sends good bareroot plants budded on new seedlings (as rootstock) to prevent the spread of virus. Some varieties are bigger than others, but that’s due to the variety’s vigor. Because of their conscientious and transparent policy against spreading virus, Hortico is my preferred source for roses in general, but especially for David Austin roses. 30% of my roses gotten directly from DA-USA have been virused. They will replace them for you, but don’t actively hold their growers accountable for spreading virus, and so the vicious cycle continues indefinitely. I have a suspicion that some of their mother plants are virused, I don’t think it’s possible to find a clean plant of Constance Spry in North America unless it’s been indexed by UC Davis. Even though shipping is higher from Canada, Hortico’s DA’s are $19 each as opposed to DA-USA’s price of $28. I have no affiliation with Hortico, but support and promote them because I like the way they conduct business, and don’t want them to close permanently like Pickering. They’re a family owned mom & pop shop. On the other hand, I personally feel that David Austin, Inc. is rich enough as it is, and abhor their plant patent politics. They are my last resort if I can’t find it somewhere else.

I'm in Maryland, so my humidity is quite extreme, and I have to say planting DAs in my no-spray garden was a mistake. Not a single plant I could describe as healthy. By comparison, a few landscaping roses I have by the front door are spotless. But it's too late now -- I'm hooked and I can't imagine spring without them. When summer comes along, I shift my focus to summer perennials, and my veg and fruit garden. But if I ever move... no more Austins for me. Carding Mill today and back in May:

If you want a fluffy pink, have you considered Princess Alexandra of Kent? She's about 3.5 x 2.5 and, according to David Austin, has a "delicious fresh tea fragrance with aspects of lemon and blackcurrants." Princess Alexandra of Kent I wouldn't know since I do not grow her, but if I had any space left open, I would definitely plant her in my garden. Austin adds that she is highly fragrant and very healthy also and "ideal for pots and containers." Really BIG blooms, I'm told. Kate