I have Abraham Darby - zone 5 just like you. In terms of vase life... Not super long lasting, but that fragrance. Ooof. Plus your plant once established will give you a good supply to replace those that give up in the vase. Darcey Bussel is an EXCELLENT ROSE. BUY IT. Don't look back! It's a variety that's also sold as a "garden rose" to us floral designers and it's a stunning red/crimson double. Gertrude Jekyll - Supposed to be magnificent in our climate. I can't speak on vase life, but I'd expect to be on the same lines. The biggest thing on extending vase life... is when you cut your roses - immediately put them in water. I don't cut mine until they are just about to open or even closed, this is how they are shipped in the industry. Also, make some homemade floral solution. lukewarm water, tsp of sugar, and a few drops vodka in your average size vase is the best solution. The sugar feeds the flowers, the vodka inhibits the production of ethylene by the flower, and the temperature helps your flowers absorb more water. Bleach solution I only use on more tube-like stemmed flowers - think gerbs and sunflowers. Give them a fresh cut with a knife - not snips. Snips effectively crush the xylem and phloem (tubules) and cause your flowers to not drink as much as they could as opposed to using a sharp knife (no squished stems) to cut them before putting them in your vase. I remove thorns and leaves that would be under water... anything above water - leave it (unless ugly). Unnecessary openings reduce vase life above the surface of the water.

If you're not requested David Austin catalog or never purchae direct from David Austin roses (U.S) here is 15% discount code ULC to use at checkout. Enjoy!

Vapor I think you will like Olivia. The only flaw I can can find is that her color may get too light some times. I do prefer her with her on her cooler weather colors, but it is a solid rose for a no spray garden where blackspot is an issue. I have read wonderful things about Gabriel Oak. I purchased James Austin last year, but what I have read says Gabriel will be the superior rose in terms of bloom power and disease resistance. I can’t wait to see it in your garden. The gentleman that was supposed to build our pergola is so busy he does not know when he will be able to get to us. Very little competition in a small town and he is involved in large projects. I might just have to wait a while. I will plant the roses in big pots for now and hopefully I can get the pergola figured out. Ok I am going to head out now and study some :). I am on my last 7 days of call and I can’t hardly believe it. Still have a few months left, but not having to sleep waiting for my phone to ring will be a huge improvement. I’ll keep dropping by on my phone on my study breaks because it is good for my soul to read about roses and socialize with my rose friends. Spring can’t get here fast enough. Have a blessed and lovely day!

It's wonderful Helen, and you deserve the honor. I'll bet they'll want to use more of your beautiful photos in future catalogs. Vapor, I'm glad you put up with my awful sense of humor, but I do get a kick out of some of your voice recognition posts. And the voice recognition always seems to choose a totally wrong word that sounds like the correct one, such as rows for rose. You can't win. Actually, I thought the combo of English and Persian roses would be lovely. The heavy scent of roses used in perfumes combined with the look of a David Austin rose. I'd buy one. Diane