Spirit of Freedom (AUSbite), a David Austin climber rose, bred in the UK (1998) and released in the UK (2002). I adore this rose with its petal-packed blooms, good repeat, nice fragrance, and great health in my garden. Helen

William Shakespeare 2000 (AUSromeo), a shrub rose bred by David C. H. Austin (UK, 1994) and released in 2000 (UK). The 4-5-inch crimson blooms packed up to 120 petals with strong, old rose fragrance. My plant was grafted on Dr. Huey but it has been a slow grower compared with other David Austin roses. It was planted in a prime spot in my front yard, and I have been thinking of replacing it with another more vigorous David Austin rose but its beautiful blooms always stop me from doing that. It earns its permanent spot. Helen

Absolutely gorgeous roses, Helen!

Every time I see William Shakespeare at the High Country Roses green house it stops me in my tracks. Hopefully one day they will sell it. Beautiful pics!

I haven't taken a good look at Boscobel until recently, so it is good to see your great pics of it. I bought Spirit of Freedom this spring and it is growing well but not blooming much at this point. I bought Wm Shakespeare 2000 from David Austin this spring and have also found it to be a slow grower. A red I am more pleased with right off the bat is Rouge Royale, which was a 1 gal. potted plant from RU and it has taken off in a hurry and bloomed quite a bit. Your pics give me something to look forward to though. Funny how sometimes an own root plant can out perform a grafted one.

So lovely! Thank you.

Not sure which one I like the best, they’re all gorgeous Helen!

Again, just gorgeous. David Austin should use your pictures.... they'd sell even more, especially of the underappreciated and less popular ones. They'd never discontinue any!

Thanks everyone. I'm glad I'm not the only one with a slow WS2K :)

erasmus, I just planted my Rouge Royale from a paper pot to the ground and look forward to its performance. I have learned that it's best to cut the blooms of RR and display them in a vase. The temperature of a room gives the blooms the best environment to open all those petals.

Vaporvac, you are very sweet.

I know many people don't like DA business practice but put that aside, their roses are so graceful in photos. Imaging without accessing to DA roses, my garden will look really sad. I know there're so many petal-packed old garden roses that look even better than DA roses but many of them are once-blooming and for small gardens that means we just look at their leaves for the rest of the year. As a rose grower, I like to have access to all the roses around the world because beauty should be shared, don't you think? Helen

Remember the Teas, Helen, for your area.

Sheila, the Teas in your garden are absolutely gorgeous. I think you are the Queen of Tea Roses :) Helen

Gorgeous photos! I'm always already smiling as soon as I see one of your new Rose Portrait Posts listed on the forum because I just know I'm in for a treat! :)

~Sjn

Haha, you are guessing correct Sjn. I use my roses to practice portrait photography because my husband and my son aren’t patient enough for me to practice on them. The roses won’t run away because they have had enough or maybe they should, LOL. Helen

Lovely presentation.

I got my WS2K from High Country Roses. The form and fragrance are amazing. Mine are not as red as the photos here but a more purplish red which I strongly prefer. It isn’t a slow grower for me, just not a tall grower.

noseometer, I have seen William Shakespeare growing at the HCR greenhouse but don't see it on the web site. Previously when I had asked about things not on the web site Matt said he was growing them for someone. So I didn't ask about it. How did you get yours? Did you ask in person or was it listed as something else on the web site?

Every time I have been it has been in bloom with gorgeous flowers. Does yours flower continuously?

Thanks!

Noseometer, I have also seen WS2K with purplish red color, and I agree it’s not a tall rose which is one of the plus things for growers in California where DAs can get really tall.

mmmm12, my WS2K repeats well. Helen