i’m after Evelyn, as is everyone haha!

I wonder if @BenT knows anything?

I have had some issues lately with bare roots from Austin. I used to buy them and they were healthy and grew gangbusters but this last year, some really struggled to come out of dormancy and dwindled and died. I dont know whats up with that but I havent been doing anything different. I have had some from them that definity had Mosaic in the last few yrs as well.

I don't know anything about Austin Roses having problems with disease in their fields, but I got my first rose with mosaic virus from DAR 16 years ago, and it was an Evelyn. I have a second E about 7 years old that has the mosaic virus, and my PAoK that I used to grow had Mosaic virus. I have a Meilland rose with this virus, too. It's not exactly a new problem and has not affected the vigor and blooming of my roses at all. It's a cosmetic problem that I ignore and usually shows up early in the season on certain leaves, and then disappears. I have never lost an Austin to anything, disease or cold damage (though I murdered my PAoK on purpose). Given how many people seem to be searching for Evelyn, maybe I should sell cuttings to the highest bidder. Three of my Es are mosaic virus free. Do I have a bid? Sorry for my awful sense of humor, but I will use my proceeds to help my granddaughter through college. I must be expecting a lot of $--ha. Diane

Diane, I have 2 Evelyns, so don't need to place a bid, but just wanted to wish you good luck. With today's college tuition fees, you're going to have to charge an arm and a leg, and a kidney and spleen, and sell them on the black market.

Don't all DA roses come from the DA growing fields initially? Wouldn't they all have it?

I assume the DA growing fields were the same ones 16 years ago as now. I don't know if they'd all have rose mosaic virus, but it seemed that Evelyn was an early victim. Maybe that's why they wanted to stop selling her. But PAoK has it, too. And I'll bet most Austins are afflicted--and Meilland for that matter. I don't think it's possible to get away from the stuff, though I suppose own root roses don't have this virus....I'll let Jemma keep playing games for her fans to earn college money. It's more profitable than selling cuttings. Diane

@Diane Brakefield I bought some DA's sold in lowes this year, Jubilee celebration and poet's wife both had RMV.

Raft Island Roses has Evelyn and some other DA's and will start shipping bare roots in feb 2021.. his preference is text / email 2525098409.. 25$ I think linda from long ago roses has evelyn too, but one would need to confirm availability by emailing her. He posted this list in Facebook, don't think it's updated on his website

I called my local nursery today to see if they had a hard copy list of their bare root roses that they are going to start selling on Jan 4, 2021. This nursery is kinda famous here for their rose selections. The owner told me that they are having a heap of trouble with all of their vendors this year., and still trying to hammer down what they are going to actually get. He said Certified Roses isn't offering J&P roses this year, and then he said the Austins were a total mess. He said the Austins have been kind of a mess for ~4 years, but he thinks they are "really suffering and in trouble" this year. Take that for what you will.

Susan -- Let me guess -- you talked with Travis? He's my source, too!

Deborah, he's the man! Took over after Hilton died. I've been a customer there for 34 years. And they're less than 3 miles from my house :-D

A local nursery in NorCal posted this today:

“Sadly, we just got news today that the David Austin English Roses will not be arriving this year. Though I placed my order back in March, due to Covid, they're having trouble filling their orders. Believe me, we are FAR more disappointed than you can ever imagine, as I am sure you are too..”

Nick, thanks so much for the update.

@Nick 10bSW17 - thanks for the update. But what a sad development! I wonder if they won't be able to fill online orders either?

@susan9santabarbara - I miss Hilton. He was wonderful. My dog LOVED HIM SO MUCH! Hilton would get right down on the ground and my dog would just lick his whole face. I never let my dog lick my face, but somehow he knew that Hilton was okay with it. It sounds so gross when I type it out -- but it was very sweet to see. Hilton is the one who told me to grow Distant Drums, and I've never regretted it! I miss seeing Dee these days, too. She still works there, but mostly in the back and only 2 days a week. Lots of younguns these days... Has Dan Bifano made any new pronouncements about best roses for SB? We should really get together!

Deborah, I miss Hilton too! Many of us were worried about the fate of the nursery, but they seem to be doing fine with Travis. I don't know Dee by name, but I'm happy that Jamie is still there; he's been there pretty much the whole time I've been a customer. I have no idea what Dan Bifano or the SB Rose Society does. I used to be a member of several rose societies, but the only one I still have a subscription to is Ventura. Sorry, remind me where you are. Someone told me they are in Palos Verdes a couple of months ago, but I can't remember who it was! Travis told me earlier in the week that the list would be updated on the website when they get more info, but I just checked, and it's still the 2020 list. I also just checked the Austin website, and they are taking orders for bare roots to start shipping in Jan 2021. So who knows?

Hi Susan -- I'm in SB. I called David Austin roses today and you can place orders on the website, but the new ones probably won't be available for order until January. They will ship starting mid-January for our climate, probably.

All -- the very nice woman at David Austin didn't say anything about diseases in the field, but did say that between the pandemic and new procedures and waiting on the catalogue from the UK (also going through pandemic) they are just behind. So... here's hoping...

Deborah, if you ever want to shoot me an email: <susnbrad@cox.net>

Nick - wow, that is disappointing. Which nursery was it? (I’m also in the Bay Area.)

Deborah - like many of us I’m sure, I’ve also been wondering when the new varieties were going to be released - thanks for the update.

I learned from my local nursery that DA has had such a record number of online sales, they are not delivering roses to many nurseries! And, there is some re-organization due to covid and changing business practices...but no more whispering of disease in the rose fields. I hope that's the case. I still keep obsessively checking the DA website in case the new varieties pop up. I don't want to miss them! I had to wait another whole year on Augusta Luise when I missed the 2019 Palatine sale! In the meantime, I ordered one of the DAs I want from Heirloom -- but it won't ship 'til May!!! Crikey.

@cyndita (west coast zone 9) Cottage Gardens of Petaluma.

Thanks, Nick - that’s too bad for them, and they surely weren’t the only nursery impacted.

Deborah - thanks for the additional updates!

I hope DA USA can pull it together, after this crazy year we’ve had!

Just an update that EV & GO are now available for order on the US DA site! Just ordered one of each - an exciting day :)

God Bless @cyndita (west coast zone 9)!!! I had checked the website @ about 6:00 a.m. this morning, still "not in stock" so went to my local nursery for their opening bare root day -- and just checked my email to see if I'd got a message I was waiting for, when I saw your post pop up!! So I ordered my GO & EV in my car, and then texted a good friend who's been waiting on EV. So HOORAY! Now I have to see if they'll combine my previous order for Heritage. And apparently I also ordered Sceptred Isle when I ordered Heritage, though I literally don't recall doing that. Anyone ever grow SI?

In other news, I bought an Arctic Blue today at the nursery. I'm waiting for my Palatine Sweet Delight, and then my M.A.C. from Heirloom. Then I think I'm done...and in the meantime, I don't have room for GO and SD - so wlll have to shuffle...

Anyway -- thank you again, Cyndita!

Deborah - I’m glad you got them!!! We’ve been waiting so long for these 2, I didn’t want anyone to miss out!
Re your question, I have Scepter’d Isle and love it - it’s an Austin classic, with a particularly nice myrrh fragrance. It has musk heritage, so it can tolerate afternoon shade, in regard to placement. Bees also love it, as it has exposed stamens once the flower opens.

This picture doesn’t do it justice, but here’s a Scepter’d Isle photo from last summer - I had it in a pot on the patio, but I like it enough that I’m considering shovel pruning something to give it a spot in the ground: