Spirit of Freedom own root available at HeirloomRoses
Spirit of Freedom is sold out on David Austin website. However, HeirloomRoses just has it in stock today if you are looking for it. Helen
https://www.heirloomroses.com/spirit-of-freedomtmr.html
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Spirit of Freedom
Comments (19)In the US Heirloom Roses still has SoF listed own root but its sold out right now. You can sign up to be emailed when in stock. There may be other places that still carry it. I no longer see it on the DA website which is a crying shame since its so pretty and kind of unique. It starts out light pink then ages to a lilac pink. Smell this morning is divine. I cant think of a good reason for it to discontinued. It does get big and the flowers get big and heavy since it has such a high petal count (around 200) that sometimes the blooms can nod a little, which I actually like with tall roses. They look down on you so youcan see them. I dont have a ton of stuff blooming right now, being January etc. but today she has an open flower and a few buds. Side view of blossom and bud. The buds are so tiny that its a miracle that they can unfurl to such a big bloom with so many petals in it lol. Another side view...see how dark the reverse of the bottom petals are ! The bud is much darker than the inside of the flower..kinda pretty!...See MoreSpirit of Freedom alternative
Comments (23)Though DA does deserve to be boy-cotted,I tend to agree with Sheila-get the varieties that you really want while they are still available. The fact is, DA is not about the love of roses; I don't think it ever was. I read somewhere that David Austin himself, was not even trying to breed roses when he started; his first one was an accident. Over the years, he made it prretty clear that he was out to make money,I think. Again, I read somewhere that someone questioned his advice about spacing 3 of the same variety very close together and his cynical reply was: "would you rather sell just one plant to a customer, or three all at once?" The clincher for me was one year, in their catalogue, they stated that roses only live for about five years,and after that should be replaced.(I think they did have the decency to remove THAT, or else it was just too many customers protested). Now, I can't prove any of this, since it's stuff I gleaned over the years in my rose questing,but when I see their glossy catalogue and all the rest it just stikes me as snobby and false. It also does seem to me that the new varieties -from the photos at least-look more and more alike , there are always lots of yellow and pinks,beginning just to look a bit like a lot of cupcakes or something; the older varieties seem to have more character. Another thing that baffles me: one thing I did like about DA was the fact that they produced some nice deep,velvety purple-reds (Falstaff, Munstead Wood, The Prince, William Shakespeare, WS2000,etc).They don't seem to even try to do those any more. Now, some of these as plants might have had several defects, but that colour range is so rare and special in re-blooming roses that I feel that I, at least, would be willing to close an eye on the defects. In fact, even though I'm so anti-DA,I DO indeed toy with the idea of trying to get new plants of Falstaff, WS 2000, and maybe even The Prince, all of which I once had but failed to grow properly and had to sp. I still do have Tradescant, also from years ago-now that plant has been ignored completely by me for years, was mistreated in the beginning,as well-and yet last year I discovered it among the weeds-small, yes, but with those beautiful dark blooms,and in decent health, too. I dug it up, potted it (removing a cane that had gone own-root and potting that up seperately ). So for at least 10 years that plant has survived in good health with no real care-that is a good rose! but has been discontinued, of course. I plan to coddle mine along a bit in a pot (it looks great so far) until it's big enough, and then plant it out in my garden-this time in a better spot; it seems to deserve it. To be honest, I suspect that. since this company never was about the love of roses,by now they are gradually in the process of dropping all attempts to breed interesting, lovable, "real" roses, and will more and more aim towards developing -how shall it put it? -a new brand of "pseudo Knock-outs", because all they want is to make money. Now there is nothing per se wrong with Knock-outs and their ilk, but they can NOT take the place of "real" roses. So grab the real ones while they are still available....See MoreDoes this Arbor suit Spirit of Freedom?
Comments (16)One thing my friend learned is that a lot of climbing roses took more time than she wanted to wait to even begin to cover the arches she had made. I don't know how large your arch will be, but it will take more than one rose to cover the arch you've shown above. After looking at it, I would recommend something with more space filled in--you've mentioned this above. I don't really train a rose--I just help it along, and occasionally tie a cane that doesn't want to cooperate (or prune them back). I'm a terrible person to ask about training roses, and I never do a lot of pruning climbers, either. I also have a twisty reel to supply long green twisties for any tying I might do. This is the flat kind available on Amazon. I don't know what rose you want to try on the arch, but New Dawn grows really rapidly if you think you could handle it. It can be a thorny monster. I grew a few, and they were too large for my garden. You might consider combining some big clematis to grow with your rose(es). Colette was a very fast growing rose, but I started with a 5 gallon plant and she didn't need to climb a tunnel and cover it. I hate to keep using my friend's photos but she has so many examples. Below is a huge Zepherine Drouhin growing against my friend's gazebo. I don't know how long this took to achieve (I'll ask her), but ZD is thornless. Also shown is a huge Eden on an arbor. I think Eden was a fairly slow grower (I'll ask her about that, too). I hope you get some good advice from others. Good luck, and thanks about Colette. The poor thing pretty much trained herself. Diane...See MoreDavid Austin Spirit of Freedom
Comments (9)Spirit of Freedom has not been great in my garden but I think the plant has just been stressed due to location. It has slowly become a fairly good sized plant. I think the blooms will be better maybe next year. It is pretty healthy. The patent is going to expire on it pretty soon. Oh, I just checked...patent was applied for in 2003 so it is already expired as of July this year. So if you have a friend with a plant, you could take cuttings . Frances in NJ I have bought some roses grafted on Fortuniana from K&M. They do well here in zone 7a, NC and have withstood temps down to 4 degrees and some prolonged freezes. Here's my Lavaglut on Fort. from K&M. It's pretty old now. I do have some suckers showing up from Fortuniana....See More
bayarea_girl_z10a_ca thanked MiGreenThumb (Z5b S.Michigan/Sunset 41) Elevation: 1091 feet
Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agobayarea_girl_z10a_ca thanked Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
Sarena Altman (7a Middle TN)
2 years ago
berrypiez6b
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoThanks Sarena, I've missed so many chances throughout my life, I am learning late how to make decisions for the things I really want most.
Spirit of Freedom is growing fast in a sunny spot in the flower bed, putting out the prettiest healthy leaves. I'm not a great gardener and rely heavily on getting a good plant .
Helen posts wonderful detailed info and pictures that persuaded me to get what she calls her " perfect " roses. I trust her evaluation , I can't get them all but she was right about Bathsheba and I have no doubt SoF will be worth it too.
Now I just need to find the perfect gardening buddy, I used to have a Rottweiler that would dig like crazy where ever I put my shovel in, he loved to garden.
This is Miss Molly I saw on Pinterest today,
and my Bathsheba.
Sarena Altman (7a Middle TN)
2 years agoSarena Altman (7a Middle TN)
2 years agoHere is a picture of my gardening baby! I just had to show a shot of her in her pjs. And one of her helping me in the yard.
Sarena Altman (7a Middle TN)
2 years agoberrypiez6b
2 years agoWow, Sarena you are so blessed, your pitgirl is a doll !
It's so wonderful you found each other. I agree pitbulls are the best , I would trade all my roses ( even Spirit of Freedom ) for a precious rescue. I have been searching for another pitbull over three years since our greatly loved 13 year old passed away, I don't know how we will make it through life dogless much longer.
The local shelters and rescues require a secure fenced yard for bullies which disqualifies renters like me, And there is strong opposition from my neighbors that have little tea cup dogs- they are so vicious !
I tend the roses, read and watch videos about goofy meatballs every day, and wait hoping for a miracle to move someday to a little house with fenced yard , a safe pitbull oasis.
Photo was our dear old Taz.
Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
2 years agoberrypiez6b
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoI'm so glad you understand pitbulls too Sheila. How kind of you to rescue chihuas.
My neighbor had the tiniest smartest little girl that would nestle under her chin. Her feet looked like they would fit in Barbie doll shoes.
I know all dogs are special, and I love the dachshund at the end of the block, she will not let me pass without rubbing her tummy.
Even some cats have been the love of my life for a season - internet photo I stumbled across in my dog search today .
I just have become changed forever by the breed that was the best friend I ever had, he taught me so much, I hear again and again that the dog rescues the human. I need rescued again.Sarena Altman (7a Middle TN)
2 years agoSarena Altman (7a Middle TN)
2 years agoSarena Altman (7a Middle TN)
2 years agoSarena Altman (7a Middle TN)
2 years ago
Lilyfinch z9a Murrieta Ca
2 years ago
SOF is such a beautiful rose . I can’t wait till mine look as wonderful as helens . I have two , and both are huge plants in their second year .
Love all the animal chat too ! :)
Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
2 years agoberrypiez6b
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoSheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
2 years agoberrypiez6b
2 years agoSarena Altman (7a Middle TN)
2 years agoSarena Altman (7a Middle TN)
2 years agoSarena Altman (7a Middle TN)
2 years agoSarena Altman (7a Middle TN)
2 years agoberrypiez6b
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoThat's greeaat Sarena !
"when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13: 12 (KJV)
It's a good feeling to finally get something you have longed for.
I don't know if David Austin roses will be obtainable anywhere but mail order from their Texas location next year, anyone know ?
Thank you for remembering Amara, the little underdog has become our wonder dog ; its been about seven weeks and her bones don't stick out like a skeleton dog anymore. We love her so much, it feels like she's always been with us.
Here she is at her first well check. She kissed the Dr and they all had fun. She would love to go back to the Vet every day if I could afford it !Amara came home happy and exhausted.
We are both so fortunate to have our heaven sent Pitties.
Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
2 years agoSarena Altman (7a Middle TN)
2 years agoberrypiez6b
2 years agoberrypiez6b
2 years ago
berrypiez6b