@Michael 9bNorCal I love that saying!

I'm wondering if I need to sign up for a catalog? I do have an order in with DA so I figured they would automatically send one, but I'm starting to wonder.

Ashley, I'd sign up for a catalog. I was offered one in an email, but decided I didn't need their catalog, so I don''t expect one. Diane

@Ashley Smith zone 5a I haven't gotten mine yet either, and you're in a colder zone than me. They had a recent Instagram post saying they are going out based on planting zone and "do not worry" if you haven't gotten one yet. Most of the people saying they haven't received one yet are in colder zones it seems.

-Chris

I got mine today! It is disappointing in the aspect that they lack full descriptions on the varieties the way that they used to in the past. It is thinner too. I'm so glad that it doesn't stink (literally) the way the previous edition did. A miss on no longer doing last year's decomposable plastic type wrapper.

I would predict that in a few years, they will reduce their paper mail out to a single sheet of paper listing the two new introductions for the year and a footnote saying for a full variety listing please visit the website...

Steven

***It is still pretty and nice to look at though!

Steven

Off topic or on. I don't even normally put my email for the - email me when back in stock option as most things I buy in general is just a click/checkout away. I'm glad I did for the DA as I got the email. I checked out. Later in the same afternoon/evening yesterday, it was out of stock already.

I recall the same/similar experience when I was hemming/hawing on whether to -buy- and in a blink of a eye, it was OOS last year. Coincidentally, I was also looking at the same item on Tuesday and was OOS. Wed morning email. Bought. Wed afternoon'ish - all OOS. So I guess good timing all-together

For anyone in the know, is the DA USA the same presence that was in TX ?

- just a informal observation right now-. For all I know, it's all the same and just no one is picking up the phone.

I haven't emailed them but just a observation. When you call the Toll Free USA DA #, the forwarding # sounds like it's actually ringing abroad to a European #. CV sure has changed alot of how things are.

I have no clue in the world of agriculture how these things are grown/sold/licensed/. Is stuff still grown in the USA or is possible for stuff to be be grown abroad, shipped here and a -fulfillment warehouse- just does the shipping/handling of things.

From what I could find out, David Austin Roses are still grown in Tyler, TX. There may be other rose fields of other kinds of roses in California and Southern Oregon. Somebody correct me, if I'm wrong on that. There are contact details for DA in Tyler found by googling. I found them. Diane

Heirloom sent me an email they are selling off some DAs that will not be offered there anymore.

Heh, Diane. I did say it was a informal observation. Right on DA's site - it says "Bred in England, Grown in the USA Staying true to our roots, our roses are bred in Shropshire, England, then grown in the USA for your enjoyment."

I've tried calling DA twice. In my timezone, which is the same timezone as DA USA if still in Tx. Once in the morning and once mid afternoon. Both calls did not pickup, but slight observance, was that the call being forwarded was going to a European endpoint (aka, the ringtone). Granted CV has changed how things operate, so until someone picks up or not, I dunno where the call center rep is. You can't miss if if you call the main line. U will pick up the Euro ringtone if you know what I'm describing.

Growers aside, has DA USA operations change ? Is there a DA USA facing rep ? Or is a UK rep handeling US inquiries/warranty inquiries. Just wondering as I have not needed to speak/deal with them in recent. The team has DA has been great for me on the 1 time I did need to speak to them and they warranted a planting that just never took off.

This is all I know: There is a full listing of all DA contact information called Contact Details. It's totally separate from the DA website. The listing starts with contact info for retail customers: freephone 800-328-8893; email, and fax info. Then comes the phone 903-526-1806, email, and fax for wholesale customers. Then comes a long contact list for wholesale customers in a number of countries, written in each country's language. Is the freephone (what DA calls it) number the same as the one you have used? Diane

I always call the 1-800 number to add to my running order. Although I did have a problem getting through when Covid was at its worst usually there isn’t a problem.

I called a week or two ago to add Eglantyne (I gave in to the voices) and to inquire about my catalog and got someone right away

Oursteelers, you gave into the voices? Hmm. That's a sign of serious Addiction Rosea. I hope you enjoy your Eglantyne. I've grown that rose since the 1990s, so there must be something to like about it. Diane

Yeap, that's the # 800-328-8893 - the one right off the site.

I recall asking should I plant a standard in my Zone since the graft was up high (aka, I think this was in response to one of my 1st posting in the Rose GW Sub). Almost all the replies were don't plant a standard where you see winter. The rep kindly said, no problem, we got you covered under warranty. Anyhow, I do recall how candid the rep was and she stood behind their product. In which they did, when one of my BR did not grow out of infancy. In year 2, I snapped a pic , they reviewed and a replacement was sent.

I dunno how other rose suppliers treat ya after year 1, but the one time I asked to speak to Customer Service, the definately delivered without making me jump through hoops.

I think they use the British ringtone on the phone only for affect. And I do mean affect, rather than effect! I used the 800 number a couple of months ago to check on an order I didn't get an email confirmation on, got the British ringtone, and the person was clearly in the US.

@berrypiez6b which roses are those? I didn't get that email.

Sorry I didn't see your post sooner Chris-

I briefly looked at their site yesterday ; Abe Darby and Jude the Obscure stood out to me. On Heirloom's site the varieties to be discontinued are stated as " Last Chance " with the photo. Heirloom is one of the very few places to obtain own root DAs, i wish I had the ability to get a few.

Today I got another email they have free shipping all week.

berrypie7 DA has 26 of it varieties own root, they put bands in the ground and dig them own root bare root for shipping....I guess sometimes they mix it up with grafted bare root,,,,but it is supposed to be own root bare root of those 26.

Guess I forgot about those Ann, thanks for the reminder.

The DA roses I want most are not sold as own root at David Austin. i bought my Spirit of Freedom own root at Heirloom. Now after giving up my SoF I may have to pay for a grafted replacement if I ever want to get Spirit of Freedom again, that's a lesson that sticks in my craw.

Why did you give up Spirit of Freedom, berry?

Diane, I revived maybe 10 roses here that had horrible gopher trouble, but no roses required reviving this Winter. I have not had one keel over yet this Winter. We killed 45 gophers with the Gopher Hawk, used Milorganite and Gopher Scram so maybe they have taken the hint. Going forward I'll use gopher baskets but I do have most of my plants in the ground without the gopher cages.

Sheila- well, I gave up all my roses because I am a knucklehead. I thought we would have found a place to move to by now. I'm sitting here with the dog and my compost pile...

I did order half a dozen less thorny roses for Spring I will put in buckets to move when the time comes.

At first glance I thought your post said none of the gophers needed reviving and hadn't keeled over yet.

BerryPie -- I just spit water out my nose reading your post.

Hmm, I had to read Sheila's post a few times. It did kind of sound like the gophers hadn't keeled over yet. Sheila, I think I would have abandoned rose growing if I'd had to kill 45 gophers. How incredibly awful, and why this plague of gophers? Do you still think they were migrating from the grape vine field? You need the services of an unemployed badger. Was the Milorganite used as a fertilizer or a gopher repellent? I cannot imagine dealing with 45 gophers. Here in Idaho, you could have gotten a bounty on each gopher, I think. You would have had to cut each gopher's tail off to turn in for the bounty. No, I've never done that, and it wouldn't be overly pleasant. I certainly hope your gopher wars are over and next year you are free of the vermin. Diane

I tried to correct my post to read more clearly that it was only roses I revived, not gophers. Yes, Diane, I think the gophers moved across the road from a new vineyard. I really think we might have turned the corner I hope.

Berry, that is so sad. My Spirit of Freedom from Heirloom is such a great plant I could not imagine getting rid of one.

Sheila, I liked the way your post was originally written - often my eye catches bits of phrases out of context that sound not quite right until I read the entire thought. I hope the gopher's have learned some wisdom not to have expensive taste for your roses.

I'm really glad for you that you have a Spirit of Freedom, you've found the rose Mother lode.

Heirloom sent me the most perfect symmetrical fountain shaped baby rose bush I have ever received from any nursery. The family who has it now will have some nice wedding flowers this summer for their daughter.

It's not over yet, I've learned to have patience through the years . I would certainly buy another Spirit of Freedom when the time is right.

Yikes. Mine finally came and it was VERY disappointing. White Flower Farm came at the same time and I spent more time looking at it then DA. First time that has ever happened!

oursteelers 8B PNW Your DA came? Color me green with envy...of course, it has been 22f at night for 2 days and the ground is frozen...but a girl can dream! I tried to pot up a couple replacement plants and could not even use my potting soil without thawing it. Then I read some places in Tacoma rarely freeze...my husband asks if we want to move...not a chance!!!!

berrypie7 I hope to get to propagate Spirit of Freedom this summer...(just out of patent) I could let you know if I get it and if all goes well with rooting and growing on.....you might have a house and it all might work out. I just hate that roses are so expensive and difficult to get right now and DA keeps discontinuing roses. Also is I feel your pain needing to leave things behind as you move....fell in love with 3 different refrigerators and had to sell them house each time after making my husband promise we wouldn't...we made money on them, but never found the exact replacement.

Ann, my DA catalog came. It’ll be awhile til my bare roots are here. Which is fine since I don’t prune til mid winter break

Thanks Ann, I might take you up on that.

My neighbor bought the most beautiful stainless steel refrigerator - she doesn't buy David Austin roses.

IfI go t mine about the time this thread was originally started. Its seems smaller than in past years, but Im just happy to receive it at all. I miss the ones from HCR and ARE.

My catalog came today, and yes, it stinks. LITERALLY. When I opened the wrapper the stench was awful. I haven't seen anyone else mention this. It's obviously the inks used, but I won't be able to look at it for days. I have it propped up with pages flared...out in the garage.

fig_insanity Z7a E TN Weird...I usually can smell that kind of thing...mine did not seem to have any scent...but Covid messed up my sense of smell and it comes and goes.... there is one hose my husband bought that I can't even walk close.....he hooked it up for watering and I just can't be that near it.

Ann, I know the feeling. A lot of items made of plastic smell of skunk to me. And some new clothes, especially dark reds and blacks, smell atrocious until they're washed. But honestly, the DA catalog was a whole new level of stench, lol. I *hope* it airs out enough for me to actually read it, though from the short glance I managed, it looks more like a fluff (no substance, just pretty pictures) magazine than a catalog.

Fig I'm offended, I love the smell of skunk lol.

Fig, I'm surprised you find this years puff piece from DAR to be stinky!

To me, it's much less offensive to the nose than the 2019-2021 editions!

I agree- it's not really a catalogue at all nowadays. It's just filled with nonsense and dull pictures.

Steven

I guess the perception of the smell of ink is as subjective as the scent of roses, lol.

Was there a coupon code this year? I still haven’t received my catalog and the only reason I even want it is to get that code. Would be sad if the year I was finally ready to order there was no coupon.

I don't think there was. There wasn't last year either. Demand has been so hi during and supply more limited due to labor shortage that I don't think they've needed to offer it. Unfortunately.

Nope. No code. Sigh.

The code was nice. Basically covered shipping in my eyes.....

I know in this day and age of 'Zon. we're kinda spoiled with 2 day, next day, maybe even same day shipping.

For those that don't ship, even with commercical accounts of $$ spend discounted rates, it cost money to ship. I suspect many may not even realize the costs involved with shipping even a single BR in let's say a 14" square box....

Aww, sad, thanks for letting me know. I guess I better hurry and order before stuff sells out.

I got my DA catalog yesterday! It reminds me of a vintage catalog. Fig, I noticed a pretty strong smell also.

My sense of smell is back and wow!...that is a horrid smell..guess I won't use it for ideas.

I’ve had the catalog for about a month now, and whereas previous catalogs I practically slept with and took with me to doctor’s visits, this one I’ve looked at maybe once since I got it. Just boring and uninspiring.

So I got a catalog a week or so ago... today I got another one. This one did not come in a plastic wrapper like the other, the pages are smooth, unlike the other one that felt more like copy paper which sets my teeth on edge. And this one doesn't stink!!

That's curious...

Ashley, I got that one too. Maybe they sent this look-even-cheaper one because of my ordering some roses this year. Anyway, I give it to my neighbor and she is pleased to have it.

I finally got mine, and I think I got the one with the weird paper, it feels just like one of those semi-glossy supermarket deal ads you get in the mail. Don't like that at all :/ Anyway, the magazine/booklet is boring to me. Nothing striking, no interesting text. Also, how did this photo get approved for the booklet? It's out of focus and the lighting/color is so weird... maybe it just got messed up in printing?

I got mine yesterday. it wasn’t in a wrapper and doesn’t smell. I’m enjoying it so far.