September 23, 2009

Mugshots: 2 Creamy English Roses


For a confessed David-Austin-addict, I haven't posted much about my english roses this summer. Perhaps that's because of my angst over the trials of virus, thrips, curculios, aphids and powdery mildew that have afflicted my roses this season. There's a reason some people don't grow roses, quite a number of reasons actually . . . and I don't even have problems with rust and blackspot! Anyway, I still love my english roses, troubled though they are. Here is a spotlight on two of the creamy-white shrubs that were planted in spring 2008: Lichfield Angel and Crocus Rose.


The first three photos in this post are all of David Austin's Lichfield Angel, which is obviously a lovely rose. Side note: when I showed my husband the first 2 pictures, I gushed that if I made notecards out of them, someone might actually buy them! I'm sure he was suitably impressed with my amateur photographer prowess, even if he didn't gush a response (gee, that's great honey, yawn).
I've only had this shrub for two growing seasons, so it's still filling out. Austin roses take several years to build up a good structure with sturdy stems, especially around here with our short growing season.


This photo was shot in different lighting (no wonder photographers talk endlessly about the importance of light) and shows the Angel's fall burst of blooms. Perhaps the stems will hold the flowers up better as it matures over the next few years, but the nodding blooms have some charm. Their fragrance isn't very strong, though I have noticed a clove scent from some flowers.


Here is a shot of David Austin's Crocus Rose. I love the shape of these flowers. They have a more formal shape than LA and look great in a vase on my kitchen table, though they don't have much of a fragrance, either. In the rain the flowers get hot pink spots which are about as attractive as chicken pox. Good thing it doesn't rain often here in the summer.


This photo shows the delicate leaves that grace Crocus Rose. While CR forms a dainty and compact mounded shrub, LA has more wildness with its larger leaves and shooting stems. Their different characters show clearly when you have them planted side by side, as I do. Tidy CR shrubs would work well at the front of a border or as a specimen, while LA would look better in the middle of a bed or surrounded by a low edging plant.


More interesting light in this picture, eh? I might declare Crocus Rose to be the better rose, except that it gets powdery (or downy?) mildew in late summer (plus those pink rain spots), while Lichfield Angel stays clean. I sprayed CR with Neem oil and watered better and that seemed to keep the mildew from getting too bad. To be honest, Crocus Rose is my favorite. It's finely crafted flowers and great shrubby form take the cake. But Lichfield Angel is a nice, healthy rose and useful for different spots in the garden. Which do you prefer?

13 comments:

  1. I am leaning to the Lichfield Angel, love the fullness of the bloom. (I agree that you could sell the first two photos in notecard form --your husband needs to be excited about your 'budding' talent!)

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  2. Beautiful images and stunning blooms...what a combination!
    Scott

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  3. They are gorgeous! I have one David Austin rose and it does well considering it grows in some shade. Some roses are just worth growing no matter how many problems they may have.

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  4. Lovely Roses, very nice colours!

    I have a Davide Austen climber, it's still small butI hope it won't stay that way for much longer...

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  5. i love the colour of Lichfield Angel.

    Do you grow any roses with single blooms?

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  6. Hi VW~~ What? Choose? LOL They're both beautiful blossoms. For me the foliage would be a factor in choosing. Since 'Crocus' has a neater habit, I'd likely choose it. But I'm putty in the hands of David and would probably choose these two plus ten more. :)

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  7. They are both beautiful! I find taking pictures of white/cream flowers really hard, but yours have turned out great. I really love the coloring on Crocus rose.

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  8. Your roses are beautiful! I had lots of problem with powdery mildew in my garden this year and I have never seen it before now so maybe next year will be better!

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  9. It would e hard to choose between the flowers, but the floppy heads (I have one of those -- on the roses, that is, not me -- also a David Austin) might point me towards the more upright form. My Austin rose is 'William Morris' and this is his third summer -- but if he doesn't pull his socks up soon he'll be gone after my Grand Simplification. It's a lovely coral with a form similar to your 'Lichfield Angel'. Drop by Toronto some time soon and I might bequeath it to you.

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  10. The roses in your garden are delightful VW. The petals are so intricate in the second shot and it looks beautiful against the sky. Why don't you put them on cards~~they are lovely. gail

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  11. I have never seen so beautiful roses in this color. Aren't they just exquisite. i love the second shot of Lichfield Angel. thanks for sharing. Congrats on your blog nominated for best landscaping blog in blotanical awards 2009. Best of luck!!!

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  12. Yes, get those cards on the market! Start with your local nursery? Lovely.

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  13. Photo's number 1 and 4 are my favorite, yes you could make note cards out of them!!!!! Hmmmm that gives me an idea!

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