End of Season Roses: Fairy near the back steps

End of Season Roses: Star of the Republic in the Triangle Garden

End of Season Roses: Gruss an Aachen in the Children's Garden

End of Season Roses: Rose de Rescht in the Egg Garden

End of Season Roses: Nur Mahal Hybrid Musk Rose Bred by Bishop Pemberton Next to the Lamp Post

End of Season Roses: Danae in the Cutting Garden

British Rose Garden Tour - Summer 2010

This is a tour I would love. From Clair Martin at Great Rosarians Blog: "I signed the contract for the Summer of British Rose Gardens tour for next year. The tour meets up in London on Tuesday, June 15 and we end on June 25, 2010." Montisfont Abbey Gardens, David Austin Rose Garden, and more!
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Clair Martin is the first Shannon Curator of the Rose Garden at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens located in San Marino, California a position he has held since 1983.

End of Season Roses: Roulette in the Egg Garden

End of Season Roses: Heritage David Austin Rose in the Children's Garden

End of Season Roses: Delicata on Goldberry Hill

End of Season Roses: Cecil Brunner on Goldberry Hill

End of Season Roses: Ballerina on Goldberry Hill

End of Season Roses: Dortmund on the Arbor

Rosa Rubrifolia Hips on Goldberry Hill

Celine Forestier (1842), Noisette Rose, on the Arbor to the Children's Garden

Bonica, Shrub Rose, on Goldberry Hill

Frau Dagmar Hastrup (1914), Rugosa Rose, on Goldberry Hill

Mary Rose David Austin Rose in the Hydrangea Border

As a follow-up to my post How to Care for David Austin Roses, I realized I have never posted a picture of one of my favorites, Mary Rose.

Ask Heirloom Gardener: What Should I Do About Black Spot on my Roses?

Question from the mailbag (heirloomgardener [at] aol [dot] com): I have about 30 rose bushes and most are struggling due to black spot. What should I do?

Answer from Heirloom Gardener: Regarding the black spot, I wouldn't worry about it at this time of year. It won't kill the plant, even if all of the leaves fall off. If you want to prevent black spot on your roses next season, start your maintenance in the spring. I spray dormant oil right before the plant leafs out which kills any over-wintering spores that cause black spot as well as insects, etc. If you spray it now, it will kill the plant. After the plant leafs out, I spray with neem oil that smothers the spores every two weeks except during the heat of summer when it will burn the leaves.

Related posts: Dormant Oil Application for Pest Prevention

Ask Heirloom Gardener: How to care for David Austin Roses

Question from the mailbag (heirloomgardener [at] aol [dot] com): I read your post about how to care for heirloom roses. Does this apply to David Austin roses?

Answer from Heirloom Gardener: Yes, everything I wrote in my post about how to care for heirloom roses applies to David Austin roses. They are stronger than hybrid tea roses, not as strong as heirloom roses, but have the benefit of fragrance and repeat blooms. Relative to heirloom roses, here are some of my observations.

1. They all need a lot of water and very rich soil.

2. Because they were developed in the more moderate English climate, I have observed a few differences in their growth habit in New Jersey: they grow taller than stated on the plant tag, so I locate them in areas to accommodate the extra height; they are leggier, so I grow them in groups; and the summer is sunnier and hotter here, so they are healthier for me in part shade.

3. Some are better than others as it relates to health and vigor. In my experience, the best are: Graham Thomas, Heritage (pictured above), Abraham Darby, Sophie's Rose and Mary Rose. Mary Rose is a sport of Winchester Cathedral, so my assumption is that Winchester Cathedral is as healthy as Mary Rose. I grew Mayflower which was healthy, but be warned that rain spoils the flowers. I also grow Molineaux because it is beautiful, but it requires a lot more coddling. I grew other David Austin roses that were less healthy, so I removed them from the garden.

Related posts: How to Care for Heirloom Roses; Are Heirloom Roses Hard to Grow?; Six Trouble-Free Heirloom Roses