When people think of David Austin, the words immediately come to mind – “dear gatherer”. But the reality is much different. A true garden rose fan knows there is much more to landscaping with flowers than just putting them in a vase. They realize that David has been working on his roses for over 40 years, so he has spent a lifetime perfecting his craft. He wants you to enjoy the beauty of his hard work and the flowers you grow with him. With that in mind, here are some of his secrets for landscaping with flowers.
“My dream garden was always going to have a mix of sorts,” says David. The words invoke memories of his beloved elderly grandmother who sipped tea in her rocking chair while enjoying a potted rose by her side. ” Nostalgia for those beautiful, old-fashioned blooms has led to a huge surge in interest in garden roses in both the home landscaping market and all indications indicate that they’re here to stay.” David has spent his whole life perfecting his rose varieties, so your arrangement should reflect that love of vintage beauty.
“I love growing roses,” says David, “but unlike other gardeners, I want my plants to thrive, so I prune them every few years, trim their hedges, and wash away dead flower petals daily. My goal is to create a garden that’s as good looking as it is useful. In other words, I don’t just want you to enjoy a beautiful garden – I want you to know that making it happen means putting in hard work, dedication and long hours.” In addition to his love of roses, David has honed his skills at building traditional wood decks, creating flower displays, and designing lighting fixtures.
The variety of David Austin garden roses available is quite extensive. He grows them from the ground up on an old-fashioned potting bench (no, really), and then hand-selects what kinds of specimens are moved from them to the vase and eventual flower bed. “The best Roses for Fall are those that are the most resistant to frost, so I get a young tree or bush cuttings from the ground up before the first frost. Often times I’ll choose types that like the shade underfoot,” David continues. “Then I’ll plant them in a mixture of medium to heavy-leaved perennials such as creeping thyme, creeping barberry, and red bush roses.”
“I use a blend of European species: Calla lilies, Shasta daisy flowers, and California poppies for fall flower bouquets. I’ve found the combination of Calla lily flowers, and the red bush rose species make for the most dramatic garden roses for Fall. They’re dramatic, unique, and very beautiful,” says David Austin. “But the key is to make sure you don’t crowd them together, or any one will suffer from lack of flower color.”
“I try to select plants that are very well-suited to their climate. For example, Red Obake flowers have to be frozen for several weeks before planting. If you do that, you can expect flowers to come up in early spring, maybe even earlier. Otherwise you could have a late bloom, and you want your Fall flowers to have as much color as possible.”
There are other David Austin garden rose varieties that produce showy flowers throughout the year. One is Shasta Daisy, a member of the meadow rose family, which blooms in Winter. “I also grow Calla lilies, and they’re perfect for Fall,” says David. “I love the way they open up just before the first frost. And I love the vibrant colors, they bring to our garden beds.” All of his flowers and orchids bloom late in Autumn, but he grows them all through the year.
Most people don’t have David Austin garden roses, but if you have a backyard filled with landscapes, or a beautiful landscaping, he may be something to consider. His rose varieties produce magnificent blooms. “I only keep some of the best. Some I give away, and a few I sell. But the rest I let pass… because they’re all part of my wonderful garden,” says David.