Northeast Gardening: Reviewing 2015 Projects and Plants, Challenges and Results, 3 by DonnaMack

DonnaMack wrote:
I have a number of Austins, but I have never bought one from him directly. Is that the source of yours? The only ones attributable to him I bought at Milaegers in Racine in 2005o (they are at my former home). And they were bought at deep discount. The Heritage that was marketed at the old overpriced amount of $24.99 and the Glamis Castle at $$27.99 were actually purchased for $9.99 each. The Glamis was in a Star Nursery pot and the Heritage in a Bailey Nursery pot. They couldn\'t sell them at the higher prices. It was August (great time to buy if you want roses that are subject to blackspot!) and they were big.

All of my other Austins were purchased at placed that grew them own root, like Roses Unlimited and Chamblees, or at Pickering, which uses a stronger grafting plant.

So don\'t blame yourself. While I don\'t buy them from him, I have Heritage, Rose Marie (a white sport of Heritage), 2 Glamis Castle, a Constance Spry (which is zone 4 and only blooms once, but is incredible), 2 Dark Lady, Tess of the D\'Urbervilles, Rose Marie, The Ingenious Mr. Fairchild, Jude the Obscure (obtained as the result of an error).

The ones that were so good that I bought them again are Constance Spry, Glamis Castle, Heritage and Tess of the D\'Urbervilles. I find that his best roses are the really old ones that have stood the test of time. Constance Spry is his first, and although it does not rebloom, I do not think that he has ever topped it. It was introduced by Sunningdale Nurseries in 1961.

This is my two year old Constance Spry at my new home, courtesy of Roses Unlimited. Two years, yes! The third picture shows it in 2013! The year I purchased it.