Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Roses (already)

Yesterday I preordered two more English roses to add to my garden this year. From my experience last spring, as well as lurking on David Austin rose forums and Facebook pages, a lot of varieties sell out fast. As soon as ordering opens up in January, it's best to go ahead and order if you want to be assured of getting the roses you want. My order is supposed to ship sometime in February, which is just as well, since we're in a prolonged, bitterly cold weather pattern at the moment.

My two new roses for 2026:

Benjamin Britten


Desdemona

27 comments:

Mistress Maddie said...

Keep this up and you'll be like me with upwards of 20 some rosebushes!!!

Miss Merry said...

Gorgeous!

Janie Junebug said...

Those will be lovely additions to your garden.

Love,
Janie

Damselfly said...

Desdemona has a wonderful fragrance!

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Two beautiful roses!

Dave R said...

The Desdemona are beautiful. I have some similar and they are so fragrant.

Ur-spo said...

What a delight knowing there is a rose named after Mr. Britten.

Cro Magnon said...

The last rose I bought was called André Le Notre. It's a very perfumed pink tea rose, named after the man who designed the gardens at Versailles. Lovely. I didn't know there was a BB rose.

Librarian said...

I love the Desdemona one! Benjamin Britten has an anniversary this year, I think it's 50 years since he died or something.

Moving with Mitchell said...

Your rose garden is going to be amazing.

Jennifer said...

I wish! My yard isn't big enough for all that--not if I want to grow anything else. I wish I could see your garden, Maddie. I just know it's beautiful!

Jennifer said...

I really want roses for cutting one of these days!

Jennifer said...

I've been thinking about which two varieties to add for a year. I'm glad the decision is made now!

Jennifer said...

I can't wait to find out!

Jennifer said...

Thank you, Debra. They're supposed to be good for cutting, which is important to me. :)

Jennifer said...

I always love hearing about your roses, Dave. You definitely have a green thumb!

Jennifer said...

I hate to admit it, but I'd never heard of Mr. Britten prior to seeing this rose.

Jennifer said...

Old French roses! I wish I had room for dozens of roses. Sigh.

Jennifer said...

That's interesting! I'll have to look that up.

Jennifer said...

I daydream about big vases full of roses in the house. We shall see!

jabblog said...

Glorious roses. David Austin roses are so strong and healthy.

Bob said...

Gorgeous. Carlos' roses are also starting to bloom giving us nice flashes of color!

Ellen D. said...

Those are lovely. I hope you have great success with them!

Ms. Moon said...

Beautiful! Roses are such almost magical flowers.

Michael said...

You are a master gardener in my book!

Colette said...

Stunning.

Haggerty said...

Pre-ordering roses is a great way of fighting the winter blues.
I did not know there was a rose called Desdemona. Exquisite.
The other one could be painted by Fantin-Latour or Monet. Thanks.