AJProbably breeder Alister Clark’s finest legacy, Lorraine Lee is a pink to coral Hybrid Gigantea-Tea rose, available either as large shrub or climber. You can read a bit more about Clark on our rose breeders page. We have the climber in our back garden, and it seems this rose is always in flower. Even in … Read moreLorraine Lee
The John Cabot rose is one of the most popular Explorer varieties. If you’re in a cold climate and want a nice looking small shrub/climber, it’s a good choice. It was originally launched in Canada in the late 1970s as one of the first groups of Explorers and has slowly gained favor over the years … Read moreJohn Cabot Rose
Also known as rosa multiflora, but can also be called baby rose or rambler rose, this wild plant has spread rapidly throughout the US and can be found in many meadows, pastures, and forests. It is not a true rambler or climber however. In fact it was commonly used as a hedge or fence for … Read moreMultiflora Rose
Wild roses such as Rosa Canina (the dog rose) are perhaps a little plain to look at, compared to their modern cousins. Generally smaller single flowers in various shades of pink, they have one outstanding feature. The attractive red hips produced in the fall. I think that the name dog rose comes from an old belief that the rose … Read moreRosa Canina
Often described asa strong orange blend, there is no doubt the specimens on this page are more red than orange. And yes, the camera did capture the true tones of this rose. But regardless of whether it’s orange or red, Las Vegas is a beautiful rose. Perhaps not as fragrant as some of our favorite … Read moreLas Vegas
This is one of the earlier of the Austin English roses. Bred in 1986, it is no longer actively marketed due to it being superceded by better varieties. That means you may find it difficult to get a bush from a commercial nursery. Your best bet is to find somebody with a plant and beg … Read moreOthello
The Nearly Wild rose is an extremely hardy and strong growing pink floribunda, although you could be forgiven for mistaking it for one of the species roses you see growing in meadows and hedgerows. This pink Floribunda was first bred in 1941 by Brownell. Parentage is Dr W Van Fleet x Leuchstern. Because of the … Read moreNearly Wild
For some reason, I think of Nancy Steen as being very similar to the English roses, bred by David Austin. It has the same old fashioned look to the blooms, with a good fragrance. I just can’t find a bad word to say about this rose. Lovely subtle hues of coral to salmon pink,fading to … Read moreNancy Steen
As we stand outside amongst the roses, it begins to dawn on us just how much work is going to be involved with getting this garden into shape. Years of neglect have taken their toll. Roses left to run riot with little or no pruning, an irrigation system that looks like rather decrepid and has … Read moreMy Rose Garden, August 2017
This month (August 2017) we moved into our new home. The garden has been sadly neglected over the years, although it is obvious that somebody once lavished a lot of love and attention on it. In particular, the roses. These are all older and well established. If I were to make a guess I would … Read moreMy Rose Garden