David Austin Roses 20 – Ambridge

According to the David Austin Site:

A short, bushy rose that can be used in rose beds or towards the front of a border. The flowers are medium-sized and apricot-pink in color, becoming a very soft, pale pink towards the edges. At first they are of neat,cupped formation, later opening out into very attractive rosettes. A tough free-flowering and altogether trouble-free rose, which does particularly well in the hotter areas. It has the the fine English Rose myrrh fragrance, which is almost unique to English Roses.

Named for the very well-loved British radio series The Archers, which has been running for over 50 years.

Taken with a Sony A77II and Minolta Maxxum AF 50mm f2.8 Macro.

David Austin Roses 19 – Princess Alexandra of Kent

According to the David Austin Site:

‘Princess Alexandra of Kent’ has unusually large flowers of a warm, glowing pink. They are full-petalled and deeply cupped in shape; the ring of soft pink outer petals enclosing the warm pink inner petals, creating a most pleasing effect. In spite of their size, the flowers are never clumsy and are held nicely poised above the foliage. They have a delicious fresh tea fragrance which, interestingly, changes completely to lemon as the flowers age – eventually taking on additional hints of blackcurrants. Very healthy.


We were honoured to name this rose for Princess Alexandra, who is a cousin to Queen Elizabeth II. She is a keen gardener and great lover of roses.

Taken with a Sony A77II and Minolta Maxxum AF 50mm f2.8 Macro.

David Austin Roses 18 – Gertrude Jeckyll

According to the David Austin Site:

The flowers of this rose start as perfect little scrolled buds and soon open into the most beautiful, large, rosette-shaped flowers of rich glowing pink. The most outstanding characteristic of this lovely rose is its beautiful and perfectly balanced Old Rose scent. This is often described as being the quintessential Old Rose fragrance. The foliage and growth are similar to that of a Portland Rose, with the typical Portland widely spaced leaflets. It is always one of the first English Roses to start flowering.

Gertrude Jekyll was a famous garden designer and author, who has had a profound effect on the style of English gardens of the present day. She advocated incorporating roses in mixed borders and created over 400 picturesque gardens in the UK, Europe and America. She received the Veitch Memorial Medal and the RHS Victoria Medal of Honour.

Taken with a Canon EOS 5d and Canon EF 50mm f1.8.

David Austin Roses 17 – Thomas à Becket

According to the David Austin Site:

This is a variety of very different character from the general run of English Roses, being rather closer to the Species Roses than to the Old Roses and more natural and shrubby in growth. The individual flowers can best be described as shallowly cupped, opening as informal rosettes; the petals quickly reflexing as the flowers age. They are held in medium-sized heads; the individual blooms nodding attractively on the stem. They have an Old Rose fragrance with a strong lemon zest character. The colour is difficult to describe or even photograph: the best we can say is an attractive light red paling to carmine red.

We were asked to name this rose for Canterbury Cathedral and were very pleased to do so.

Taken with a Sony A77II and Minolta Maxxum AF 50mm f2.8 Macro.

David Austin Roses 16 – Strawberry Hill

According to the David Austin Site:

Bears small clusters of medium-sized, pure rose pink, cupped rosettes. The blooms are of superb quality, looking beautiful at all stages. As they age, their petals gradually pale at the edges and they eventually expose glimpses of yellow stamens. There is a strong, delicious myrrh and heather honey fragrance. A very healthy variety.

Strawberry Hill is a beautiful gothic revival house in Twickenham, London, which was built by Horace Walpole, son of the first British Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole. He laid out a fine garden which, along with the house, has recently been restored.

Taken with a Sony A77II and Minolta Maxxum AF 50mm f2.8 Macro.