David Austin is a rose breeder who has a garden and nursery in Albrighton, near Wolverhampton in England. Breeding new roses takes many years, but the beauty of a rose is something that we English take for granted and where better to see old and new breeds than in David Austin’s garden. You can discover English Roses which originate from the Old Roses and Modern Hybrid Tea and Floribundas; the object being to combine the charm and fragrance of an Old Rose with the colours and repeat-flowering of a Modern Rose. Fragrances vary from the old rose, tea rose, musk, cedar, vanilla, fruity and myrrh.
Super Excelsa Rambling Rose
To enter the gardens you pass through the Gift shop, but don’t linger there despite all its attractions, just pick up a garden map and a rose catalogue and make your way through the courtyard where container roses and standards are displayed, to the start of the Long Garden, blending English and Old Roses in its many borders.
Benches at the end of the formal borders in the long garden offer a peaceful and fragrant place to rest and admire the roses
Ramblers and climbers drip over the pergolas lining the borders.
Climbing Roses
You can wander through the Long Garden along the borders and note down the roses that you like, or you can, like me, just wander. But whatever you do, do not forget to stop and bend and sniff the different fragrances. I was curious enough to seek out roses with intriguing names such as ‘The Ingenious Mr Fairchild‘ which sadly had finished flowering. I was more than happy with the ones I did find though; The Poet’s Wife, The Lark Ascending, The Generous Gardener…
Leading off the Long Garden is the Species Garden where roses that produce wonderful hips are grown. The open single flowers attracting many bees and hoverflies. At the far end is the Victorian Garden laid out in a circular walled garden with a lovely statue in the centre, framed by iron arches and many climbing roses.
In the centre of the Long Garden is the delightfully named Renaissance Garden, a classic rose garden complete with a canal and loggia with benches in the shade. A place to sit and contemplate and decide which of the roses to hunt down next.
Renaissance Garden
From here you can exit through the aptly named Pillar garden, where ramblers and climbing roses drape up and over the pillars and pergolas, and into the final garden, the Lion Garden, so named because of the stone lion taking pride of place against the brick wall covered in a delightful violet-blue clematis. A lion which attracts many small people to sit at its base I might add. This garden area is the one where more companion perennial flowers are grown – spikes of purple Veronicastrum, bright eye-blue salvia, deep reds and orange rudbeckia and pink sedum vie for attention among the roses.
The Lion
It is not a huge garden, but with so much to see you may want to go around it a couple of times. I know I did. Finally ending my visit in the Gallery coffee shop for a coffee and a piece of carrot cake. All good things come to an end.
The Gallery Coffee Shop
Earth laughs in flowers 
What a delightful place. It must smell heavenly.
It does, but more so in June when the old roses are at their peak.
Yes old rose varietiescan smell wonderful.
I’m so happy you’ve taken us on such a beautiful walk Jude! My favourite rose garden in the Perth Hills was taken over by new owners recently who have not been very respectful of the roses and sadly many have been removed (though I do believe the nursery may be in the process of relocating). They used to have the most gorgeous rose collection including David Austin roses and I loved reading all the inscriptions, which told you all about them. The colours here are superb and the scent must be divine! Have very much enjoyed your pictorial tour thank you! 🙂
Thank YOU Rosemary. A shame we haven’t got the means to add fragrance to our blogs yet. I’m sure that day will come…
That would be a great invention Jude if anyone can come up with it! For now I’ll have to imagine the fragrance!
You have made my day with these beautiful roses, the photos are stunning. I really miss them and I see you are going to give us another post, I’ll wait with bated breath… I had to chuckle at all the toing and froing in the comments. Now may I put in my vote for you all to come over here were distance is never a consideration….
My Gertrude Jekyll has six more buds (I missed her flowering in June as we were away and came back to find her almost dead 😦 but pruned her back and now she is growing again) I hope she doesn’t flower whilst I am away, AGAIN! …for a small island it takes forever to get anywhere, too much traffic!
and also so much to see… Hope you catch her flowering this year.
Oh this is just gorgeous Jude, I have to go! I can almost smell the roses from here, you promised a rose garden indeed! A stunning display for the senses and a perfect day out by the looks of it 🙂 xx
Mid-June is probably the best time. Combine it with a stay in Ironbridge. Avoid Wolverhampton.
My mum went to Ironbridge a few years ago and loved it. I think she went around June time. I shall have to grill her further! Thanks Jude 🙂
I can see myself spending a delirious afternoon in this gorgeous garden!
It’s easily done!
It looks like so beautiful I’d want to spend the entire day.
You could certainly spend several hours here 🙂
Your photos are stunning, Jude. I love the interesting views you have captured.