Now Smell This

Alyssa from Now Smell This (a perfume blog) wrote a lovely posting after visiting the display gardens in Brenham recently. Read it here.

Did you see this?

I went to Brenham on Saturday to visit the gardens and see a couple of the Fall Festival's speakers.

Were you there, too?

Rosa moschata ("Musk Rose" - species rose) single white petals with a huge fragrance.

African orchid tree (Bauhinia galpinii).

Growing fields (Mike says there are over 100,000 roses on 20+ acres).

Helen Caine of David Austin Roses presentation.

Including the "Texas Top 12"
Heritage, Windermere, The Dark Lady, Molineaux,
Jude the Obscure, Sophy's Rose, William Shakespeare, The Ainwick Rose,
Carding Mill, Lady Emma, Darcy Bussell, Princess Alexandra

A few of my notes on Helen's presentation:

Graham Thomas was not included on the Texas Top 12 list but Helen did express throughout her presentation what an excellent performer this rose is. We agree.

Carding Mill does very well in Texas but not so well in the United Kingdom.

David Austin Roses are grafted onto Dr. Huey rootstock. They are beginning to offer own root but says to "visit our website for more information".

Windermere (AUShomer) was in Helen's presentation (I have the photo to prove it) but is not listed in the catalog or on their website (hmmm...). See info I did find here.

BTW - Molineaux is a variety you will sometimes find at our retail nurseries - call before you make the trip as it sells out quickly. It is not in the mail order catalog.

I love this photo of Constance Spry (Spring bloomer) taken near Pixar Studios.

Just in case you would like a bouquet of David Austin Roses any day of the week...

Not from the same variety bushes one would plant in the garden. These rose bush varieties are bred to have long stems and to be able to produce blooms in the commercial floral environment. They are, however, still David Austin Roses and have fragrance, old fashion bloom form with many, many petals.

Fall Festival of Roses in Brenham

The weather is perfect this weekend.

Come visit our free Fall Festival.

Here's the line-up.

23rd Annual Fall Festival of Roses

November 5, 6, and 7, 2010
9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

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Friday, November 5^th

10:30 am

Glenn Schroeter

Rooting Rose Cuttings
Join Glenn, ARE’s own propagation manager, for this “hands on” presentation and take home some cuttings to root on your windowsill.

1:30 pm

Mike Shoup

Creating New Roses
Mike will teach us how to grow roses from cutting or seed. You can learn a...bout passing along a part of history or making your own history as a breeder. Rose lore galore!

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Saturday, November 6^th

10:00 am

Malcolm Manners

Budding Roses
Malcolm Manners is a horticulture professor from Lakeland Florida. Thomas Affleck, a mid 1800’s Texas nurseryman. was known to have grafted a rose with twelve different flowers on it. Watch and learn from Malcolm as he replicates this feat.

1:00 pm

Helen Caine

David Austin Roses
David Austin roses are the most popular, beautiful and fragrant of all modern garden roses today. Helen will show us the newest varieties as well as her favorites for fragrance and color.

3:00 pm

Felder Rushing

Gardening Wisdom for Southern Gardeners

Felder is the nation’s most popular garden speaker and humorist. Come prepared for gut-wrentching laughter and insightful garden tips and lore.

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Sunday, November 7^th

1:00 pm and 2:00 pm - Guided Walking Tours
Guided walking tours of the display gardens will be given by Gayle Wehring (manager) or Mike Shoup (owner) concentrating on garden design, companion plantings and maintenance.

Bring a Camera
All Programs are FREE!

Tours of the Growing Fields

on Saturday, and Sunday
(Free Ticket from Office is Required -

Space Limited!)

10,000 FM 50, Brenham, Texas 77833
For Further Information call (979) 836-5548

Food Vendors and picnic facilities present