I've mentioned before that we go to Chamblee's in Tyler Texas to get roses--huge selection of very healthy roses, and the place smells wonderful! We went yesterday, and I got the roses on my list and then hit the sale barn. David Austin's were on sale! It seems that DA has raised the royalty on their roses and priced themselves out of Chamblee's market, so they were liquidating their inventory. I got a Sophie's Rose and a Mary Rose for the grand total of $7.50. Have you any idea of the self-control I exerted to not grab all the DAs and shout, "Mine, all mine!"
Those will be beautiful in bloom. Just checked out their prices and you got a REALLY good price, I found the DA website selling them for $25 U.S.
If I'd been with you Jane there wouldn't have been a single DA left!! I love DA roses but they are very expensive over here.
Toni, Tyler isn't all that far from you, and although there were just three varieties of DAs, all three were good ones! They also have a good variety of $5 roses in the sale barn. How about a day trip--you, Randy, and a few roses coming home?
Sjoerd, I can't wait either! I always pick roses that have bloomed, but are not in bloom (lessens transplant shock) so I only have the catalog pictures to judge by, and of course the glowing descriptions! I have found that Chamblee's is more honest in their assessment of roses and will tell you if a rose isn't right for your zone or location. I sent a gift card to my sister several years ago, and one of the roses she ordered wasn't suited for Missouri, and Chamblee's contacted her and suggested another rose. She went with their advice and was thrilled with her roses, which grew and bloomed and thrived for her (and she had a black thumb).
Jane you did very well with your two rose bushes,..i have no idea how much DA rose bushes are here but to give you an idea of plant prices,..a friend gave me some flower pots with the price label still on two pots. 1 Snapdragon £4.85=$5.32. 1 Crocosmia Lucifer £9.99=$10.96. So you can imagine what they charge for a David Austin Rose.
All the roses are planted, each tucked into a large hole with compost added and well-watered. I'm still kicking myself for not cleaning Chamblee's out of David Austins!
