Things are looking.......

This David Austin rose Lilac Rose has always flowered well but now it has started producing these huge flowers. I have had it for several years but we moved it this last winter to a sunnier spot. It has never produced flowers this size!

The flowers start as a pale pink tight bud and as they open become more lilac hued. In fact, the colour is similar to that of a bridesmaid's dress my cousin chose for me (+ 3 others) to wear to her wedding but let's not go there!

The roses do have delicious honey-like scent - beautiful. It's showy and blousy (it's a double) before all the petals fall off. I love seeing the soft pinky lilac petals on the ground.

I have even managed to strike cuttings from this rose. The plant was doing well until a possum or wallaby ate the soft young leaves. It's now wrapped in a cone of chicken wire......hopefully it will recover enough to grow, if not flower.

I like Roger Phillips' web site. Lots of pictures of roses and some information. Good for identifying them. He has a similar one on mushrooms and other guides should be available soon.