Rose growing is such a joy in so many ways; I find it brings all sorts of like-minded people together. As rose gardeners we love to share stories and knowledge from rose varieties we love growing – which ones flower the best, perform well and have wonderful fragrances.
This year is no exception. I have received many letters, cards and photos with accounts of the success gardeners have achieved. Regardless of the hard, dry summers, roses have performed beautifully in many parts of Australia.
As we adapt our gardening habits to cope with a changing climate, our approaches to water conservation are also proving successful.
Water collection (tanks), water re-use (grey water), water application (drippers) and mulching to reduce evaporation, are all becoming the norm with home gardeners, councils and public parks. Best of all water conservation does not mean the end of beautiful flowering gardens, just a change of practice and well-chosen, hardy, resilient plants. Roses are certainly proving themselves each year as one of the toughest and most floriferous.
Breeders of the world’s best roses, and in particular Delbard of France, are constantly working towards more heat and sun hardy plants, disease resistance and extra flowering, colour and fragrance.
As I read the feedback from gardeners, it is great to see passionate people still in love with flowers and fragrance. Roses are certainly back as the most popular of flowering plants once again.
This year at Rankin’s Direct we are excited to introduce three new wonderful French Delbards to add to our collections. Alfred Sisley
and Sorbet Fromboise™ are the latest ‘Painters’ and Côte d’Azure™ a new rose from the ‘Parfums’ collection.
As you shall discover, our website is becoming more like a rose handbook of French Roses, Rankin’s Rose Collections, tools, books, soaps, fabulous vases and growers tips on how to get the best from your roses.
Winter is the perfect time to plant your roses and get them established before the heat of summer.
Hopefully you shall be inspired by the great images throughout the site and we can continue to share and enjoy the colours and beauty of roses new and old for years to come.
I hope you enjoy our roses.
Lloyd Rankin.
