Smith & Hawken: 100 English Roses for the American Garden

This is the book I check first when I have a question about an English Rose. The organization is great, the photography is beautiful, and the plants are described by someone who has grown them in the US. This book is therefore best for those growers who live in Southern California, but still, it's better than if it was written by an English grower. This book also describes the negative aspects of varieties, which is one of the most helpful things. One thing that would improve this book is a photo or description of the plant habit so to provide information on where to plant in the garden. E.g. is Abraham Darby staunchly upright, graceful, floppy? This book isn't all-inclusive, and of course there are new roses being released every year, but if you've got to have the latest, does it matter? Check out also 100 Old Roses for the American Garden, by the same author. Also a great book.

This is a fun book for Austin rose lovers, including comments about how English roses actually grow in US climates. However, be advised that most of the current Austin roses available in the US are not included in this volume (newer, healthier options have taken over). I enjoyed this book but think that for those who aren't obsessed with English roses/just want information to guide purchase choices today a more recent book would be a better choice.

This book has been out for a number of years but it contains many of my old favorite David Austins, most of which are still blooming in my garden year after year. The photographs by Saxon Holt are sinfully beautiful. I love to sit in my garden and browse through this book and the companion volume, 100 Old Roses.

Love roses and this is a wonderful book to enjoy.

This series of books are remarkable, each entry treated like botanic illustration accompanied by authentic spot on descriptions

Very nice book -- a little out of date. I grow Austin roses, and many of the new varieties are not included, however there was good information on care and maintenance from David Austin himself, much of which I had not been familiar with before.

I stumbled onto this book because it was featured in the Washington Post in a column written by Adrian Higgins (Henry Mitchell's sucessor). A photograph of the Austrian Copper rose accompanied the article (the cover), and I'm a sucker for burnt-orange, so I followed up on the book. I am very pleased with it.Although the cover is paper, it's a plasticized paper and a sturdy book. I mention this first, because I will refer to the book often, it feels pleasant to hold in the hand, it's easy to carry, and it can get a little moisture on the outside and not crumble.I'm tired of having my roses eaten alive every spring, so I decided to pull out all the hybrids and fall back and regroup. This book takes me back to the old roses that are a little more hardy and can put up with Washington DC weather patterns.The book is nicely laid out. A front section entitled, "What Makes an Old Rose" describes how old roses came to be. The next section is a "field guide" to help you distinguish roses at the nursery. This is followed by 168 pages of roses and text from 'Alba Semi-Plena' to 'Zephrine Drouhin.'What makes this book unique as well as useful is the layout. Each rose is covered in a two-page section. A text description is on the right-hand page, and a closeup photograph of a specimin of the rose showing the bloom, buds, and leaf and branch structure is on the left-hand side. Because it's an actual photo, one can identify the rose in question more easily.The text is useful. Not only are you provided a nice historical write-up on the rose, you are given the 'demographics' including the uses, fragrance, and suseptibility to diseases. Many of the roses appear to be relatively disease free and fragrant--and I found all of them except the "green" rose beautiful.The back of the book contains a list of mail-order houses and gardens where the specimins can be viewed. Since I live in the DC area, I have acces to the U.S. National Arboretum and Woodlawn Plantation, but locations for viewing old roses are located in most states.

If you ever wanted an approachable guide to English roses, this is it! Each variety includes a wonderful full page closeup photo that makes you want to order more and more Austin roses! Interesting history of each variety and great practical tips on how they'll perform. Handy size makes it an easy companion on shopping trips too. Good ideas on rose care but could use a few more illustrations on pruning, for example. Overall, very well done....and a visual treat too.

Hi,This is a nice book to dream over in the winter months, while I plan changes to my rose garden - lovely photos and helpful commentary. Thanks.