David Austin, The Godfather of the English Rose

 

Internationally renowned horticulturalist, David Charles Henshaw Austin died yesterday, at the age of 92.  In his lifetime, the Shropshire, England based rose grower gave the world 230 new breeds of roses.  As many mournful gardeners have said, "he will live forever in our gardens".  

In recent years, I have photographed many David Austin roses growing on my Toronto balcony, in a nearby park, and in Victoria's Butchart Gardens.  

A Shropshire lad, Austin began breeding roses as a hobby when he was a teenager.  His name became synonymous with fine quality roses, from his very first, the pale pink Constance Spry, to Gertrude Jekyll, Boscobel, Jubilee Celebration, James Galway, Queen of Sweden, Winchester Cathedral, Shropshire Lad, a white rose, named for his daughter, Claire Austin, and perhaps his favourite, a very popular pink rose named for his granddaughter, Olivia Rose Austin.

For his contribution to horticulture, Austin was awarded with the Order of the British Empire.  It was awarded in 2007, the same year his wife Pat, a painter and sculptor, died.  It was a marriage of two artists, because rose breeding is as much an art, as it is a science.

Passionate about breeding roses, Austin was still working on new breeds when he was interviewed two years ago, at the age of 90.  The "Godfather of the English Rose" was not planning to retire, and said he wanted to, "breed a really good crimson rose, and continue improving the disease resistance of our roses."  He said he was, "just as excited about breeding roses now as I was when I started doing it as a hobby as a 15-year old."  

Family meant much to David Austin:  from the names he bestowed on his roses, to the nurturing of next generations of Austin growers (his son, David Austin Jr. now heads up the company, and grandson, Richard is part of the team), Austin Sr. has been a family man.  He died at home, surrounded by family.  

 David Austin (1926 - 2018)  Rest in Peace

Photographs Copyrights of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated