Mary Rose
Mary Rose should be my favourite rose, for the name if nothing else! This was my first David Austin rose, purchased when I knew very little about roses. The idea of an English Rose was appealing to me as an ex-pat, and Mary Rose promised soft pink old-fashioned looking flowers.
Mary Rose Flowers
I'd also read that Mary Rose grew well in the rugged garden on a high country station near Lake Tekapo, New Zealand. Ha! A rugged rose, but so sweet, and the prettiest pink - the perfect combination!
So it was purchased, cuttings were taken which rooted easily, and in two years a group of three have been established in the bed near the breakfast chairs. One, quite by accident, is a much darker pink - a sport. Naturally I bought in more Marys - one grows happily in the sunshine by the pergola.
the sweetly named mary rose
Mary Rose has nice differences in colour from the dark pink of the buds to the pale pink of the petals which have dropped to the ground. If I was being completely honest I'd say that Mary the rose (like Mary the gardener) at times lacks stamina...