There’s a quiet sense of momentum across the gardens as spring begins to take hold here in Albrighton. The mornings are still cool, often touched with a light frost, while the days arrive bright and clear, carrying a little more warmth with each passing week.

Spring has a way of changing how we see things. The garden feels lighter, looser, and full of possibility. For stylist and fashion-obsessed Sarah Corbett-Winder, this season is full of promise.  Known for her effortless aesthetic, Sarah trades her wardrobe for garden gloves on the Welsh Shropshire border to learn the basics of rose planting from David Austin^®’s head rosarian, Liam.

Fragrance is one of the most memorable qualities a rose can offer. A single bloom can perfume a whole corner of the garden, while a path edged with scented roses can transform an ordinary walk into something quietly special. Yet not every rose smells the same, and understanding the different types of fragrance can help you choose varieties that bring the experience you are hoping for.

Mulching is one of the simplest and most beneficial tasks you can do for your roses each year. In spring, a protective layer placed around the base of the plant helps the soil retain moisture, suppresses weeds and gradually enriches the ground with nutrients as it breaks down.

Shrub roses bring generosity to the garden. Their softly cupped blooms, graceful habit and long flowering season make them natural focal points within a border. Yet, when thoughtfully paired with companion plants, they become part of something even richer: a tapestry of colour, texture and life that unfolds through the seasons. Companion planting is not simply about filling the spaces around a rose. The right partners can extend seasonal interest, encourage beneficial insects and create a garden that feels harmonious and full of movement.

In our previous guide, “Choosing Your Rose Colour,” we explored how colour is often the first thing that draws us to a rose. Once colour has caught the eye, the next detail many gardeners begin to notice is the shape and size of the flower itself.

Royal Mail has unveiled a new collection of stamps celebrating the rose, featuring ten botanical watercolour illustrations created by the acclaimed artist Marie Burke. The collection captures a range of roses, from delicate wild species to well-loved garden varieties. Among them is Rosa Constance Spry, the first English Rose bred by our founder, David C. H. Austin.

Caring for English Roses is as much about understanding their needs as it is about admiring their beauty. With the right nourishment at the right time, roses grow with greater strength, produce more abundant blooms, and remain resilient through the changing seasons.

When choosing a rose, colour is often the first thing that captures our attention. Long before we notice fragrance or the form of the bloom, it is usually the colour that quietly draws us in.

In early spring the garden begins to feel quietly alive again. The rose bushes, which only weeks ago stood still and bare, begin to show the first gentle signs that the new season is underway.

In our previous article, we began with a simple but important question: where will your rose live? Once you have considered the space available, whether a border, a container, or a wall, the next step is just as helpful.

Chosen for the cover of the Handbook of Roses 2026, Bathsheba^® (Auschimbley) is a climbing rose distinguished by warmth, balance, and quiet refinement. The blooms appear in generous clusters, each flower a soft interplay of apricot and gentle yellow. Petals are arranged with relaxed elegance, creating a display that feels both abundant and composed. The fragrance is rich and characteristic, a classic myrrh scent with delicate notes of honey and tea.

Choosing a rose is one of the quiet pleasures of gardening. In this first article of a short series, we look at some of the simple things to consider when choosing the perfect spot for a rose in your garden.