Sir Benjamin and Sir Edward Roses

These two lordly English roses have been growing in my rose garden for some years now. Of course they're both named after two famous English composers - Sir Benjamin Britten and Sir Edward Elgar.

Musical anglophiles should now avert their eyes and block their ears. For, rather like the two English musical men, these two David Austin English roses have been patchy in their creative performances in my garden.

Sir Benjamin Britten produces lots of blooms, with much bravado, but they wilt, or droop, or ball before my eyes. The whole effect can be rather unspectacular, a little underwhelming - and this, unfortunately, parallels my usual thoughts regarding the composer himself. But, just when I think my opinion is set in stone, Sir Benjamin will surprise me with beauty and brilliance. Oops...

Sir Edward Elgar

And as for Sir Edward Elgar - well, really. He is a tall, upright rose - so far, so good. And the colour is strong and manly, as befits a 'Sir'. But he never produces more than one or two blooms worthy of notice. Sir Edward rarely does much in my garden, and a few more flowering stems would be a real treat. Rather like his namesake the composer, the memorable bits are few and far between. But oh so wonderfully memorable... Hee hee...

By the way, I adore some of Benjamin Britten's chirpy Ceremony of Carols, and a couple of Elgar's schmaltzy orchestral sing-alongs (like Nimrod). I'm not sounding very biased, am I?