Wow, that’s an amazing bloom! That’s why we love Abe, for sure! That’s a perfect bloom, if I ever saw one. The thrips seem to like my Abe as much as I do. Some blooms are lovely and some are ruined around the edges. There’s no rhyme or reason to it. Mine is doing great, but I cut all the buds that were near opening and sent them home with Sarah last week. I failed to take any pictures of the Abe Darby’s:( There are more coming. Abe is rather swamped by everything else, at the moment, but they’re mostly annuals. They will be out of Abe’s way soon enough. All I have to show today, are buds of future blooms. Lisa

I had him in the early-mid 2000s. I also had a perfume based on him from a company called Chantecaille. It was called "Darby Rose" (now discontinued).

As the years passed, now and then a memory of his fragrance would come to me and I would inadvertently drool. He was the one that started my rose craziness.

When I saw him in the nursery a few weeks ago I bought three of him! Although young, all three bushes are all blooming machines at the moment. But the stems are so thin and the flowers so heavy that they droop to the ground. His growth habit reminds me of an octopus.

I love this rose but mine burned in the sun and sulked in the shade, but I think it's one of Austin's best creations in terms of beauty and allure. Lovely pictures, everyone.

Noseometer - that’s a gorgeous bloom. So very petal-packed.

And, another great pic, SJN.

Abe is one of the earlier bloomers for me so he’s past the spring flush, which was modest this year. There are a few blooms and buds remaining. If the past 7 years are anything to go by, he will soon happily rust for a few weeks, and I will just snip off as many leaves as I can get to. Soon after that he will send up second and third rounds of blooms, and if he gets enough summer water more after that.

His growth is awkward and the heavy blooms nod; but the fragrance and beauty make him a keeper in my garden.

We had a light drizzle this past Saturday; here are pics from that morning:

Jo

Nice roses SJN and jo_pyeweed! Thanks for sharing. Lisa, so much to anticipate! Doesn't it seem to take forever for the buds to develop and open?

Abe with lots of ruffled petals, great color and scent. Austins are some of the first roses to bloom in my garden each spring and Abe is one the first Austins. Love this rose!

Ann

Wow that's a beut!

Mine is finishing its first flush.

Nik, your Abe looks huge! Thanks for sharing.

It is large but not huge because I keep it pruned. It is about 5ft wide by 4ft tall.

My Abe is rusting and blackspotting...but I can hardly wait until he blooms! Ha, ha. Oh, that scent! I love all the perfectly exquisite close-ups. Drop dead gorgeous! Carol