David Austin: Breeding English Roses with Timeless Charm and Fragrance

David Austin, a renowned English rose breeder, shown alongside his famous 'Graham Thomas' rose.

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. February 16, 1926 Dearest reader, On this day, we celebrate the birth of the illustrious David Austin, an English rose breeder and writer whose visionary work transformed gardens across the world. Known affectionately…

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A Look Back at the Massive Funeral for Charles Darwin

An engraving of Darwin's funeral from the cover of The Graphic.

“Darwin was buried at the Abbey next to the eminent scientist Sir John Herschel and just a few feet away from Sir Isaac Newton.” April 26, 1882 On this day, thousands of people attended the funeral of Charles Darwin, which was held at noon sharp at Westminster Abbey.   On his deathbed, at Down House,…

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David Austin: The Rose Breeder Who Brought Charm and Fragrance to Gardens

David Austin, a renowned English rose breeder, shown alongside his famous 'Graham Thomas' rose.

The Constance Spry December 18, 2018 Today is the second anniversary of the death of the rose breeder and writer David Austin. When David passed away, I found some old advertisements that he posted in The Observer in 1973. That post was already twelve years after creating his first commercially available Rose – the Constance…

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December 18, 2020 The Best Stunning Winter Bark, Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, Lady Cromer, David Austin, a 700-year-old Christmas tree, Rachel Peden, Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist by Michael Judd, and the story of the Tom Cox Arboretum

The Daily Gardener Podcast Album Cover with a pot of rosemary - the herb for remembrance - beckoning gardeners to remember to listen to the show. Updated September 2025.

Subscribe Apple | Google | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Support The Daily Gardener Buy Me A Coffee  Connect for FREE! The Friday Newsletter |  Daily Gardener Community Curated News The Best Plants For Stunning Winter Bark | Gardening Etc | Sarah Wilson Botanical History On This Day 1829 Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, French naturalist who outlined…

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