Falstaff was way ahead in the rose race — first buds, first to begin opening — but as we see, he still hasn’t gotten fully opened.

He has spent the past week trying to get this one bloom fully opened, and it is still only about halfway.

Perhaps he is the kind of guy — er, rose — that likes to get things right, even if it takes a long time. After all, he is David Austin’s “best crimson.” That’s a lot to live up to.

 

Montezuma, on the other hand, went from closed bud to this in one day.

Once he gets going, he will be covered in blossoms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

However, New Dawn came out and pipped them both at the post with the first full-blown rose.

 

Joseph’s Coat, which had the first rose last year, is still asleep.