Today David C. H. Austin would have turned 100 years old. A special milestone for a man who forever changed the garden rose landscape. His vision – roses with the charm and fragrance of old roses, but with the strength and bloom abundance of modern varieties – still lives on every day in gardens around the world.

For me, this is not just a name from a book or a label on a rose. I had the privilege to meet him personally, together with Tim Hobbs from Tambuzi. A moment I will never forget. No grand display, no boasting – but a man with calm conviction, sharp observations, and an almost endless love for roses.

What touched me most was his attention to detail. David Austin didn’t just look at color or shape, but at character. At fragrance. At how a rose behaves in a garden, through the seasons. He had an impeccable sense of balance: romantic yet strong, classic yet innovative.

His English Roses taught the modern garden to dream again. Rich fragrances, full blooms, soft colors – roses that evoke emotion. Roses you don’t just see, but truly experience. That is his legacy.

That encounter, and everything he stood for, deeply inspired me. It is one of the reasons why I do what I do. Why Belle Epoque exists. Because I believe roses are more than plants. They tell stories. They bring memories to life. They connect generations.

At Belle Epoque, I seek that same soul in roses: quality, character, and beauty that lasts. Just like with David Austin, for me it’s not about quick trends, but about roses that deserve a place in the garden – and in the heart of the enthusiast.

Today I pause for a moment. Out of respect. Out of gratitude. And with pride that I, in my own way, may continue to build on the path he paved.

David Austin lives on. In his roses. And in everything they continue to inspire.