Horticultural porn

The David Austin Handbook of Roses 2013/14 has arrived swathed in a plastic wrapper, though not of the opaque variety to be applied to Lads' Mags on supermarket shelves. But perhaps it should be, for this is the gardening equivalent of porn, each page revealing another alluring fantasy in technicolour close-up. Among four new models this year, 'The Albrighton Rambler' is particularly tempting and may join the select band already romping through our fruit trees and hedgerows, such as 'Rambling Rector' (pictured) and that doyenne of climbers, 'Madame Alfred Carrière'.