In Rose Gardens of Australia Susan Irvine explores over 30 of the country's finest gardens to discover which roses thrive in Australia and how rose-lovers are growing them. Everywhere she goes, rose-growers tell her how they planned and planted; what allowances they made for the conditions of their region; how they feed and prune their roses; which roses they find most successful--and which ones they love best. Here are Rugosas and Banksia roses flourishing on the dry inland plains, "Minnie Watson" blooming in the shade of an old colonial garden, David Austin's "Leander" happily existing near the sea, and "Moonlight" framing an urn in a formal city courtyard. As Susan Irvine encounters the roses growing in the gardens of Australia, she discusses their history, breeding, and uses, and suggests other roses that would suit similar gardens and climates. She provides information on over 400 roses, many of which are captured in the 220 superb photographs by Simon Griffiths, and included in her comprehensive lists of roses to grow.

Susan Irvine was educated at the universities of Queensland and Heidelberg, Germany, and capped a long teaching career with her appointment in 1972 to the position of Principal of Lauriston Girls' School. In the 1980s her growing passion for roses led her to establish the well-known gardens of Bleak House and Erinvale. In 1994 she was the recipient of the Australian Rose. She has recently been made a Life Member of the Heritage Rose Society of Australia. Simon Griffiths is a leading photographer of food, interiors and gardens. His photography appears frequently in the major lifestyle magazines and in books such as Stephanie Alexander's Kitchen Garden Companion and Kylie Kwong: My China. In the field of gardening and landscape design he has collaborated with Rick Eckersley and Lisa Stafford on their book Outside, with Jenna Reed Burns on Australian Gardens for a Changing Climate, and with noted rosarian Susan Irvine on The Garden at Forest Hall. He has also worked closely with leading Australian garden designer Paul Bangay on all his books, most recently The Garden at Stonefields. He is the author and photographer of Shack and Shed.