Book  (14 Mar 2010)  
 
'Betsy Taaffe' S, ab, Taaffe. [sport of Abraham Darby] Introductions: 1996

Book  (2002)  Page(s) 66.  
 
The first sport to arrive was ‘Betsy Taaffe’, a gift from David Taaffe, a Victorian nurseryman. He had found this soft yellow bloom on a bush of the vivid apricot rose ‘Abraham Darby’ which was growing in his garden…..’Betsy Taaffe’ was named after David Taaffe’s mother, who made a beautiful rose garden in New Zealand. The rose resembles its parent in most respects but the colour varies from soft apricot to lemon yellow. The scent is less strong than that of its parent but it has the ability like ‘Abraham Darby’, to flower over a very long period, and like its parent, it is also a good cut flower.

Book  (1999)  Page(s) 14.  
 
‘Betsy Taaffe (PBR). (Sport of ‘Abraham Darby). Taaffe, Australia. 1996. English rose. yellow/apricot. [available from:] Taaffe

Magazine  (Jan 1998)  Page(s) 57.  Includes photo(s).
 
Susan Irvine. I was delighted to receive, from David Taaffe in Melbourne, a small plant of a rose he has registerered as ‘Betsy Taaffe’. It is a yellow sport of the rich apricot ‘Abraham Darby'. This rose is remarkable for its colour, for the unusual profusion of its blooms and for the rich fruity scent. David Taaffe named his discovery after his mother, who had established a beautiful rose garden in New Zealand. The rose resembles its parent in most respects but the colour varies from soft apricot to lemon yellow. The scent is less pronounced, but it has 'Abraham Darby's' ability to flower over a long period. In fact, last year it flowered almost right through winter. It is a good cut flower and Barbara, David's wife, often fills a rose bowl with it. David Austin himself has taken an interest in this new rose. When his manager was in Australia recently, he visited David Taaffe and asked for budwood so that it can be propagated in England and watched, to ascertain whether it lives up to its early promise…..I planted my own plant of'Betsy Taaffe' only a few months ago in a bed of golden roses. So far it has not flowered, but it has put on prodigious growth. The foliage is glossy and attractive and, so far, disease-free….One thing is certain. She has already given much pleasure to the Taaffes and to many customers of their small rose nursery.

Magazine  (Apr 1997)  Page(s) 27.  Includes photo(s).
 
Main pic: Every now and then in this high tech world of selected breeding, nature takes over and produces her own breeding combinations – and ‘Betsy Taaffe’ (a sport of the David Austin rose ‘Abraham Darby) is a magnificent example of what she can do. Details Taaffe Roses.

[It is believed this nursery is now closed]