Book  (2006)  Page(s) 56.  
 
Hayden Foulds. Rose Breeding in New Zealand. Brian Attfield of Cambridge is another breeder aiming for exhibition roses in his breeding work, but has also commercialised several of his own roses in NZ. His first release was 'Delightful Lady' ('Merry Widow' x 'Pascali)' in the 1980's; it is a HT with elegant blooms of cream flushed pink.

Book  (2004)  Page(s) 12.  
 
Editor [?]. In 1982 Brian Attfield entered and won the new rose class at the National show with one of his seedling roses which was named 'Delightful Lady' after a race horse. This new rose was a cross of 'Pascali' and Merry Widow' and went on to win the Open vase class at the National Show in 1983 against fourteen other entries from all over the country. When the horse was retired Brian and Joan were invited to the special event at Cambridge Raceway where the mare's owner was presented with a bouquet of 'Delightful Lady' roses. Brian claims not to have been very knowledgeable about trotters but the lady owner loved roses. For some time after, this lady would travel from Auckland to Cambridge to visit Brian's garden and would always head back to Auckland with a large bunch of roses named after her famous mare.

Book  (2002)  Page(s) 86.  
 
Brian Attfield. Rose Breeding - My Own Efforts.
....Several years passed before I took the bait but in 1981 I had beginner's luck as one of my first efforts, 'Pascali' x 'Merry Widow' and named after the great racehorse 'Delightful Lady' won a championship class at a National show. It proved to be a good decorative and florist rose with lovely long stems.....

Book  (1999)  Page(s) 33.  
 
Brian Attfield. Naming a Rose or What's in a Name.
Back in 1980 a rose I had bred won the H.T. section in seedlings at the National show. I decided to patent it and then began the fun of finding a name.....

Book  (1998)  Page(s) 15.  
 
Editor [?]. A few years back the Waikato Rose Society staged a rose show 'Chelsea Flower show' style at the Te Rapa races. Brian generously donated his top seedling rose to be called 'Delightful Lady' to mark this prestigious event.

Book  (1989)  Page(s) 111.  
 
Don Sheppard. Review of Newer Roses for 1988-89 Season
'Delightful Lady'. Attfield 1980 ('Pascali' x 'Merry Widow');white and light pink blend; 33 reports; 50 bushes; 1-7 years; 1m; 6.5 rating. Early reports of this Waikato raised rose were high, but over the past five years ratings have dropped, with two 4s being returned. Most low ratings stem from the bloom colour which, at best, is soft, not eyecatching many call it muddy. The blooms are shapely, as one would except from its parents and it makes a good decorative bloom. Repeat is slow, it is generally healthy, with satisfactory growth, but later reports, from the same reporters, say it appears to be deteriorating, with no basals, sparse foliage and few blooms. It is never vigorous and blackspot is a problem in wet climates. However, blooms last well when picked and are useful for floral work, where a soft pastel colour is desired.

Book  (1988)  Page(s) 92.  
 
p71 Editor. Favourite Roses. Those with the threat of the sharpened spade hanging over them are:
'Delightful Lady', dies back - poor colour.

p92 Don Sheppard. Review of Newer Roses for 1987-88 Season
'Delightful Lady'. Attfield, NZ 1981; white edged pink; 8 reports; 15 bushes; 1-6 years; 1.2m; 6.0 rating. Taranaki thinks this rose lives up to its name: a delight to have in the garden and in the house. West Coast says the blooms ball, colour fades quickly, repeat is slow - a complete flop. West Otago says the bush does not give half enough blooms and it is very straggley. Franklin's bush is now in poor condition due to die back and the colour is "dirty". However, even if the colour is rather uninteresting, this cultivar is worth a place as a florist's rose.

Book  (1987)  Page(s) 91.  
 
Don Sheppard. Review of Newer Roses for 1986-87 Season
'Delightful Lady'. Attfield 1981. white, edged pink; 6 reports, 8 bushes; 1-5 years; 1.2m. 5.5 rating. A big drop in points this year. It appears to do well in Waikato only. Kaitaia, West Coast, West Otago, Central Taranki and Bay of Plenty report that the colour is "muddy"'; there are few blooms and they fade and blow very quickly. Generally, the bush grows well and is healthy, except on the West Coast and Bay of Plenty.

Book  (1986)  Page(s) 105.  
 
Don Sheppard. Review of Newer Roses in 1985-86 Season.
'Delightful Lady'. Attfield 1981; ('Pascali' x 'Merry Widow'); white, edged pink; 9 reports; 1 m; 7.1 rating. More widely grown now, so we can get a better idea of its performance. Most reporters say this is a good garden cultivar, but they wish the colour was brighter. The blooms come on very long, straight stems, singly, or in clusters. The decorative type blooms are always well formed. They last well on the bush and in a vase. Everyone reports good growth - well above average health - except on the West Coast where promise only is evident after one year's growth. One reporter from Christchurch thinks that the necks are too "giraffe" like and would like to see foliage closer to the blooms. However, things look promising for this Cambridge raised rose.

Book  (1985)  Page(s) 34.  
 
Don Sheppard. Review of Newer Roses for 1984-85 Season
'Delightful Lady' AttfIeld 1981 ('Pascali' x 'Morris Widow') Cream tinged pink. 4 reports, 4 bushes, 60 cm. - 1.25 metres. 7.2 rating. Our fIrst report on this Cambridge raised rose, was quite a rave, lovely blooms on a lovely plant. Waikato report of good blooms, repeat, blooms last very well picked and the bush is healthy; two Christchurch reports say that in its second year the bush was greatly improved, with blooms lasting well in the vase. One reporter felt that the length of neck between top leaves and the bloom was too great and quite a detraction. This rose was bred of 'cutflower trade' roses, so it should be a good vase rose.