Tottering-by-Gently
Tottering-by-Gently is the name of a rose developed by David Austin Roses to celebrate the 25th anniversary in 2018 of Annie Tempest’s cartoon strip. In the cartoon, Lord and Lady Tottering live a gentle country life in their crumbling ancestral home at Tottering Hall in the village of Tottering-by-Gently. With their black Labrador, Slobber, and working cocker spaniel, Scribble, they enjoy a life that is familiar to many as stereotypical, if somewhat dated, of upper-class Britain.
Daffy, Lady Tottering, often portrayed in green wellies and pearls, with a glass or bottle of something alcoholic close by, is a keen observer and commentator on the foibles of life.
Dicky, Lord Tottering, is a bluff old buffer, a long-suffering husband, and a ‘thoroughly decent type.’
Together, they muddle through a slightly politically incorrect life, dogs at their heels or on their chairs, pondering the vagaries of the modern world.
The David Austin family has been breeding roses in Shropshire since 1961. The original concept was to combine the perfume and beauty of old roses with the vigour and repeat flowering of modern roses.
The Tottering-by-Gently rose is a repeat-flowering shrub rose, attracting bees with its single yellow flowers. The roses have a light fragrance and are followed by hips. It is a very forgiving rose, able to thrive in all soils, in all aspects, and in full or partial sun. It can be grown as a single specimen or as a hedge.
I am not typically fond of comics but Dicky and Daffy and the land and life of Totterling strikes me as enchantingly amusing. While roses do not thrive in my soil (or climate), I do know that David Austin roses have a phenomenal reputation. Fun post!
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame you cannot grow roses, but I'm sure you have other wonderful plants that thrive in your conditions.
DeleteI have never heard of that comic strip, but it seems similar to a TV show here in the past, I don't recall the name, but maybe "To The Manor Born"? anyway, I wish I had been able to read such a strip. The rose is beautiful and I have written down the name in case I ever have a yard for roses.
ReplyDeleteIt's similar in vein to 'To the Manor Born.'
DeleteThe cartoons are so funny. I would really look forward to seeing them each day wherever they were published.
ReplyDeleteAnnie Tempest is a talented, self-taught cartoonist.
DeleteThe cartoons are so funny. Good wekend and friday...HUG Andreja!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed them.😃
DeleteLike River, I had never heard of this comic strip, but it's amusing in a seemingly innocent-silly way while still offering food for thought if one is so inclined.
ReplyDeleteThe rose has everything going for it!
The rose is a beauty.
DeleteI’ve bought some of these as birthday cards for friends & family . They always go down well .
ReplyDeleteWendy in York
They're fun, aren't they?
DeleteI’ve bought some of these as birthday cards for friends & family . They always go down well .
ReplyDeleteWendy in York
They're fun, aren't they?
DeleteIt's a very lovely flower but I've not come across that particular cartoon either. What fun! x
ReplyDeleteThey make me smile.
DeleteI have that rose, I bought last Autumn and its flowering its little socks off I love it
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely to have a reliably repeat-flowering rose, isn't it?
DeleteI've never seen this comic strip but I get the feel that it's rather delightful.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine a hedge of roses. That would be so pretty
A hedge of roses would be wonderful.
DeleteThese cartoons break me up! My morning chuckle will linger into the day.
ReplyDeleteAnnie Tempest's observations are spot on!
ReplyDeleteYellow roses have always been a favorite of mine. I've never had any but whenever I see them they seem actually very rare and I enjoy their sight. Very enjoyable article this morning thank you
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lynn. 😃
ReplyDeleteI love yellow roses and had a climber once or twice, not an Austin though.
ReplyDeleteThere are some really beautiful yellow roses.
DeleteSo many modern roses have no fragrance.
ReplyDeleteA rose without fragrance is a sad plant.
DeleteThe cartoons, such fun 😍 the rose is very pretty, I love yellow.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
Yellow looks cheerful even on a dull day. 🏵️😃
DeleteLiving in a house where both occupants are men that one about reminding men every six months to do a task hits close to home!!
ReplyDeleteWho gets the blame in that situation?
DeleteI think I would love this cartoon series. Tottering-by-Gently such a fun village name. The rose is very pretty.
ReplyDeleteThere are a number of books in the Tottering-by-Gently series.
ReplyDeleteLoved this post. My imagination went wild as I envisioned an old man tottering down a lane. I love watching a British show called Keeping Up Appearances. Some of the cartoons you posted made me laugh.
ReplyDelete'Keeping Up Appearances' is still amusing, after so many years.
ReplyDeleteI have often been tempted simply by its name! I love David Austin roses. And the old cartoon strip.
ReplyDeleteIt's a wonderfully dotty name.
ReplyDeleteWhat an absolute delight of a post! I am completely charmed by the story behind the Tottering-by-Gently rose. Combining the quintessential, slightly eccentric British humor of Annie Tempest’s cartoon with the world-class craftsmanship of David Austin roses is just brilliant.
ReplyDeleteLady Daffy in her green wellies and pearls, alongside the "bluff old buffer" Dicky and their dogs Slobber and Scribble, sounds exactly like the kind of wonderfully comforting, old-school comic strip that brightens any day. You can just picture them muddling through their crumbling estate!
I thought the rose was a wonderful tribute to a talented and amusing cartoonist.
DeleteI'm not familiar with that comic strip but I love David Austin roses.
ReplyDeleteThey are wonderful roses.
DeleteWhat a strange name for a flower ! My room neighbor makes me think of Lady Daffy except the wellies, but she too is very thirsty, asks me to open a little bottle of champagne at 9 am (her hands are too week) and during the day she drinks at least 2 bottles of wine, which she buys + the carafes she gets here. She is 86, a very cute little doll, very friendly and helpful, she told me she is alcoholic since her husband died (I wonder when) and that she prefers to die happily and not sadly. I agree with her ! At that age it's useless to tell her that she drinks far to much !
ReplyDeleteLady Daffy drank certainly less ! But your cartoon made me think of Mme Gloogloo (we called her like that when we didn't know her name)
You have some interesting residents in your 'castle.' Life is never dull.
DeleteThe flower is gorgeous, even if it has a strange name. LOL Your funnies are great. Have a nice day today.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nicole.
DeleteThe absolutely most perfect name...quite inspiring.
ReplyDeleteWonderful, isn't it?
DeleteI enjoyed seeing these cartoons.
ReplyDeleteDavid Austin roses are wonderful.
All the best Jan
Choosing which rose to buy would be difficult, I think.
DeleteTottering-by-Gently rose seems a fitting tribute to Lady Tottering herself: cheerful, resilient, lightly fragrant, and flourishing with effortless charm despite whatever life, or the British weather, chooses to throw at it.
ReplyDeleteThe rose certainly seems to sum up Daffy and Dicky as they totter through life together.
Delete'Tottering-by Gently is a wonderful name for a rose. The cartoon tales of Lord and Lady Tottering always bring a smile to my face.
ReplyDeleteMine, too.
Delete