My lovely neighbour Penny has a lovely rose in her front garden – of course it would Penny Lane – and here she is (the rose that is..).
Later in the year, she will have honey and apricot tones but at the moment, it is a lovely soft pink. Large blooms, carried singly and in small groups, with glossy green foliage. I do step over the wall and spray, occasionally, but really there is no need. I’ve paired this rose up with two Joie de Vivre roses in large blue-glazed pots and there they compliment each other well. Both have been named rose of the year – Penny Lane being the first, in 1998.
I seem to remember that its parentage includes New Dawn, which would be a Very Good Thing.
The Teddington Gardener 