Gardener and Photographer with a love of Roses and a magpie-eye for all things Horticultural
Hippolyte White foxgloves come into their own in statuesque quality in contrast to the dark purplish colour of rose Hippolyte. This is a Gallica hybrid for which we have no date. Strangely it is almost prickle-less and in this way as in the shape and colour of the flowers Gallica ancestry is indicated. Reaching 5…
Continue reading ➞ Through the centuries – roses at Mottisfont Abbey
More research for a talk later this week and the room here at TG Central is strewn with rose books - thirty of them? Forty? What to include, what to leave out - heading off into all manner of topics and side-alleys and bookmarking pieces to read when I have more leisure.. (when, exactly?) And then…
Continue reading ➞ “I love snorting Roses” – Michael Marriott, Roses & David Austin
I think my visit to Mottisfont - to see their incomparable collection of Old Roses - might have to be soon if the Capsule Collection at Petersham is anything to go by. New roses are popping into flower every day, with an opportunity to make new friends amongst the names I haven't seen in bloom…
Continue reading ➞ Roses, all the way – and a piece of Chelsea Fringe at Petersham Nurseries
Petersham Nurseries enjoying the sunshine today. Filling up with plants, happily, with more to come especially if this good weather keeps up. There is an excellent collection Old Roses, and rarities amongst them too (I should know! The rose selection is a real treat and while I think I know a lot about roses,…
Continue reading ➞ A slice of Petersham and “Wisteria Watch” on Ham Common
The China rose - Bengal Beauty - or Bengal Crimson - the first Old Roses to flower at Petersham - the first of any of them by a country mile! A deep cherry-red - large sumptiously-coloured single blooms, with a stretch and a twist, set against deep green, purple-flushed foliage. And set to flower continuously…
I joined the Historic Roses Group last year (at the Hampton Court Flower Show in fact) and have been looking after a collection of Old Roses for a few years now - as well as following their use in the breeding of modern English roses from David Austin. There is much to admire and hundreds…
Continue reading ➞ Sometimes the old ones are the best…
Madame Isaac Pereire (top left), with Lady Emma Hamilton (top right) and Evelyn. I've touched upon this before - the history of women who gave their name to some of the finest classic old roses - for example Madam Isaac Pereire, Madam d'Arblay, Madame Pierre Oger, Madame Alfred Carriere. There are hundreds of roses with the…
Continue reading ➞ A family affair
