Wednesday 8 June 2011

The Name of the Rose?

The sunshine and rain has brought out the blossoms on one of my favourite roses. It grows in the raggedy hedge between two of our gardens and we agree to share it! We don't know how long it has lived here and we haven't been able to identify it. I have looked through countless books and even took it to the famous rose gardens at Mottisfont but with no luck. I have only seen it growing on one other occasion. I was visiting an old manor house at a nearby village on an 'open garden day'... and there was my rose! I asked the gardener but she couldn't name it and just said it had always grown there.

As you can see from my photographs it grows up from straggly 'suckers' ( for years I cut these back!) and up into the hedge. It only flowers once and HATES the rain! It has this unusual purple/ pink tinge and a gentle sweet smell. The stems are long and elegant and a little floppy.



Are there any brilliant rose sleuths out there?

12 comments:

  1. Hello Jane:
    We are sure there are Rose sleuths out there, but, sadly, we are not amongst their number. Well, at least as far as your Rose is concerned we are not amongst their number.

    It certainly has the lax habit and the cabbagey head of an old variety, one that has not been pumped with steroids. For that, we love it, and should not care a jot that it is anonymous!

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  2. I agree with you Jane and Lance, I much prefer the old varieties. Even the fact that only blooms once makes it something I look forward to every year rather than become accustomed.

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  3. Hi Jane, sorry I can't help with the naming of your rose, but it is very lovely......I love the old varieties too. I hope your washing machine has recovered!
    Sophie

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  4. Hi Sophie, I'm glad you like my rose and thanks for your kind enquiries after the delicate health of my washing machine... it's working but we are still be-feathered!
    Jane

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  5. It certainly is a beautiful rose, Jane! But I couldn't name it. It's so pretty and almost frilly! I will do some searching and see if I come up with anything. I am enjoying all my roses. They are so beautiful, this year! And I am keeping an eye on the cherry tree. Lots of lovely cherries, but lots of birds, too!

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  6. Hello Anna,
    I agree it IS frilly!
    I'm rather envious about your cherries, I do hope you manage to save a good crop from the birds and enjoy a treat...

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  7. Cannot name that rose - why not just give it one? Petunia? :)

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  8. Yes! We're thinking of holding a Terrace discussion (over several bottles of wine)and coming up with a name for our very own rose!

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  9. Hi Jane , I like the idea of the Terrace discussion. Your rose is indeed beautiful and I am afraid that I can't name it either ...sorry! Just enjoy it, I am sure you do. Have a happy friday, love Linda x

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  10. Ha. Ha. I will be looking forward to the naming of the rose following the Terrace party and the copious bottles of wine.
    It is a beautiful rose
    Helen

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  11. What an absolutely beautiful rose. I'm afraid I'm not very good with names of flowers! I do agree it looks like an old variety though because of the large cabbagey head. We have a gorgeous climbing rose in the back garden here at home (hence Rose Cottage)it was planted many moons ago by the previous owners and is full of buds again this year. Have a lovely weekend.
    Jo xx

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  12. Thank you for your coment Jo, glad you found my blog! Have a happy weekend too, Jane x

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