Yesterday I mentioned Roger Phillips and his book of roses. So I went on a hunt for it. He had written many books, but also in his books on roses, wrote on the symbolism of roses.
So leaving Satish Kumar and his meditation this morning I found the following on You tube.
I know Jennie (Coldins and Cream2) and Sharon (Morning Minion) will enjoy it. The video is a bit faded, it was made in 1993 but it is a delightful look at roses through history.
Thank goodness for Peter Beales and David Austin both of these garden centres developing the old roses for their scent and beauty.
And as an afterthought, it was listening to Derek Jarman's book - Modern Nature that set it all off. I know his shingle garden near Dungeness was famous for its plants that grow near the sea. But Jarman grew many more plants, it was his childhood that had inspired him.
David Austin was near to Wolverhampton and we went regularly when the roses were out = bought one or two for our garden in Finchfield (was he there when you were in Wolverhampton? When we came up here I wrote to him asking him to recommend a rambler for the calf barn which was right by our kitchen window. He sent us Alexander Giraulx a pinky red rambler which grew incredibly fast - covered one side and the whole of the roof in a couple of years. It was wonderful. Sadly the folk that bought the farm were not gardeners andchopped it down. Clare Austin, his daughter, has a lovely garden centre for hardy plants at Sarn, near Newton in Wales. HerHandbook of perennials (this years catalogue, so free) is a joy to leaf through.
ReplyDeleteI left Wolverhampton when I was about 15 years old Pat and not into gardening, though enjoyed the garden we had at Willenhall but it was looked after by a gardener, it was his domain. You can buy David Austin roses all over the country so was always aware of them, though they became expensive with time.
ReplyDeleteDuring a spell helping out at a garden centre became very familiar with David Austin roses, and have several in our garden. Yes, they are expensive, but you get what you pay for with them.
ReplyDeleteWeaver comment about Claire Austin and her catalogue reminds of Hillier's manual of trees and shrubs - a magnificent publication and invaluable record.
The two rose growers brought back the lovely old perfumed roses, which we should always be graceful for Will. Plants get under people's skin I think, and there are always people out there to buy them from nurseries.
ReplyDeleteedit: or grateful, though graceful is not a bad word!
DeleteI am chasing my tail in Blogland, but look forward to catching up on here tomorrow morning, with my cup of Earl Grey.
ReplyDeleteI know you have a lot on your plate Jennie, I just enjoy delving down these large rabbit holes of information and though of you.
DeleteYour photo yesterday of Rosa Mundi set me to remembering the lovely roses I had in my Vermont garden. Most were rugosas or old roses, remarkedly hardy for that climate with long cold winters. Saving the video for a peaceful few moments.
ReplyDeleteYou always talk about your garden Sharon and the difficulties you have with the weather but there is some remarkable footage in the video about enormous (think they are wellingtonia) petrified stumps of trees as well.
DeleteThelma; I had leisure to watch this today--what beautiful roses--and not a sawfly or Japanese beetle mentioned. Rugosas which were sturdy enough for northern winters, don't seem to thrive in the humid south. Such roses as I've been able to keep growing here are some of the David Austins and newer hybrids.
Delete
Deletei thought the little video was very good. Especially when Philips and his friend went off on a little rose hunting, I think in Turkey and his friend drew a bumble bee flying from one hill to another and producing yet another hybrid. I presume when the right rose comes along in all the masses of seedlings that the special one is grafted onto an established stock rose.
Thank you for this early history and a new glimpse of all those meagre petaled roses of my youth.
ReplyDeleteWe call the wild roses 'dog rose' - Rosa Canina. Not sure why though Joanne.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fascinating film. I never new that the Romans grew roses - let alone in such vast quantities that you could suffocate beneath the petals tipped over you! I thought that they came back with the returning Crusaders. I had Rosa mundi in my last garden and would like one here too. Thank you for sharing the link.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it Jennie. Had to think about being suffocated by rose petals but thought it must have been a very sweet smelling death!
ReplyDelete