ROSE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

USA

ROSES ARE THE BEST MEDICINE

As Gail Saivar checked out at Trader Joe’s on Tuesday, the cashier asked how the day was going. “Great,” she shot back, “if you don’t count the guy who took a right turn from the left lane into my car when I was driving home — from my radiation treatment.” Saivar collected her groceries, walked to the parking lot and was backing out in her crippled car when there was a knock on the passenger window. It was cashier Paul Gobel, proffering a bouquet of roses. “We’ve all had days like that,” he said. “He turned mine around,” says Saivar.

www.countrygardenroses.co.uk

Published in: on January 28, 2012 at 7:43 am  Leave a Comment  
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ROSE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

CANADA

A DIFFERENT VIEW OF ST VALENTINES DAY

On a sunny plateau near the Colombian capital of Bogotá, millions and millions of roses grow.
By Valentine’s Day, they will have been harvested, rolled into bundles, boxed, X-rayed for hidden drug shipments and loaded onto cargo planes destined for Miami.
From there, they’re packed into refrigerated trucks and shipped to wholesalers and distributors all over North America, eventually arriving at the florists, grocery chains and corner delis of Canada.
In 2010, this country imported $23.5 million worth of roses from Colombia. In fact, almost a third of all cut flowers sold in Canada are imported from Colombia—our number one supplier—including $14.1 million worth of carnations and $9.6 million worth of chrysanthemums. Those numbers will likely grow.
Last August, the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement went into effect, securing a market for Canadian wheat, pulses and newsprint while eliminating the tariffs on Colombian flowers: It was previously 10.5% on roses. The numbers have yet to be crunched, but by October, 2011—just two months after the agreement came into force—chrysanthemum and carnation imports had already surpassed 2010 levels. For local growers—who cultivate $1.4 billion worth of flowers annually, a large portion in Ontario’s Niagara region—the bloom fell off roses long ago.
Colombia’s equatorial climate, with warm days and cool nights, allows roses to grow year-round.
Moreover, labour costs in the country are so low and roses so durable (they can be shipped without water or soil and last for a week or more after harvesting) that a 4,000-kilometre journey isn’t a problem. Still, local producers worry that the agreement may threaten stronger Canadian categories: tulips, orchids and daisies, among others.

For the time being, at least, they’d love husbands to consider the romantic potential of a gerbera daisy.

Details of all our roses are available on our web site.
Over 1000 varieties to choose from.

www.countrygardenroses.co.uk

Published in: on January 27, 2012 at 8:49 am  Leave a Comment  
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THE VICAR’S DAUGHTERS COLLECTION

Three beautiful roses bred by the Rev Joseph Pemberton

And named after his daughter’s.

 FELICIA

Delicate soft pink and cream blooms fading to almost white. Flowering is most prolific in the spring, but is a little less so in summer.   However the late summer and autumn show is quite something as the flowers are borne in huge panicles bearing the most highly coloured and longest lasting flowers of the year.  If the spent flowers are not removed, large round red hips are produced which look most attractive among the autumn flowers. Good strong disease resistant foliage. Can really brighten up a  dull autumn day. Shade tolerant and makes a good hedge Excellent Perfume.

National Rose Society Certificate of Merit 1927 Royal Horticultural Society Award Of Garden Merit  1993 Bred by th Rev Joseph Pemberton and named after one of his daughters.

CORNELIA

This lovely old rose has been around a while but is just as popular as ever. A hybrid musk rose with the usual free flowering associated with this species of rose. The lovely rosette flowers are a rich apricot flushed pink and are borne in large arching trusses continually from summer to autumn.  A superb strong growing shrub with very few thorns plus good dark green bronze glossy foliage. Completely hardy but does best in a sunny spot out of the wind. Can be grown in the garden or large container, is shade tolerant and will cope with poorer soils. Distinct Musk Fragrance.

 Royal Horticultural Society Award Of Garden Merit 1993

Bred by the Rev Joseph Pemberton and named after one of his daughters.

 PENELOPE

This is a large, arching shrub with vigorous and disease free growth. It flowers continuously through summer and into autumn and produces a lovely show of hips in winter. The trusses of double, medium sized blooms are of a delicate light pink and apricot shades fading to white with age. ‘Penelope’ makes a fine specimen rose in the garden or an effective informal hedge, and is useful for growing over walls or fences and will cope with partial shade. The blooms are sweetly scented.

Details of all our roses are available on our web site.
Over 1000 varieties to choose from.

www.countrygardenroses.co.uk

 

Published in: on January 22, 2012 at 5:37 pm  Leave a Comment  
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ROSE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

SAUDI ARABIA

TAIF ROSES

In Saudi Arabia, roses are synonymous with the city of Taif, which is internationally famous for agriculture and in particular the cultivation and production of roses, dating back to 100 years.

Stretched along the roads and streets of Taif are many vendors displaying cork boxes full of fragrant home grown roses, fruits and other fresh produce.

In addition, the city produces rose essence and rose water, and every year the municipality and the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities organizes a rose festival, which is visited by both local and international tourists.

Despite the difficult conditions, such as scarcity of water and labourers during the rose cultivation season, the number of rose plantations reached 750 during the last year festival. These are mostly located in the cooler Al-Hada, Al-Shafa, Al-Dahia, and Al-Ghadeerain areas. Together, they produce around 233 million roses and comprise 34 factories for the plantation of roses and production of 19,000 bottles of rose essence.

The planting of roses usually coincides with the end of the month of January and lasts up to 75 days. Planters start with digging groves in the plantation soil, in which carefully cut rose branches are planted, covered in rich fertilizer and manually watered in times of rain scarcity. They carefully plant the rose branches close to the earth and make sure they do not exceed 1.5 meters in height, which makes it necessary to trim them constantly. Keeping them low encourage the rose trees to produce as many roses as possible each morning. The flowers must be plucked before sunrise, when they are dewy and most fragrant. Every year, harvest time starts during the month of April and goes on until the end of May.

Rashid Al-Qurashi, owner of several rose plantations and rose products, asserts that there is no other rose like the Taif rose because of its strong delicious fragrance. Even the Syrian Juri rose, which is bigger and prettier, has not such a strong fragrant as the Taif rose.

Taif is also considered the favorite city to escape the hot summer days of Saudi Arabia. Situated atop the Sarawat Mountains, the visitors enjoy the cool weather and delicious fruits. They also make sure they don’t leave this cool, green and fragrant area without taking back home boxes of Taif roses, bottles of rose essence and rose water as mementos of a good and relaxing time spent in the pleasant parks of Al-Hada, Al-Shafa, Al-Ghadeer, and others.

Production of rose essence and rose water

As a first step, the roses are put into special pots. These are filled with water — the amount according to the quantity of roses used. Then, the pots are securely covered over a low burning fire. When the roses start to boil, the fragrant steam passes through a tube that is surrounded by cold water, so that the steam condenses and starts dripping into a special glass receptacle until a layer of rose oil appears on its surface. This is then carefully skimmed off the surface and quickly bottled. The process usually takes between ten to fourteen hours daily.

Unlike Oud oil, which develops a better fragrance and hence gets more expensive as it ages, rose essence should not be kept for a long time, as that affects the quality and devalues it, especially if exposed to light and heat. In order to prolong the life of rose essence, experts recommend removing the plastic stopper from its glass bottle, because with time the plastic interacts with the oil essence and ruins its purity.

Rose water is usually filled into large 20 liter glass bottles for a variety of uses, especially for the making of Arabic deserts, and can be added to drinking water.

There are two types of rose water: The ordinary kind that is sold in small glass bottles for SR10 in shops and supermarkets, and a more special type that is known as “Al-Aroosa” (the bride), which is distilled rose water resulting from the production of rose essence. This type is sold in small glass bottles that cost around SR30 and is the most preferred in the Gulf. People use it as a perfume at home and sprinkle it on guests, using traditional dainty rose water pewter sprinklers.

Women also use rose water as part of their beauty regime ever since its beneficial qualities where discovered, such as cleansing of the skin and tightening of the pores.

Details of all our roses are available on our web site.
Over 1000 varieties to choose from.

www.countrygardenroses.co.uk

Published in: on January 17, 2012 at 5:42 pm  Leave a Comment  
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ROSE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

UK

EARLY ROSES IN JANUARY !!

Despite the cold snap curious gardening fans are flocking to see SUMMER blooms in January thanks to the mild winter.

A winter micro-climate “heat bubble” on the banks of River Dee has triggered roses into re-flowering to produce a blush of flowers.

Experts at the University of Liverpool say the phenomenon of roses in bloom alongside snowdrops is completely unprecedented at its Ness Botanic Gardens in Cheshire.

Ness on the Wirral is renowned for its mild “micro-climate” thanks to its position on the banks of the River Dee and in the lea of Snowdonia.

But experts at Ness say the phenomenon of early-flowering roses is being reported by gardeners all along the west coast.

Ness Gardens Head Gardener Paul Cook has been amazed at the early appearance of the spring flowers but is “astounded” at the sight of summer roses in January.

Paul said: “We’ve had an incredible amount of snowdrops already but the gardens are so full of unseasonal blooms – including roses. It is quite unprecedented.

“Camillas and daphnes are out early and the snowdrops are putting on a magnificent early display.

“It’s been mild through the autumn and so far this winter we have not had a frost.

“But roses are summer flowers that we don’t normally see in bloom until May or June

“The fact is that some varieties have never really stopped flowering in 2011, but have now as the days lengthen they are really come back to life and putting out new blooms.

“It’s amazing.”

Cheshire’s Gardens of Distinction, across the county, are holding snowdrop events and walks throughout January, February and March.

* Gardening guru Bob Flowerdew proclaimed 2011 “The Year of Two Springs”.

Last autumn an unprecedented second crop of flowers and shrubs, like rhododendrons and ornamental quince, blossomed in many of the country’s gardens.

Even “spring bedding” perenials like ariculas and primula denticulata were reported to have put on a second bloom in the autumn.

Details of all our roses are available on our web site.
Over 1000 varieties to choose from.

www.countrygardenroses.co.uk

Published in: on January 15, 2012 at 5:34 pm  Leave a Comment  
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ROSES IN POEMS & POETRY

A Collection of Rose Poems and Poetry from  Famous Poets and Authors.

Be my Valentine rose

Red roses were her favorites. Her name was also Rose.
Every year her husband sent them, tied with pretty bows.
The year he died, the roses were delivered to her door.
The card said, “Be my Valentine,” like all the years before.

Each year he sent her roses, and the note would always say,
“I love you even more this year, than last year on this day.
My love for you will always grow, with every passing year.”
She knew this was the last time that the roses would appear.

She thought, he ordered roses in advance before this day.
Her loving husband did not know that he would pass away.
He always liked to do things early, way before the time.
Then, if he got too busy, everything would work out fine.

She cut the stems, and placed them in a very special vase.
Then, placed the vase beside the portrait of his smiling face.
She would sit for hours, in her husband’s favorite chair.
While staring at his picture, and looking at the roses there.

A year went by, and it was hard to live without her mate.
With loneliness and solitude, that had become her fate.
Then, the very hour, as on Valentines before.
The doorbell rang, and there were roses, sitting by her door.

She brought the roses in, and then just looked at them in shock.
Then, went to get the telephone, to call the florist shop.
The owner answered, and she asked him, if he would explain,
Why would someone do this to her, causing her such pain?

“I know your husband passed away, more than a year ago,”
The owner said, “I knew you would call, and you would want to know.
“The flowers you received today, were paid for in advance.
Your husband always planned ahead, he left nothing to chance.”

“There is a standing order, which I have on file down here, and he has paid, well in advance, you will get the roses every year.
There also is another thing, which I think you should know,
He wrote a special little card…he did this many years ago.

Then, should ever, I find out that he is no longer here,
That is the card…that should be sent, to you the following year.”
She thanked him and hung up the phone, her tears was now flowing hard.
Her fingers were shaking, as she slowly reached to get the card.

Inside the card, she saw that he had written her a note.
Then, as she stared in total silence, this is what he wrote…
“Hello my love, I know it is been a year since I have been gone,
I hope it has not been too hard for you to overcome.

I know it must be lonely, and the pain is very real.
For if it was the other way, I know how I would feel.
The love we shared made everything so beautiful in life.
I loved you more than words could say, you were the perfect wife.

You were my friend and lover, you fulfilled my every need.
I know it is only been a year, but please try not to grieve.
I want you to be happy, even when you shed your tears.
That is why the roses will be sent to you for years.

When you get these roses, think of all the happiness,
that we had together, and how both of us were blessed.
I have always loved you and I know I always will.
However, my love, you must go on, you have some living still.

Please… try to find happiness, while living out your days.
I know it is not easy, but I hope you find some ways.
The roses will come every year, and they will only stop,
when your door is not answered, when the florist stops to knock.

He will come five times that day, in case you have gone out.
But after his last visit, he will know without a doubt,
to take the roses to the place, where I have instructed him,
and place the roses where we are, together once again.”

by Line Kjergaard

www.countrygardenroses.co.uk

Published in: on January 14, 2012 at 9:32 am  Leave a Comment  
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NEW ROSES FOR 2012

ALWAYS REMEMBER ME 

Hybrid Tea.  2011.  3ft-4ft

A stunning new Hybrid Tea rose with large blooms of apricot and pink blends. The good strong stems and scented blooms make superb cut flowers. The attractive new foliage is a lovely shiny red which changes to dark green as the foliage matures.

Bred in New Zealand by Sam McGredy and was the last rose he bred before he retired.

An award winning rose that was  made “Rose Of The Year” in New Zealand. A donation from each retail sale will go to the Great North Air Ambulance Service.

Regret limited stocks this year so no bare root roses available. Potted Gift Rose Only.

Details of all our roses are available on our web site.
Over 1000 varieties to choose from.

www.countrygardenroses.co.uk

ROSE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

INDIA

Delhi

ROSES IN WINTER  !

Queen Elizabeth 

Ever wondered that Mother Teresa, Christian Dior, Queen Elizabeth, and Jawaharlal Nehru all have one thing in common?

They have a type of rose named after them.

A winter rose show has been organized at the National Rose Garden this weekend where all such roses, along with about 50 other varieties, will be on display. The show is being organized by the Rose Society of India.

Institutes across the country have sent in roses of different colours and sizes for the competition, which has about 22 categories. – that are on display. within a big, white tent. There are roses so massive that it would be hard to fit them in both palms, and then there are the tiny ones barely an inch wide. Even the colours on display are spectacular – white with pink edges, orange and pink-shaded roses, white with speckles of yellow and pink, and beautiful coral roses, among others.

Forget the standard colours – red, pink, yellow and white – that are normally seen at flower shops, there is a multitude of different shades in single-colour roses as well – apricot, lavender, scarlet, deep pink, golden and orange. The competition also includes products made with roses, like incense, gulkand, candles, scent, candy and water.

Flower arrangements from the President’s garden at Rashtrapati Bhavan, and ikebana from the Ohara School of Ikebana are also on display.

The show might just be a weekend affair, but the rose garden has about 70 different types of roses – some in full bloom, while others still in nascent stages. “The bloom has been affected as the temperatures remained high for so long but suddenly dropped from last week. While some roses bloomed suddenly with the drop in mercury, others didn’t,” said Dhan Singh, general secretary of The Rose Society of India.

Despite so many varieties of roses, it seems strange that there are only two or three available for retail. But Singh says that few nurseries, at least in Delhi, are breeding different kinds of roses now. “With climate change and pollution, roses don’t grow very well here and nurseries cannot make much money from what grows. The cut flowers that come here are mainly grown in temperature-controlled glasshouses in Pune and Bangalore,” he says.#

 Details of all our roses are available on our web site.
Over 1000 varieties to choose from.

www.countrygardenroses.co.uk

Published in: on December 18, 2011 at 8:51 am  Leave a Comment  
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NEW ROSES FOR 2012

LET’S CELEBRATE

Floribunda.  2011.  3ft.

A spellbinding new floribunda with fascinating colour blooms of silvery white, shaded and blotched purple mauve in an almost surreal combination.
They are medium sized and double with multi petals prettily arranged creating an attractive ruffled appearance.
The scented flowers are carried in large trusses and borne plentifully on a bushy plant of neat even habit that grows easily and is densely covered with foliage.

Specially named for the north west area of NAFAS (National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies) to celebrate their Golden Anniversary in 2011.

Bred by Fryers UK

GOLD STANDARD AWARD WINNER 2011 LET’S CELEBRATE   (Fryraffles) Since 2006 a few roses are selected each year for this prestigious award.   Based on cumulative information from invited independent judges, the Gold Standard is awarded to worthy varieties.  Health,  floriferousness,  scent and commercial appeal are all considered key factors in the final choice. For further information  please see  Gold Standard Roses on the Main Menu.

Details of all our roses are available on our web site.
Over 1000 varieties to choose from.

www.countrygardenroses.co.uk

 

Published in: on December 11, 2011 at 9:34 am  Leave a Comment  
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BOOKS ON ROSES

Alan Titchmarsh How to Garden:

Growing Roses

by Alan Titchmarsh

The rose is the nation’s favourite flower and never goes out of fashion. In this definitive guide, Alan Titchmarsh shows how to grow and care for roses in your garden. He covers all the essential techniques and provides inspirational ideas for training and planting schemes that will ensure healthy plants and stunning displays year on year. This title features: A-Z directory of Alan’s recommended roses; essential techniques for pruning and support; how to combine roses with other plants; suggested roses for all garden situations, including shady and exposed sites; and, comprehensive guide to understanding rose types.

DETAILS

Paperback

         Published
24/03/2011

Publisher
BBC Books

ISBN
9781846074080

 

www.countrygardenroses.co.uk

 

Published in: on December 8, 2011 at 4:54 pm  Leave a Comment  
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