Country Garden Roses Blog

Title.  THE QUEST FOR THE BLACK ROSE.

Author. Ingrid Verdegem,  Anne Ronse,  Anne-Sophia Rondeau

Publisher.  Stitchting Kunstbock, Belgium, in association with Ulmer Verlag, Germany.

Year. 2006

Language.  Dutch. German. English.

ISBN  978-90-5856-159-6

Botanists are on the case, trying to solve the mystery of the black rose: Does it exist? Has it ever? It seems that the only solid fact surrounding this flower is that people have been searching for it for centuries–and are still searching today. The first references to extremely dark red roses were made in early botanist literature, and at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century, drawings of such roses were widely circulated. And, according to a spokesman of the Flowers and Plants Association, “Black flowers were beloved of the art nouveau designers at the previous turn of the century. Victorians and Edwardians at the cutting edge of fashion collected them, going to great lengths to track down exotic species.” Today, the desire for unique blooms continues, prompting environmental consultant James Reynolds to write in March 2005: “Those looking for a riot of color at this year’s flower shows are in for disappointment: Black is back and this time it is set to take a hold over the nation’s gardens. Just as floral prints have been banished from the house in favor of muted tones and minimalism, so the same is set to happen in our gardens and parks, with black flowers now the must-have item.” Through extensive and detailed research, The Quest for the Black Rose presents the complete story of the elusive flower–from the oldest historical drawings up to the most recent developments. This publication, with its stunning photography, is sure to be treasured by any rose lover . . . or anyone intrigued by a good mystery. Edited by Ingrid Verdegem. Essay by Anne-Sophie Rondeau.

The World Federation of Rose Societies awarded this book their Literary Award as an outstanding book on roses.

Title.  TEA ROSES-Old Roses For Warm Gardens

Author. Lynne Chapman, Noelene Drage, Di Durston, Jenny Jones, Hillary Merryfield, Billy West.

Publisher.  Rosenburg Publishing Ltd. Australia.

Year. 2008

Language. English.

ISBN 978-1-877058-67-7

Teas – once almost forgotten – are now being acclaimed as superb roses for warm gardens. Bred for a century or so from 1820, they were descended mainly from Chinese garden hybrids introduced into Europe in the early nineteenth century. Teas brought characteristics that had not been seen before in European roses. These included an intriguing multi-layered fragrance; a new range of colours; a higher-centred flower shape; gently nodding heads; and a bushy, twiggy growth habit. Even more importantly, the Teas whose ancestors came from temperate to subtropical areas of China bloomed almost continuously in favourable conditions and did not need a dormant period.The authors aim to bring together the observations and knowledge they have accumulated about the Teas and to tell something of their past history. In this title, full details are given of roses currently being sold as Teas in Australia, as well as some Tea-like found roses. Descriptions are first-hand and not just a repetition of what has been said before. The authors grow most of the Teas known in Australia, and these are a large proportion of those commercially available elsewhere. Consequently, the information given about them will be relevant wherever these roses are grown.

The World Federation of Rose Societies awarded this book their Literary Award as an outstanding book on roses.

Title.  ROSES

Author. Roger Phillips and Martyn Rix.

Publisher.  Pan Books.

Year. 1988

Language. English.

ISBN –10; 0330299972

This is an indispensible new reference book every gardener and every lover of roses.

Never before have so many roses been collected in one book. There are more than 1,400 from all over the world – old roses, hybrid teas, floribundas, climbers, ramblers and miniature roses – illustrated with superb full-colour photographs, both outdoor and studio shots – and accompanied by detailed descriptions of each rose’s origin, parentage, appearance, characteristics and growing conditions

A full list of suppliers allows the reader to obtain every rose featured in the book and there is also a useful list of rose gardens open to the public.

Title.  DESIGNING WITH ROSES.

Author. Tony Lord.

Publisher.  Francis Lincoln Ltd.

Year.1999

Language. English. German.  Swedish.

ISBN 0711212910

A guide to using roses in the garden. It demonstrates how to choose, use and cultivate roses for every situation – for mixed borders and containers, flower and kitchen gardens, boundaries and elegant screens, tiny terraces and country plots. The book includes practical techniques, planting plans, and lists of the best roses for specific purposes, along with over 100 colour photographs.

About The author

Tony Lord is a highly respected writer, garden photographer and horticultural consultant. He trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and went on to become Gardens Advisor to the National Trust. He serves on several Royal Horticultural Society committees and edits their best-selling annual publication The Plant Finder. His first book, Best Borders, won the Garden Writers’ Guild Award for the best general gardening book of 1994. He is also the author of the best-selling The Gardens at Sissinghurst.

The World Federation of Rose Societies awarded this book their Literary Award as an outstanding book on roses.

Title.   SPIRIT OF THE ROSE

Author. David Lloyd and Annie Beagent.

Publisher.  Spirit Of The Rose Ltd. UK.

Year.2004.

Language. English.

ISBN 09543939-0-2

This book describes the many different relationships that people have with the rose. Fascinating contributions from a diverse group of writers provide a wonderful tapestry to illustrate the meaning of the “Spirit of the Rose”, fully illustrated with fine rose photography by David Lloyd. Contributing authors range from Shakespeare to Robert Burns to Thomas Moore to modern day gardeners, hobbyists and professionals. All amplify the many interpretations of the message, “Spirit of the Rose”.

The World Federation of Rose Societies awarded this book their Literary Award as an outstanding book on roses.

Title.  THE ULTIMATE ROSE BOOK.

Author. Stirling Macoboy.

Publisher.  Harry M Abrams.

Year Revised Edition 2007

Language. English

ISBN –13; 978-0810994102

The spectacularly successful “Ultimate Rose Book”, first published in 1993, is back in a thoroughly updated and revised edition. Stirling Macoboy’s book has become a classic among rose lovers, not just for its beautiful pictures and comprehensive coverage, but also thanks to its author’s good-humoured and opinionated observations and selections. Out of tens of thousands of rose varieties, he chose 1,500 for this definitive book.The new edition includes 300 varieties that were not in the previous one, selected for their beauty, fragrance, hardiness and popularity, as well as new chapters on the history of the rose, the renaissance of garden roses, climbers and ramblers and great rose gardens of the world. This is in addition to updated chapters on the classification of roses, wild roses, old garden roses, modern roses, miniatures and multi-floras, rose cultivation, special roses and rose breeders, as well as a glossary and bibliography. The 2,000 colour photographs include all of the varieties named in the book.An indispensable reference that possesses visual beauty and literary wit and soul, “The Ultimate Rose Book” is for gardeners and rose lovers everywhere.

About The Author

Stirling Macoboy, who died in 2005, was born in Victoria, Australia. His career in horticulture took him all over the world and he was the author and photographer of more than forty books on gardening. Macoboy came from a long line of gardeners: his great-grandfather, William Stirling, was a professional nurseryman in Australia in the 1840s and ’50s; his grandfather was a well-known amateur gardener; and he was a descendant of the Reverend William Mason, author of the 1783 classic The English Garden. Tommy Cairns currently serves as President of the World Federation of Rose Societies for 2003-2006. An authority on all aspects of growing roses, Cairns is a frequent contributor to many rose publications. He was awarded the Klima Medal of the American Rose Society for excellence in rose education in 2000 and the prestigious Dean Hole Medal of the Royal National Rose Society in 2005. The Scottish born Cairns lives in Studio City, California.