MAKE YOUR ROSES LAST LONGER

Roses are one of the most common valentine’s day gift.

Preserving those rose stalks fresh for a long time is really difficult and all attempts to keep that special gift goes in vain after a day!
To keep the flower vase bright and lively with fresh rose stalks, here are few tips to maintain the rose flowers and make them last longer.

Tips to keep rose stalks fresh:

1. The flower vase should be clean from bacteria. Scrub and wash the vase with hot water and bleach to kill bacterias which reduces the freshness of the rose.

2. It is best to store rose flowers in a cold place. This maintains the flowers and lasts long. You can either store the rose flowers in refrigerator overnight or keep them in cold water.

3. Sprinkle a pinch of bleach in water before putting the stalks. This prevents the growth of bacteria.

4. You can also store the rose flowers in warm water for one day. This keeps the rose flowers fresh for a long time as cut roses easily absorb warm water.

5. Always remove leaves from the from the bottom of the rose stem. Leaves rot and can easily grow bacteria. So, remove all foliage from the bottom.

6. Cut the rose stalk from bottom to keep it hydrated and fresh. You can cut everyday to keep it fresh. Fresh cuts enhances the glow and makes the rose flowers look fresh and last longer.

7. Keep the flower vase in a cold place where there is less humidity and sunlight. This prevents the rose flowers from drying.

8. Change the water everyday to make the rose stalks last longer. Cut the stalk from the bottom regularly to keep the flowers fresh. You can cut at an angle of 45 degree angle to allow easy absorption of water.

Whether the rose flowers are cut from the garden or bought from the florist shop, you would like to spread its smell and aroma in the house for days! Follow these tips to keep the rose fresh and bright for long. Store your romantic valentine’s gift in a cool place and keep in the refrigerator at night if required.

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 30, 2012 at 8:14 am  Leave a Comment  
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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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