The festival of roses
Post categories: Louise Danks
| 15:41 UK time, Thursday, 10 July 2008
Walking into the rose marquee this year you can't fail to be impressed. There's the beautiful fragrances vying for your attention and the stunning blooms, from old English, cabbagey favourites right through to the more delicate single flowers, there are roses everywhere! And even if they're not top of your shopping list I challenge you to walk around and not spot a stunner that you'll mentally place somewhere in your garden...
I caught up with a very busy Marilyn Stevens who is the project manager for Roses UK and ultimately in charge of the Festival of Roses.
"The marquee this year has a new look, it's Romanesque and every single one of the exhibitors has entered into the spirit of the theme. It's been lovely to develop a theme in the marquee and it's a real departure for us, I think it's been a real success.
We have nine new roses on display and everyday we hold talks and demonstrations with rose experts. The rose of the year Rosa 'Lucky!' is on display and it more than lives up to the hype, it's a very unusual lilac-pink, really healthy and has a lovely fragrance. We have a display of 300 of them and it looks stunning!"
The rose of the year this year not only looks beautiful but it sounds like a reliable, no-trouble plant, it's a floribunda so will be just as at home in a mixed border or bedding display and it boasts disease resistance too, what more are you looking for?
If a hybrid tea rose is more your style have a look at R. 'Isn't She Lovely' another new launch at the show this year, creamy, pointed buds open into that classic rose shape that last and last.
Something for the patio? Don't feel left out, R. 'Lavender Ice' will do just fine in a border or container, it's lilac blooms are clustered together and are weather resistant, just as well with the summer we're having!
The rose marquee looks gorgeous this year and having a theme obviously suits it. It keeps the displays fresh and inspiring which is no mean feat when working with such a traditional group of plants. I wonder what next year's theme will be...
"The marquee this year has a new look, it's Romanesque and every single one of the exhibitors has entered into the spirit of the theme. It's been lovely to develop a theme in the marquee and it's a real departure for us, I think it's been a real success.
We have nine new roses on display and everyday we hold talks and demonstrations with rose experts. The rose of the year Rosa 'Lucky!' is on display and it more than lives up to the hype, it's a very unusual lilac-pink, really healthy and has a lovely fragrance. We have a display of 300 of them and it looks stunning!"
The rose of the year this year not only looks beautiful but it sounds like a reliable, no-trouble plant, it's a floribunda so will be just as at home in a mixed border or bedding display and it boasts disease resistance too, what more are you looking for?
If a hybrid tea rose is more your style have a look at R. 'Isn't She Lovely' another new launch at the show this year, creamy, pointed buds open into that classic rose shape that last and last.
Something for the patio? Don't feel left out, R. 'Lavender Ice' will do just fine in a border or container, it's lilac blooms are clustered together and are weather resistant, just as well with the summer we're having!
The rose marquee looks gorgeous this year and having a theme obviously suits it. It keeps the displays fresh and inspiring which is no mean feat when working with such a traditional group of plants. I wonder what next year's theme will be...
Comment number 1.
At 15th Jul 2008, frenchjimbob wrote:Can someone please tell me the name of the French garden featured on last weeks Hampton court garden show.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 1)