BOOKS ON ROSES.22.

Pink Ladies & Crimson Gents

Portraits and Legends of 50 Roses

Written by Molly Glentzer

Would a rose by any other name smell as sweet?

Shaped like a miter’s cap or delicately hued like the pearl-colored petticoats of a duchess, scented like honeyed almonds or nodding heavily in the wind, every old-fashioned rose possesses a unique character. And their names–often drawn from history and mythology–have stories as enchanting and evocative as the flowers themselves.

This gorgeously photographed collection of fifty exquisite roses reveals how some of the world’s most storied, beloved plants received their names, and how the names go hand in hand with the flowers’ appearance and fragrance. It’s a voyage of discovery for rose connoisseurs, garden enthusiasts, and anyone else who appreciates delicate blooming beauty.

Joining the rose parade are:

storied characters such as Greenmantle, the heroine of Sir Walter Scott’s novel Redgauntlet. As attention-getting as the character’s exquisite green silk cape, the rose’s leaves, rather than its blossoms, are the source of its heady fragrance.

Artful personalities such as Peter Paul Rubens, the Flemish master whose paintings often featured the luminous skin of voluptuous goddesses. Fittingly, his namesake rose is a heavenly flesh color, tinged with pink.

Heroes, heroines, and rascals such as Napoléon. The petals of his eponymous rose become darker and more disheveled as they age, much like the emperor who fell deep into madness after building an empire.

Nobles and notables such as King Louis-Philippe. Some liken the rich fragrance of this rose to cherries, although the shape of its buds may be more true to its namesake’s character: The king was often portrayed in caricatures as a pear.

Well-bred ladies and gents such as the intrepid British tea thief Robert Fortune. On a secret mission in China, he clipped the rose that became known as ‘Fortune’s Double Yellow’.

With vivid accounts of the colorful figures who inspired the names of the roses and with lyrical descriptions of the flowers themselves, Pink Ladies & Crimson Gents is a valentine to the rose, a feast for the eyes, and a delightful gift for any romantic soul.

 

Available from Amazon.

 

 

BOOKS ON ROSES.21.

Naming The Rose :
Discovering who roses are named for .
Roger Mann ; photography by Yvonne Arnold and Paul Barden

The rose brings beauty and joy to those who grow and admire them. Often a rose will bear a person’s name, for the breeding of roses is an art and, like all artists, the raisers of roses enjoy dedicating their creations to people they love or admire.

But who was Madame Hardy? Bettina? Lorraine Lee or Henri Martin? Vita Sackville-West asked this question many years ago and rose-lovers are still asking.

Here, at last, in an elegant, timeless and beautifully illustrated edition, is the answer.

Anyone who loves these delightful flowers will find this collection of stories as beautiful as the bloom itself.

Available from Amazon

 

 

BOOKS ON ROSES .20.

 

A Rose by Any Other Name:
The Little-Known Lore and Deep-Rooted History of Rose Names
By Douglas Brenner and Stephen Scanniello

 

Of late several books have descended on the market, providing us with the history and narrative backgrounds of roses. In 2008 first Molly and Don Glentzer’s lovely and informative book was published: Pink Ladies and Crimson Gents: Portraits & Legends of 50 Roses; Roger Mann’s Naming the Rose: Discovering Who Roses Are Named For appeared shortly thereafter, a handsome volume that includes over 100 rose histories—though some are rather cursory at best. Now in 2009 we have a truly remarkable book written by Douglas Brenner and Stephen Scanniello, A Rose by Any Name: The Little-Known Lore and Deep-Rooted History of Rose Names.

Brenner, a former editor of Garden Design and of Martha Stewart Living, is also a writer on gardens and their design. Scanniello is president of the Heritage Rose Foundation. He has written three other books on roses, and recently was honored as one of two Great Rosarians of the World for 2009.

The number of roses the authors address is astonishing. Included are stories and references to vanished roses, commercially rare roses, Old Garden Roses, as well as the latest hybrid teas and miniature roses, all numbering to more than 1000.

We are told the imbricated history of ‘American Beauty’; the seesaw tale of ‘Blaze,’ whose marketing pitch “transform[ed] a mediocre rose into a best seller”; the myth and truth of ‘Rosa Mundi’; the legend behind ‘Nur Mahal’; the complicated background of ‘Harison’s Yellow’ and its segue into the ‘Yellow Rose of Texas.’ We become rather well acquainted with the real Constance Spry, an antiquarian who “refused to accept that modern is invariably better than old-fashioned.” Through her—the chapter on ‘Constance Spry,’ that is—we get a nodding introduction to Graham Thomas, Gertrude Jekyll, Ellen Willmott, and the roses named for them, as well as a number of parsons: J.H. Pemberton, Reynolds Hole, and other less prominent rosarian clergy.

Indeed, each chapter, despite the focus of its rose title, is a divergent path through the garden that leads also to other roses. Thus, the chapter “Barbra Streisand,” after a tale or two of its namesake, finds us in a bed with stardom, discussing Greer Garson, Helen Hayes, James Mason, and other actors who also loved roses. (Though not mentioned in the book, Greer Garson once wrote an article or two in the 1940s for the American Rose Annual.)

So it is that while some chapters provide us with histories that bred the rose, others rely rather more on a list approach with an occasional aside. A case in point is the chapter on china roses. The writers list Chinese appellations of given roses: ‘Jin Niao Fan Lu’ (‘Golden Bird Splashing in Water’), ‘Drunk Green Lotus,’ ‘Tipsy Imperial Concubine,’ etc. The chapter “Chrysler Imperial” launches into a list, sometimes with no or only a brief commentary, on roses named for technological or scientific advances: the radio, radium, Nautilus, Sputnik, Thomas A. Edison, Lindbergh, and the like. Accordingly, the book’s subtitle is somewhat misleading, for though the history of many rose names is given, just as many names offer no “little-known lore” or “deep-rooted” background. But then, in spite of its 1000 or so rose names, the book is not meant to be an encyclopedia.

Clearly the book is meant to be entertaining. And it is! Take, for example, the droll opening sentence on the damask rose: “Lustrous though they are, the flowers known as damask roses do not take their name from heirloom linens . . .”, or this rather campy beginning of “Hebe’s Cup”:

 

Poor Hebe. She seemed to have it made on Mount Olympus as cupbearer to her fellow Greek gods.A double nectar for Athena, a refill for Ares, a nice desert wine to go with Poseidon’s ambrosia.Everything was fine until—damn it to Hades!—Hebe suddenly slipped on the golden floor andfell…. Her replacement was a mere mortal: Ganymede . . . , boy toy of Hebe’s own father Zeus.This book is not short on humor. At times, however, like the Glentzer’s book, it verges on cute: “If you believe in fairies, clap your hands, but if you want to grow ‘The Fairy,’ put on your thickest gloves.”

More seriously, Brenner and Scanniello present some of the inner workings of nurseries and rose societies. Though they claim that “naming rights are fiercely guarded,” the evidence suggests otherwise. In fact, those rights to rose names seem carelessly, even indifferently guarded. While they assert, “Name duplications are verboten, although a previously registered name can be reassigned if the new rose’s grower proves that the original plant is extinct,” the evidence again shows otherwise. The issue may lie in semantics (or perhaps irony). What is meant by “extinct”? Merely the fact that the rose is no longer sold in the United States? International as roses are, what if it is still sold in Europe? What of gardeners who still grow it? And propagate it? And pass it on to others? Numerous roses, many of the same class, bear the same name, a fact Brenner and Scanniello themselves attest to (four ‘Adonis’ roses, two ‘Bacchus” roses, etc.). We have two ‘Marco Polo’ hybrid teas (1971 and 1994), two ‘Moonlight’ hybrid teas (1984 and 2004), not to mention a hybrid musk, a patio mini, and a climber all with the same name. I needn’t go on.

Despite this contradiction, A Rose by Any Name is a wonderful book. It entertains by highlighting special topics and categories: roses related to “Hair and Make-up,” roses named after “Decorated Veterans,” roses pertaining to “Royal Woes,” roses named for famous authors. Where the latter is concerned, the authors write, “One of the two ‘Saint-Exupéry’ hybrid teas bred in France provided pollen for the breeding of ‘Vol de Nuit’ (‘Night Flight’) named after the author’s poem with that title.” Here the latter fact is wrong: Vol de Nuit is a novel—prose—not a poem. But I digress. This rose book even contains a section on “How to Make Rose Water.” In addition, short biographies on rose breeders deepen the content, biographies on Gene Boerner, Dr. Robert Huey, Wilhelm Kordes, Dr. J.H. Nicolas, Pernet-Ducher, and Harry Wheatcroft. One wishes Walter Van Fleet, Francis Lester, and a few others had joined the pantheon.

A word on the illustrations. The book contains old sepia as well as old black and white photographs, some in cameo style, and contemporary photos in color; reproductions of old advertisements and catalogue covers; famous paintings; and stunning pictures of roses by Henry Curtis, Paul de Longpré, Redouté, and others. One unfortunate choice, however, is of the ‘Cherokee Rose’; the flower is white, but the painting shows it buff yellow. Poor color reproduction by the printer? Still, “reading” the illustrations is as delicious as reading most of the text.

This book is rich in information. At just above 300 pages, it closes with a helpful glossary and bibliography. Any rosarian who enjoys biography and history will enjoy this little volume. I had heard of it four months prior to publication and ordered it immediately. I awaited it with excited anticipation and was not disappointed. You won’t be either.

 Available From Amazon

BOOKS ON ROSES.19.

Green Essentials – Perfect roses

Sue Stickland

 The English have a love affair with the rose, but being blighted by so many pests and diseases it has become the Achilles heel of the true organic gardener. Also, with the withdrawal of many of the popular chemicals more conventional gardeners will have to turn to organic management of roses. Essentially the reader is able to make an educated decision through helpful illustrations and examples of disease resistant varieties. Roses suited to practically every situation found in a garden are recommended. Information about perfume, height and flowering period is also given. This is followed by planting and good husbandry tips. The final chapter describes pests and diseases with succinct information as it poses the problem and sets out the solution. The book’s style gives quick and easy reference for the busy gardener through a helpful yearly planner.

 

Available from Impact Publishing

 

BOOKS ON ROSES. 18.

History of the Fragrant Rose

by Alan Paterson

The beauty and symbolism of the rose through history, exquisitely illustrated with historical plates and engravings.

The rose is the most treasured flower in the world. It has been prized, even held as sacred, for thousands of years. Across the ages, the rose has been celebrated in painting, music, myth, heraldry, and religion. Cultivated for its medicinal and culinary properties as well as for its fragrance, it was so highly valued in ancient times that attar of rose was more costly than gold. Abounding in lovely illustrations, this enchanting tome traces the flowers long and fascinating story, making it a perfect gift for the rose lover and the flower fancier. [via]

 Available from Amazon

 

 

BOOKS ON ROSES.17

 

Growing Roses Organically:
Your Guide to Creating an Easy-Care Garden
Full of Fragrance and Beauty

by Barbara Wilde

Not many gardeners can resist the beauty of a rose– a flower so divine and graceful in appearance and, in many cases, so wonderfully fragrant that it evokes thoughts of love and romance at first encounter. Many gardeners, however, also see a fussy plant that’s hard to grow and needs special attention, as well as a host of chemicals to keep diseases and pests at bay.

In Growing Roses Organically, Barbara Wilde challenges the myth that growing roses has to be a time-consuming task that you can’t do effectively without using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In fact, she takes the intimidation out of growing roses by sharing her well-rounded, holistic approach for success. Wilde starts with tips for choosing healthy varieties, including hints for buying the best bareroot and container plants. She guides you through careful soil preparation and proper planting techniques and offers advice on how to gently intervene when it comes to pest and disease problems. Wilde also demystifies pruning– a task that perplexes many gardeners. Her step-by-step explanation of various techniques makes this task doable for every gardener, including beginners.

You’ll also find invaluable information in A Gallery of Roses, an eye-catching identification guide that boasts more than 100 roses best suited for organic gardening techniques. Each entry in the gallery includes a detailed description of the rose and its best uses, as well as ratings for fragrance, disease susceptibility, and shade tolerance.

To round out Growing Roses Organically, you’ll discover how to incorporate roses into your garden. Wilde dismisses the notion that you need to grow roses in a formal setting and instead presents four garden designs that incorporate roses with everything from perennials and wildflowers to trees and shrubs. Her design do’s and don’ts along with winning plant combinations demonstrate how naturally roses fit into the landscape.

In sharing her wisdom and experience, Barbara Wilde shows that growing roses doesn’t have to be labor-intensive or frustrating. By choosing the right varieties and providing proper care, roses really can be a welcome part of every garden– including yours.

Available From Amazon

 

 

 

 

WORLD ROSE SOCIETIES

ARGENTINA   Rose Society Of Argentina    2010

 

Asociación Argentina de Rosicultura, (A.A.R.)
The Rose Society of Argentina

Juan Francisco Seguí 3949 2° D
Cidudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires
Argentina
Tel/Fax: +54 11-4803-5067
Tel: +54 11-4665-0591
Email: info@rosicultura.org.ar
www.rosicultura.org.ar
President – Mrs. Nilda Crivelli

Members meet once a month. At these meetings a guest speaker gives a talk on a rose-related subject. An annual Magazine is published and, since 1998, biannual bulletins are also published.

The highlight of the year is the Spring Show, which is held toward the end of October. There will be no Autumn Show this year. Instead, in April we will have a non-competitive educational exhibition to show the public how to grow roses here and how to use roses in the landscape. We also offer our members visits to private gardens, nurseries and museums.

To date we have four branches in the interior of Argentina. These are in Córdoba, Mar del Plata, Mendoza and San Juan. They also hold annual shows.

Fees:
Regular Member: $180.00
Associate Member: $50.00
Professional: $180.00
Branch members: $50.00
One time initiation fee: $50.00

 

AUSTRALIA    Rose Society Of Australia.  2010

 The National Rose Society of Australia

82 Para Road
Tanunda SA 5352
Australia
Tel: +61 (08) 8563 0521
Email: frosen@frickfamily.com
www.rose.org.au
Honorary Secretary – Mrs. Mary Frick
President – Mr. Tony Stallwood

The National Rose Society of Australia is comprised of five State Rose Societies. It is the practice for each State of Australia to provide the President of The National Rose Society of Australia in succession on an annual basis.

We request that any correspondence be directed to the Honorary Secretary, who will distribute it promptly to our five State organizations.

Each State Society conducts an annual Spring Rose Show and an Autumn Rose Show. Owing to very wide differences in the climates of our States, the timetables for these events vary as follows:

Spring Shows:	Queensland	early October
	New South Wales	mid to late October
	Victoria	early November
	South Australia	October
	Western Australia	October
Autumn Shows:	Queensland	May
	New South Wales	March and April
	Victoria	April
	South Australia	April
	Western Australia	April

In 2010 our Annual General Meeting will be held October 3 in Spring Hill, Queensland in conjunction with the Austrialian Rose Championships 2010. Please see www.qld.rose.org.au/calendar.html for further details.

There are many gardens in Australia. Some are open from Spring to Autumn. Others open very rarely, and a number are by appointment only. Please contact the National Secretary for lists of Gardens and Nurseries and their open dates.

AUSTRIA.    Rose Society Of Austria.   2010

 Österreichische Rosenfreunde in der Österreichischen Gartenbau-Gesellschaft

Siebeckstraße 14/Top 1.4
A-1220 Vienna
Austria
Tel: +43 1 512 84 16
Fax: +43 1 512 84 16/17
Email: e.kalous@oegg.or.at
President – Herr OAR Ing. Hardo Libowitsky
Secretary – Frau Ing. Elisabeth Kalous

All members of local rose societies in Austria belong to the Austrian Horticultral Society. They receive the society magazine, Garten Haus, and can attend the monthly meetings and lectures held by the “ÖGG-Fachgruppe Rosen und Ziergehölze”. These are held on the fourth Monday of every month and are led by Gerhard Stolz. Members also have free use of the lending library, which contains 7000 volumes, and have access to expert information on roses.

Fees: Regular: € 47,50
Foreign members: € 57,50

 

 

BELGIUM   Belgian Rose Society  2010

Société Royale Nationale “Les Amis de la Rose”
Koninklijke Nationale Maatschappij “De Vrienden van de Roos”

Jesuitenwegel 5
B-9090 Melle
Belgium
Email: lilyvanlaethem@skynet.be
www.rosabelgica.be/uk/home.htm
Honorary President – La Baronne Lily de Gerlache de Gomery
President -Mr. Frans Thomas
Secretary – Mrs. Lily Van Laethem

With the aim of encouraging all activities concerning knowledge and love of roses, Mr. Georges van Oost founded the Society in 1926.

Special events, organised visits to rose gardens and lectures are all communicated to our members via our Newsletters. Members also receive one publication a year, called Rosa Belgica, with many articles and information concerning the Rose.

The Society supports rose trials and all other events concerning the Rose. We were one of the founding members of the World Federation of Rose Societies.

Both professional rosarians and amateurs are members of the Society.

BERMUDA.   Bermuda Rose Society.   2010

 The Bermuda Rose Society

P.O. Box PG 162
Paget PG BX
Bermuda
Tel: +1 441293-2685
Email: ehans@ibl.bm
Website: http://rosesinbermuda.com
President -Mrs. Essie Hans
Secretary – To be advised

We have about 100 active members. Since Bermuda is an island about 700 miles from the U.S. coastline in the Atlantic Ocean, remote from other influences, it has been called a living museum of roses. Roses were brought to the island by ships travelling from all over the world. Our main goal is to protect Bermuda’s rose heritage. We are mainly interested in Old Garden Roses.

Each year the Bermuda Rose Society raises about 500 slips of our Old Garden Roses, which we sell – this is a major fund raising activity of the Society. We also donate some to Government and to the Bermuda National Trust for parks and gardens.

The Society meets monthly from October through May, usually on the first Friday of the month at the Horticultural Hall in the Bermuda Botanical Gardens in Paget. Besides the business of the Society there is a monthly competition of cut roses and rose arrangements, and often a guest speaker. The Bermuda Rose Society usually invites one overseas guest speaker each year. Any rosarian visitors are welcome to attend.

The Society is working on a revision and update of our rose book, Roses in Bermuda, which was published in 1997 and now is completely sold out. The Society maintains a Repository Garden of Old Garden Roses in the grounds of Waterville, the headquarters of the Bermuda National Trust. It is also a participant in the Earthkind Project. The roses we have chosen for this are ‘Vincent Godsiff’, ‘Smith’s Parish’, ‘Spice’, ‘Maitland White’,’Mutabilis’ and ‘Carefree Beauty’.

As a prerequisite for membership, all persons must attend two meetings prior to submitting an application which is supported by two existing members. We do not accept foreign membership. The Society issues approximately four newsletters per session for its members.

Fees:$30.00 per year
Life Membership: $250 (may be applied for after 10 years)

 

CANADA   Canadian Rose Society

 

The Canadian Rose Society  2010

116 Belsize Drive
Toronto, Ontario
M4S 1L7
Canada
Tel: +1 416 485-5907
Email: info@canadianrosesociety.org
http://www.canadianrosesociety.org
President: Shari-Lynn Safir

The Rose Society of Ontario was founded in 1913 in Toronto by a group of dedicated ladies. Men were admitted in 1918, and by 1954 membership had spread across the country. To reflect that fact our name was officially changed to the Canadian Rose Society.

We have members from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and from the 49th parallel in the south to the Northwest Territories in the north. Because our members are so widely spread out, our publications are a very important link. The Rose Annual is published in September, the magazine, The Rosarian, is published once a year and the newsletter, The CommPoster is published five times a year

Fees
Regular:	$20	Electronic – $15)
Family:	$25	(Electronic – $20)
Affiliate Society:	$30	(Electronic – $25)
Institutes & Nurseries:	$30	(Electronic – $25)
US:	$35 US funds	(Electronic – $30 US funds)
Foreign (other than US):	$50 US funds	(Electronic – $30 US funds)

   When the Roses Bloom

 

Area & First Bloom Date	Main Bloom Date
Vancouver, Victoria and Lower Mainland of British Columbia – May 15	June 18
British Columbia interior – June 10	July 1-9
Calgary, Alberta – May 28	July 1-15
Edmonton, Alberta – June 10	July 1-9
Saskatchewan and Manitoba – June 20	June 30-July 9
Southern Ontario – May 28	June 20-30
Northern Ontario – June 10	July 1-9
Montreal, Quebec – June 5	June 15-July10
Prince Edward Island – June 20	July 8-16
Halifax and most of Nova Scotia – June 10	July 8-16

 

 

CHILE   Rose Society Of Chile  2010

 

Asociación Chilena de la Rosa

Santa Blanca 2181
Lo Barnechea, Santiago
Chile
Fax: +56 2-217.0264
Email: secretaria@asociacionchilenadelarosa.cl
www.asociacionchilenadelarosa.cl
President – Mrs.María Teresa Eyzaguirre
Secretary – Gisela Ávila Solari

The Asociación Chilena de la Rosa was established in 1998. It has about 30 active members, mainly in the central part of Chile. We hope to add more members from other parts of our long country by spreading knowledge about roses and increasing interest in the cultivation of roses around the country.

During the winter of 2000 we planted a large bed of Large Flowered Roses in Rosedal Parque Araucano in the Municipality of Las Condes. This rose garden is mainly maintained and supervised by members of our Society.

 

When the Roses Bloom

 

 

Area & First Bloom Date	Main Bloom Date
October	October

 

CHINA.  China Rose Society.  2010

 

China Rose Society

c/o Beijing Botanic Garden
Wofosi Road, Xiangshan
Beijing 10093
Peoples Republic of China
Tel: +86 10 62591283
Fax: +86 10 82596707
Email: zhaoshiwei@beijingbg.com
Mr. Zhao Shiwei – Secretary General

The China Rose Society was established in November, 1986 and is named after Rosa chinensis. It is based in Laizhou City in the province of Shandong, which is located in the central region of China, west of the Yellow Sea. The region has four seasons and the climate is very mild. The city is famous as the home of the Chinese rose, which also grows all over the nation. In fact, 52 cities now have the Rose as their official flower.

The China Rose Society has seven Vice-Presidents, each representing different areas of the country, and one federal Vice-President. It promotes the exchange of scientific information, production and research. More than 700 varieties of roses have been identified in China and the China Rose Society recently published a Rose Directory. A major centre for research and the development of new rose varieties has been set up in the suburbs of Beijing. In addition, five other centres have been set up around the country. Together they form a national system to assist with the registration and identification of roses and with new Chinese varieties entering the world market.

An Annual Rose Festival has been held in Laizhou every May 25 since 1990, and you are all cordially invited to attend. The China Rose Society also publishes an annual magazine.

 

Czech Republic

 

Rosa klub CR/Czech Rosa Club

Ceskomalinská 17,
CZ-160 00 Praha 6
Czech Republic
Tel: +420 226 518 194
Email: josef.thomas@suro.cz OR josef.thomas@email.cz
www.rosaklub.cz
President and Secretary, Dr. Josef Thomas (at above address)

The Czech ROSA CLUB was founded in 1968 in Prague as a specialized group of the Czech Union of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners (CUALG). It now has approximately 300 members across the country.

Its bulletin, Zpravodaj, is published twice a year. An Annual Meeting is held in late winter and a Summer Meeting is also held.

The International Contest of New Roses at Hradec Králové is organized by the Czech Rosa Club and financed by the municipal authorities. For more information contact Dr. Stanislav Konštacký at konstackys@seznam.cz

However, we are happy to report that the world renowned Rose Park at Lidice, which is part of the Memorial for the village of Lidice (www.lidice-memorial.cz), destroyed by the Nazis in 1942, was reconstructed in 2002 with the aid of international support.

Fees: 100 CZK,   Seniors – 80 CZK

 

Denmark

 

Det Danske Rosenselskab/The Danish Rose Society (DDRS)

Strandvej 41-1
DK-4220 Korsør
Denmark
Tel: +45 23 110 118
Fax: +45 75 685 746
Email: post@rosenselskabet.dk
http://www.rosenselskabet.dk
President – Mrs. Inger Schierning

The Danish Rose Society magazine, RosenNyt, is issued in March, June, September and December.

Fees:
Single – 290 DKK (plus 50 DKK enrolment fee)
Double – 435 DKK (plus 50 DKK enrolment fee)

 

 

PINK SUPREME WINS TOP HONOURS

Pink Supreme is now the seventh Flower Carpet rose to win the world’s top honor for disease-resistant roses – Germany’s coveted All Deutschland Rose (ADR) designation. One of three new Flower Carpet “Next Generation” roses (with an additional 15 years of breeding for heat and humidity), Pink Supreme this year also scored high in the Dallas Arboretum trial gardens (known for putting plants to the ultimate test in extreme heat and humidity).

“I know of no other eco-friendly, easy-care rose program offering so much scientifically based, unbiased backing and endorsement,” says Anthony Tesselaar, cofounder and president of the Australia-based Tesselaar Plants (which introduced Flower Carpet to the U.S. in 1995 as the world’s first low-maintenance, prolifically flowering, disease- and pest-resistant landscape rose.) “That’s what happens when every plant you offer goes through such rigorous testing – 1,465 steps in all – before it’s brought to market.”

Tesselaar is particularly pleased with the ADR designation for Pink Supreme, which is now the third of the Flower Carpet line’s “Next Generation” roses to win the award (along with Scarlet and Amber). The original line’s Pink, White, Scarlet and Yellow have also won the designation. The ADR trials are conducted over the course of three years at a number of different test sites, each enforcing the ADR program’s famous ban on spraying or other chemical support. “We all know these are important measures as we look to minimize our impact on the environment,” says Anthony Tesselaar. 

Pink Supreme also earned high marks in the Dallas Arboretum’s 2010 Trial program – internationally known as one of the premier places to test plants for extreme weather conditions, especially high heat and humidity.

“Our tagline is ‘Trial By Flower – If We Can’t Kill It, No One Can’”, says Jimmy Turner, the Dallas Arboretum’s Senior Director of Gardens.

The arboretum’s trial program annually tests 4,000 annuals, bulbs, perennials, trees and shrubs in search of the “toughest plants alive.”

“This is a variety that I was highly impressed with due to its flower power,” says Jenny Wegley, Research and Greenhouse Manager for the Dallas Arboretum. “Pink Supreme blooms its head off the majority of the growing season, with mid- to light-pink flower clusters that really make this variety popular.” Pink Supreme, she adds, also shows no signs of powdery mildew and takes a cutting well.

ROSES IN SONG.21.

TEARS & ROSES   Al Martino

Tears and roses, tears and roses
Remind me that we’re through but I’m still in love with you
(Tears and roses, tears and roses)

Today I passed a flower shop and in the window there
Were dozens of red roses like the ones you used to wear
I walked on by and when I saw a little baby cry
I thought about the tears that fell the day you said “Goodbye”

Tears and roses, tears and roses
Remind me that we’re through but I’m still in love with you
(Tears and roses, tears and roses)

I think about the good old days when we were so in love
And I was still the only one that you were dreamin’ of
I’d send a million roses and my tears would fill the sea
If all those tears and roses could bring you back to me

Tears and roses, tears and roses
Remind me that we’re through but I’m still in love with you
Remind me that we’re through but I’m still in love with you
(Tears and roses, tears and roses)

ROSES IN SONG.20

EVERYTHING’S COMING UP ROSES   Ethel Merman

I had a dream, a dream about you, baby.
It’s gonna come true, baby.
They think that we’re through, but baby,

You’ll be swell! You’ll be great!
Gonna have the whole world on the plate!
Starting here, starting now,
honey, everything’s coming up roses!

Clear the decks! Clear the tracks!
You’ve got nothing to do but relax.
Blow a kiss. Take a bow.
Honey, everything’s coming up roses!

Now’s your inning. Stand the world on it’s ear!
Set it spinning! That’ll be just the beginning!
Curtain up! Light the lights!
You got nothing to hit but the heights!
You’ll be swell. You’ll be great.
I can tell. Just you wait.
That lucky star I talk about is due!
Honey, everything’s coming up roses for me and for you!

You can do it, all you need is a hand.
We can do it, Mama is gonna see to it!
Curtain up! Light the lights!
We got nothing to hit but the heights!
I can tell, wait and see.
There’s the bell! Follow me!
And nothing’s gonna stop us ’til we’re through!
Honey, everything’s coming up roses and daffodils!
Everything’s coming up sunshine and Santa Claus!
Everything’s gonna be bright lights and lollipops!
Everything’s coming up roses for me and for you!