On a wet and windy evening in November over 40 people ventured out to hear a passionate talk by Gillian. As a former vet, her recent retirement and change to horticulture seems to have released another side of life that she is fully involved with, being now a member of the Historic Rose Group, Auricula Society, Hampshire Gardeners Trust, Plant Heritage to name but a few. She already grew roses in her French property and liked their free-flowing style. Bringing those ideas back to England she now has experimented with over 250 varieties.
The type of rose you buy is very much a personal choice but for climbers she favoured Constant Spry. It was the first David Austin rose and is a deep pink double petal rose with a strong scent. For Ramblers, which suited her style of loose borders she liked the perennial Blush Climbing Rose with its pale pink fading to white flowers.
As the Rose flowering season can be short it is important to fill in the gaps in a traditional style garden with other hardy plants such as salvia (Phyllis Fancy and Amistad being a highly recommended), ferns (Cristate the King she liked), and chrysanthemums. Alternatively bare soil can be hidden by using the ground cover range of which she recommended Crystal Fairy rose that produces large clusters of flowers with minimal pruning or the compact Rosa Trumpeter.
There are many rose breeders but those with special mention were Kordes, a German breeder whose roses suit our climate, Jack Harkness of which she recommended the Portland Species, Pococks (good value for money), David Austin and C&K Jones.
Getting the right hand tools for the job was important and she recommended Felco size 2 to be the best as every part was replaceable if necessary. Also, Jakoti hand shears were mentioned for their self-sharpening qualities and easy of use with arthritic hands, left or right.
Useful Tips
Bending over and staking bows promotes flowers from every leaf nodule. Remember to cut the tip off or it will carry on growing.
Don’t dead head and enjoy the rose hips in the winter months.
Use soft plastic covered ties.
Uncle Toms Rose Tonic – a high potash feed idea for foliage spray.
Ash from a wood burner is an ideal feed.
Spread mulch 3-4 inches deep to stop disease and protect the roots.
When trying to identify the rose breeder in the catalogues, look for the first 3 letters Eg KOR for Kordes.
Choose roses with “Gold Standard” in the catalogues not Rose of the Year which can be misleading.
Garden Visits recommended
Sissinghurst – a National Trust property with gardens recreated along the original planting themes of the formal designs of Harold Nicolson and the exuberant planting of Vita Sackville-West
Houghton Lodge – a former 18th Century fishing lodge on the river Test with rambling informal gardens
ROSES MENTIONED IN SLIDESHOW
Shrub Roses | ||
William Lobb | Jacqueline du Pre | Wild Edric |
Eden Rose | Chapeau Napoleon | Mutabilis |
Charles de Mills | Ispahan | Scabrosa |
Complicata | Goldenwings | Erfurt |
Lady of Shallot | Ville de Bruxelles | Hansa |
Dortmund | Scarlet Fire | Sally Holmes |
Jacqueline du Pre | Caroline’s Heart | Ferdinand Pichard |
Ground Cover | ||
Centre Stage | Kent | Lancashire |
Surrey | Grouse | Fairy Carpet |
Climbers/Ramblers | ||
Constance Spry | Vielchenblau | Meg |
Gardenia | Blush Rambler | Open Arms |
Sanders White | Laure Davoust | Mermaid |
Maigold | Clair Matin | Rambling Rosie |
Adelaide d’Orleans | Ghislaine de Feligonde | |
Mme Isaac Periere | Paul’s Scarlet | Francis E Lester |
Chris Warner roses discussed | |
Open Arms | Angel Eyes |
For Your Eyes Only | Centre Stage |
Peter's Persica |
Breeders abbreviation examples | ||
Kordes : Kor | Chris Warner : Chew | Poulsen : Poul |
Harkness : Har | Horner : Hor |
UK Suppliers Used | |
Online: Trevor White Old-Fashioned Roses | Apuldram Roses and nursery |
Peter Beales | Seale Nurseries, Farnham and nursery |
Pocock's Roses - online and nursery | Henry Street, Reading and nursery |
Gardens Mentioned
Mottisfont Gardens, Hampshire – National Trust
Thenford, near Banbury – Lord Heseltine – open on selected days, prebooking required.
Athelhampton, Dorset – HHA
Upton Grey, Hampshire – Jekyll Garden, summer opening
Woolbeding, West Sussex – National Trust
Loseley Park, near Guildford – HHA
Bowood, Wiltshire
West Dean, near Chichester – HHA
Sissinghurst, Kent – National Trust
Houghton Lodge, near Stockbridge – HHA
Pre-slides
Uncle Tom’s Tonic
Plastic coated Rose Tie
Felco Secateurs
Jakoti hand shears
Heuchera villosa ‘Autumn Bride’
Dryopteris filix- mas ‘Cristata the King’
Salvia Forsskaolii
Salvia Phyllis Fancy, Salvia Lake Tahoe and Salvia Amistad
Hardy Chrysanthemums
Simon Edgington