The Friends of Vintage Roses

Here is Mozart a Hybrid Musk introduced by Lambert in 1937. Think of this as a larger, rose-pink version of Ballerina and you have the picture. The white eye at the center of each flower seems to sparkle. The plant is more arching and spreading than Ballerina and makes an excellent pillar. Only mildly fragrant.

Today's rose is Rhodologue Jules Gravereaux introduced by Fontes in 1908. It bears a most beautifully formed flower reminiscent of La France, with more substance to the petals, making a blossom that holds extremely well both on the plant and as a cut flower. Though classed as a Tea this is an early Hybrid Tea by parentage. Fragrant.

Our rose for today is the Whichurana Rambler Jean Girin bred by G. Girin in 1909. This rose is very vigorous with long. lax easy to train healthy canes. The very double light pink blooms come in abundant clusters in the spring and repeat a bit during the season. No fragrance.

Here is Charles Austin an English/Shrub Rose introduced in 1973 by David Austin. More upright than the type of this growth habit, and rather like a robust Hybrid Tea in stance, Charles Austin's greatest gift is its color, pale amber-gold verging on rich honey tones on first opening. Fruity scent and very long lasting, cupped blooms.

Our rose for today is "Mary Lawrence's Shell Rose" A Hybrid China introduced pre-1799. Three roses embody the exceptional beauty of the Hybrid Chinas: "Ruth's Steeple Rose", "Ruth's German Rose", and "Mary Lawrence's Shell Rose" All have light slender canes, smallish formal flowers of many petals, and coloring that is out of the ordinary. The "Shell Rose" is deep, dusky rose-crimson with a small green pointel in the center of each fragrant flower.

Today's rose is Christopher Stone, Climbing a Climbing Hybrid Tea introduce in 1942 by Marsh's Nursery. Intense red-scarlet flowers with a maroon-scarlet finish to the outer petals. Brilliant and fragrant.

Here is Leonie Lamesch. A Polyantha introduced by Lambert in 1899. Large open salmon-cream cups with cherry petal edges, flowers open almost flat and semi-double; upright Tea-like growth with small glossy olive green foliage in abundance. Only mildly fragrant.

Today's rose is White Meilland a Shrub Rose introduced by Meilland in 1987. A lovely low growing and spreading rose that covers itself with clusters of very full white blooms and has healthy foliage. No fragrance.

This is Agatha Incarnata introduced circa 1815. Powder puff flowers of clear pink shaded deep to pale. Exquisite. This rose is closely allied to the Gallicas though of hybrid nature. Mild fragrance.

Our rose for today is Wild Blue Yonder a Hybrid Tea/Grandiflora bred by Tom Carruth and introduced by Weeks in 2006. The large, double blooms are a mauve to purple blend with a strong citrus and rose fragrance. The plant has semi-glossy dark green foliage.

This is Royal Albert Hall a Hybrid Tea introduced in 1972 by Cocker. Bright wine-vermilion blooms of many petals, golden on the reverse with a yellow eye. Red-rose and Tea-rose fragrance embellish this brilliant flower. very compact.

Today's rose is Apple Blossom (Dawson) a Hybrid Multiflora Rambler introduced by Dawson in 1890. There is another Apple Blossom created by Luther Burbank. Semi-double blush pink flowers with a white eye, fragrant and prolific, this is a very vigorous Rambler that blooms late in the season.

Today's rose is Papageno a Hybrid Tea introduced by McGredy in 1990. Large, high-centered blooms of deep rose red with cream stripes. A fine striped rose though not strongly scented.