Several years ago when the internet was younger, I had mentioned a booklet I found through Google books. I got a email from the gardener for a particular castle. He was charged with restoring the gardens. But he couldn't access the booklet because Google wouldn't let him as that countries library had forbidden Google to copy their old and rare books. He was thankful when I sent it to him.. But the experience taught me that the free interchange of information has some strange walls within the system. Perhaps some gardeners may have a working group.
I’ve lived in Spain since 2005 (in Andalucia and now Catalonia) and very rarely come across any antique roses. My theory is that they were largely abandoned after the introduction of the Hybrid Tea, since thats mostly all I see on sale in garden centres and planted in gardens. Until recently, variety wasn’t even identified, just labelled ’red rose’ with a smattering of ‘pink, white, orange’ etc. roses.
The situation is improving because in the last couple of years its possible to stumble across named varieties, mostly from Meilland, Kordes and Poulson and even the odd David Austin. La Sevillana is the public landscape rose of choice and can be seen everywhere. The Spanish seem very traditional in their rose choices, tradition meaning HTs and landscape roses nowadays. Perhaps variety is better in Madrid and other places.
Damask roses were clearly grown in the past, since a very old specimen I recently came across growing next to an old ruined farmhouse was identified as a damask by Melissa and Marlorena, possibly Kazanlik. Other than that, I have spied one gallica (in an hotel owned by expats) one Mutabilis (another very old farmhouse) and a few rosa rugosas near the coast.
I’ve never come across any antique rose groups/enthusiasts, but there must be some out there somewhere and I would love to find them. After extensive trawlling of Spanish search engines I did find two specialist suppliers and will try and support them in future, rather than buying from Loubert in France..
Several years ago when the internet was younger, I had mentioned a booklet I found through Google books. I got a email from the gardener for a particular castle. He was charged with restoring the gardens. But he couldn't access the booklet because Google wouldn't let him as that countries library had forbidden Google to copy their old and rare books. He was thankful when I sent it to him.. But the experience taught me that the free interchange of information has some strange walls within the system. Perhaps some gardeners may have a working group.
I’ve lived in Spain since 2005 (in Andalucia and now Catalonia) and very rarely come across any antique roses. My theory is that they were largely abandoned after the introduction of the Hybrid Tea, since thats mostly all I see on sale in garden centres and planted in gardens. Until recently, variety wasn’t even identified, just labelled ’red rose’ with a smattering of ‘pink, white, orange’ etc. roses.
The situation is improving because in the last couple of years its possible to stumble across named varieties, mostly from Meilland, Kordes and Poulson and even the odd David Austin. La Sevillana is the public landscape rose of choice and can be seen everywhere. The Spanish seem very traditional in their rose choices, tradition meaning HTs and landscape roses nowadays. Perhaps variety is better in Madrid and other places.
Damask roses were clearly grown in the past, since a very old specimen I recently came across growing next to an old ruined farmhouse was identified as a damask by Melissa and Marlorena, possibly Kazanlik. Other than that, I have spied one gallica (in an hotel owned by expats) one Mutabilis (another very old farmhouse) and a few rosa rugosas near the coast.
I’ve never come across any antique rose groups/enthusiasts, but there must be some out there somewhere and I would love to find them. After extensive trawlling of Spanish search engines I did find two specialist suppliers and will try and support them in future, rather than buying from Loubert in France..
https://elnougarden.com/collections/rosales-de-coleccion-rosales-antiguos?page=1
https://gardencenterejea.com/606-rosas-antiguas-y-de-coleccion