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When to visit Charleston to see Noisettes?

16 years ago

I've heard so much about the Charleston Noisettes that I'd like to take a weekend trip there. When is a good time to visit to see them in their peak?

Robert

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Comments (14)

jbcarr
16 years ago
Robert I would say mid May. You could also plan to visit: Columbia Riverbanks Zoo, Edisto Rose Gardens in Orangeburg SC (hybrid teas & ARS winners), and if you have time, RU or Ashdown. Edisto has some large beds of roses like Mr Lincoln, Chrysler Imperial, Double Delight, etc. that are awesome in bloom. You could start on I-95, go to Charleston, then go up I-26, which will lead you to the latter 4 places. Edisto is ~ exit 133, Riverbanks Botanical gardens ~ exit 110, RU at exit 44, and Ashdown exit 5. You could then take I-85 home. If you choose to just do Charleston, be sure to visit Middleton plantation. It has some roses, but is just an incredible place to visit. They even have places to stay. How's that for a little armchair travel agency work??
anntn6b
16 years ago
I'd guess earlier than Mid May (because Mid May is when my noisettes are in bloom and mine is a colder zone and an elevation of 1100') There's the Charleston noisette walk within the city, as well.

jbcarr, any word on the Boone Hall Plantation noisette bed that Ruth Knopf planted? Or when La Mortola is in bloom at Riverbanks?
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Quirkpod and everyone!!!! I hope this is of some interest.... If you are gonna be in SC sometime in March/April.... Call, write, or somehow, just get directions to "Roses Unlimited" in Laurens SC and "Ashdown Roses" in Campobello SC... The only 2 places in SC that I will allow my money to be spent, Ever! 1) Roses Unlimited: The very best rose nursery around...and an absolutely stunning place to visit when the gardens/greenhouses are in bloom. About 35 minutes south of Spartanburg maybe 10 minutes off of I-26. And lots of the beautiful and heavenly aroma'ed noisette roses, and I guess they have every Buck rose ever developed. Beautiful healthy bushes for you, your yard, your garden, your world........GO THERE!!!!! Click the link, you'll be glad you did.... 2) Ashdown Roses: http://www.ashdownroses.com/ Quite the selection, especially my second faves, Hybrid Musks, Maybe 15 miles from I85/I26 just north of Spartanburg SC.....and since SC-11 is the I-26 Ashdown exit. No then, SC-11 is a very nice trip from I-85 north of the Big Peach near Spartanburg to just north of the GA/SC border at the lake. it's a 487.673 times nicer a ride than the same country covered on I-85. GO THERE! If just one of those two would move to NC, Tn, Va,, I would never ever again see any of SC that can't be seen from I-85 and would never again spend as much as $.001 in SC, ever again.... But regardless of my personal lunacy....Have a great trip!!! And remember, buy nothing and spend $0.00 in all of SC on anything except for roses, and get yer gas in Georgia if yer close, cheapest gas in all of DixieLand! And if you are heading south towards SC on either I-77 South or on US 321 South be sure to stop at Almost Heaven Antique Rose nursery. Lots of antiques, and quite the assortment of miniatures too.... The Rickards are some very nice people with some very nice roses.... http://www.almostheavenroses.com/ I hope this is of some interest.... Here is a link that might be useful: RosesUnlimited.....a wonderful place
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jbcarr
16 years ago
I don't know about Boone Hall. I do know La Mortola was hit really bad by the late Easter freeze last year, so I would guess it blooms around that time.
patricianat
16 years ago
Pat (RU) usually has her open house the first weekend in May and the roses are fully, fully in bloom, at the point that I think "Maybe I should have been here last week." Pat is farther north than Charleston. I would say mid to late April for Charleston.
malcolm_manners
16 years ago
Agree with Patricia -- mid April would be good, most years. Still good bloom in late April, but you may miss the peak.
Malcolm
weekiwachee
16 years ago
Hi Robert,
Charleston is my favorite city to visit. A few weeks ago I heard a talk given by Ruth Knopf and JoAnn Brieland, City of Charleston horticulturalist at our Central Florida Heritage Rose Society meeting at Florida Southern College in Lakeland Fl. She said April was a great month to see OGR's in full bloom. The Noisette Study Garden at Hampton Park has hundreds of Noisettes, Teas, and Chinas. It is next to the Citadel. The Charleston Horticulural Society has a Heritage Rose Trail Map that shows about 25 locations in Charleston where OGR's are grown. It gives the address and the OGR's at each location. Their phone number is 843-579-9922. I would definitely get a copy of this map before going to Charleston. We went on this trail in November and my favorite site, next to the study garden, was the Joseph Manigualt House. It is located across from the visitor's center. The web site, which has an abbreviated map, is:

www.charlestonhorticulturalsociety.org

click on projects and programs than click Heritage Rose Committee, then click on Heritage Rose Trail Map.

Enjoy your visit.

Jerry
rjlinva
Original Author
16 years ago
WOW...ya'll are incredible. And, I was just hoping for a ballpark date. I think I'm going to make a weekend trip out of it.

Robert
ceterum
16 years ago
It must be mid-April in Charleston or a bit earlier. This year roses may bloom in Charleston even sooner. I am in a colder area than Charleston is and my Jaune Desprez has a few open blooms and is loaded with buds, same is true of Marechal Niel. Crepuscule is full of buds that can burst into flowers any time from now on. My half dead (courtesy of last year's Easter freeze) Gloire de Dijon also has a half open flower on the remaining two canes that I had to cut back to about 3'. I haven't checked Celine Forestier because we worked in other areas in the garden today.

Definitely, positively make a weekend out of it, Robert. There are always a lot of things to see or re-visit in Charleston. I love that city, any time of the year.
patricianat
16 years ago
Robert, don't listen to Ceterum. You stay there one day and get home before you have to buy property there. More than one day in Charleston will make you want to pull up your roses, herd up your goats and move to Rainbow Row.
rjlinva
Original Author
16 years ago
I just love you guys/gals...

ps...although I'm eager to see blooms on my roses, I want them to peak on May 18th..that's when the rose society will be at my place for a day of Wine and Old Roses...

Robert
zeffyrose
16 years ago
Robert---I am so envious---I love Charleston------I lived there way back in 1950--my first DH was stationed at the Minecraft Base (no longer there) at the foot of King Street and I worked at the Telephone Co.---what a great experience it was to live in that beautiful city----I still have a soft spot in my heart for Charleston--We have been back a few times and looking forward to visiting again.

Have a great time and take pictures.

Florence
carolfm
16 years ago
Robert, a weekend in Charleston is just the thing, there is so much to see and do. The people are polite and friendly, the gardens are lovely, and once you have been, you will be drawn back to this beautiful, historic and hospitable city time and again.

Carol
ceterum
16 years ago
Robert, you should appreciate Patricia's concerns about your financial situation when she suggested to cut your trip short:-)))
ceterum
16 years ago
There are a few excellent nurseries there - not rose nurseries but selling perennials and unusual annuals. Worth seeing them. The best is Hyam's on James Island.

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