Wow, I'd be mad. Or sad. Probably both. What's an arboretum for anyway? Just trees? I know it costs for maintenance, but that is a darn shame. Of all people, they ought to know better. I'm so sorry. I get attached to beautiful things like that, too, even if they aren't mine.

The irony is that there are caring people who I'm sure would have volunteered to keep the rose trimmed back, and even do it right.

It was a David Austin 'Heritage'??
I love that rose, what a loss!

Randy

Some big old vines were taken out of the Seattle arboretum awhile back, too. @#$%&*!

If it is a historic site, they may have felt it was inappropriate to have a modern rose in such a prominent location. A rose that matched the "period of interest" would make more sense. :-)
And Heritage is hardly endangered.

Jeri Jennings

It is a shame--because Heritage requires so little care and is nearly thornless. But maybe it's what Jeri says--her blood ain't blue enough!

It's not a question of "Blue Blood."
It is that a historic site, preserved for educational purposes -- should be landscaped with plants that could have grown there during the "period of interest."

There are people who specialize in landscape archaeology, or in the design and maintenance of gardens of historical importance.

Removal of a rose of historic significance from a historic site -- now THAT is always a sad thing, and it happens far too often.

Jeri

Public gardens don't often realize that certain plants may have a host of 'groupies' that visit year after year and anticipate seeing 'their' particular plant at its peak.

On a recent trip to a garden I visit frequently, I was dumbstruck to find that one of my favorite plants there, a fabulous large pomegranate tree with peachy, pastel blooms, had vanished. Must have been diseased, I thought.

When I happened to encounter a member of the garden staff, I inquired about the pomegranate. The reason for its removal left me incredulous: Cut down because the new manager of the gift shop wanted more natural light as a backdrop to a display of colored glass.

I was dumbstruck to find that one of my favorite plants there, a fabulous large pomegranate tree with peachy, pastel blooms,

*** What a PITY.
And for such a silly reason. :-(

Jeri

Oh, I'm only teasing about the blue blood. But I live in an area where virtually everything in certain areas must be approved by committees as being historically sensitive--and these are not "educational" places either. And I say sensitive because they tossed out accurate a long time ago.

Thanks everyone. Maybe its proximity to the house was the reason. They just had a change of directors. Whenever someone would ask about a reliable English rose, I would send them over there.

Ps- I just planted DA's Huntington Rose this year and think it will be another great warm climate rose.

Was that the LA Arboretum?

No, this was the arboretum at Cal. State Fullerton. LA Arboretum's Heritage is a nice shrub last time I looked in on it, but the one at Fullerton was exceptional. I never saw one repeat like that or have bigger more perfect flowers and always with exceptional fragrance. The tour inside the Victorian House at the LA Arboretum is usually free on Mother's Day. I love the hand painted stained glass in all the rooms. I try to visit a few times a year at least. My uncle conducts the symphony there in the summer and we always have a great time out on the grass under the stars. Wish I could get over there more often.