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8 Gems Saved

20 years ago

I was lucky. And I was sad at the same time. .....

I visited my local rose nursery some time ago and I saw them, ready to be thrown away, because no one else wants them. They've told me, they're cutting down OGR stock by 66%, and this year maybe even more. ... I was sad ... I couldn't believe .... But what can I do? I cannot change the world, but I certainly can save few of those gems that no one else wanted ......

* Fantin Latour * Ispahan * Mme Hardy * Leda * Mme Legras de St Germain * Rosa Centifolia Variegata * Rosa Gallica Complicata * Alba Maxima ...... And at my special request, better say begging, they've decided to graft more Alba Maxima plants, because I've promised them to buy few more (for me and my friends), to enliven and make looking better the grey fence in my frontyard. I was also trying to find Alba Semiplena, but there's none left in WA anymore.

So many more things I have to do to make those new rosebeds ready and beautiful, and I'm so tired working in this hot sun, but my heart now ticks happer because, I believe, I've preserved some gems which are not to be seen in Western Australia anymore. .....

PS :: And we say we're civilised and caring about our heritage? .....

PPS :: Is there someone from WA that has Alba Semiplena growing in the backyard, frontyard or anywhere else? .....

Thank you!

-Tom

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Comments (2)

User
20 years ago
Tom your enthusiasm is fantastic good on you it has inspired me too look up those roses..
Gosh I was surprised at the age of the Alba's pre 1500 there are certainly lovely roses those OGR.
And how wonderful of you to want to keep these roses going ten brownie points and !!Well Done !!
Keep up the good work.... I Also enjoy reading your posts....Cheers..MM.
tom_pariz
Original Author
20 years ago
MM, those roses are absolutely beautiful, one of the best OGRs, that's for sure. I'll collect some pics and post them here. You have to see the quality of the foliage and leaf shape that Ispahan has, for example .. or Fantin Latour ... -- it's stunning! ....
Alba Maxima is ancient. It was the rose of renaissance, of inspiration for poets, bards and painters and it is, truthfully, a magnificent rose. I remember my grandma had one of these, so that's why I love them especially ......
Albas are also old favourite of David Austin too, who nowdays breeds Alba hybrids to produce new roses of his climbing and semidouble varieties ......
Better disease resistant, better scented, shade tolerant, less fussy and much better looking than any of today's varieties, and flowering for 5-6 weeks in the spring/summer, OGRs are more versatile roses than people believe. Combine them together with modern remotant varieties to achieve truly amazing sight throughout the whole year .....
Because there's absolutely no rose of today that has such rich and beautiful foliage as some good OGR has. And in garden, you want everyhting -- both blooms and healthy looking green backdrop .....
- Tom
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