Fabulous hats [well, mostly]... and gorgeous photography...

I also enjoyed reading about the Lewis and Clark Exposition... I don't suppose you would be surprised at my interest in that Krista...

Thanks for the link..

What a treat to see this exhibition. Thank you so much for sharing, Krista.

I imagine there must still be at least a few shrubs remaining from that magnificent initiative in Portland. This is the city that clearly doesn't take for granted their auspicious climate for roses.

I know this could be zone pushing for me, but of all old hybrid teas, my dream is to grow 'Mme Caroline Testout'.

Thank you, Marlorena. The Oregon Trail history is very interesting. The Exposition was similar to a World's Fair, I had not heard of this Exposition before... how nice that they chose a rose for mass planting.

Thank you Vesfl. I, too, would like to add Mme Caroline Testout to my garden. Maybe it's more cold tolerant than other antique Hybrid Teas. According to Wikepedia: "About half a million pink hybrid tea rose bushes, all "Mme Caroline Testout," were planted along the streets of Portland for the Lewis and Clark Exposition. Many of these remain today."

Fun pictures, thank you! But LOL @ "Vehicle Parade" postcard; both "driver" and "vehicle" seems really enthusiastic (not). Still, excellent use of ferns as fringe.

Fruitcat, I also loved the fern fringe!!!! This article and the related pictures kept me up last night. Wow! I noticed some climbing roses too and can only assume they are Cl. CT? I have that one from ARE, but it's still in a pot. I got a few blooms last year; it seems a reluctant growing, but seems happier this year in a bigger pot. Thank you Krista for finding this fascinating bit of history. I suppose even if there are no longer masses of roses on the streets : ((, at least they've kept the spirit going with their Municipal rose garden. I don't know how I never went in all the times I visited Portland.

What a wonderful look into an earlier time. I did wonder how much some of those hats weighed and whether they ever gave the ladies a headache. The rose-covered horse is quite a sight!

Thank you, to all.

I, too, like the ferns!

I noticed the climbing roses as well, and wondered if they were climbing versions of MCT.

While the hats are beautiful accessories, some of them do look uncomfortable...

Oh, how cool is this?! Thank you for enlightening the Oregonians on the forum who missed the article! I'm so glad NY Rose lovers are there to give us a nudge. I love the photos!

I enjoy walking around Portland and spotting Madame Carolines. It's become a bit of a rose geek game for me. :-) Carol

Do you find many? Where are they most likely hiding?

That sounds like fun, Carol, to look for the Mme Carolines!

John, it sounds like a sturdy rose, thanks for the info.

Like John, I spot Carolines in quite a few parking strips all over town and also unrenovated vintage gardens which surround antique homes. There are a couple not far from my house that reside inside chain link fences. She's one tough rose! I know some Carolines must be left from historical times because the canes and plants themselves are quite large and have obviously been surviving in adverse conditions for decades. Carol

I'd probably go over and neaten those neglected roses up, if I lived in Portland. Probably would need a hacksaw.

Haha, Portland is many things, but 'neat' it ain't!

It looks very neat in the old photos, quite prim I might say. Quaint, like they tend to be in those old pics..

Thank you for sharing this Krista! I grew up in Portland and my fascination with roses began early, visiting the International Rose Test Garden. I never heard about The Madame Carolines (ugh.. the curse of having non-gardening parents!!).

I now live near Seattle and have a house built in 1919. As an homage to my Portland childhood, I planted MCT as the rose to grow over my front porch. It has the blowsy old fashioned-ness that will look perfect with my house!

When I was on my honeymoon in England, I bought two large hats like the ones worn by the ladies in these photos. The problem was, there are no occasions in the Pacific Northwest where anyone could ever wear such a hat! People here wear Columbia Sportswear to everything :)

Maybe I should don one of the hats and stroll around my rose garden, wistfully. I would love to see my neighbor's faces! hehe

Rosylady, I like the idea of you wearing your hats in your rose garden, but when you get tired of amusing your neighbors, maybe you can wear your hats at The Crumpet Shop at Pike Place Market! PPM is always so packed with people, your large hats would make quite an impact there (perhaps even a literal impact or two...) while you enjoy your tea and crumpets.

Rosylady, my house is also about 100 years old, built circa 1920. I like the look of old-fashioned roses around the house, a nice fit for the home. (I like to mix modern and antique roses together in the garden.)