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"Barbara's Pasture Rose"

last year

Yesterday's daybreak light was intense, slanting in under thick fog, and setting houses down the hill to an extra golden glow. . . . And in that warm slanting light, in the middle of pots of newly propagated roses, there was THIS:

"Barbara's Pasture Rose"

https://www.helpmefind.com/gardening/l.php?l=2.37549

The late, great Barbara Oliva, who molded the Historic Rose Garden in the Sacramento City Cemetery, went on a rose-rustle with Sherri Berglund, when they spotted this huge rose in a deserted pasture near Cherokee, CA.

"Hold the fence," said Barb. "I'm going in!"

And with that, she ducked through the old barbed wire, and secured cuttings of this beauty.

"Barbara's Pasture Rose" is like 'La Reine' on steroids. Similar, but larger. A far larger bloom, on a larger, vigorous plant. And far more disease resistant. This is a rose that must not be lost.

A very immature plant, plotting to catch up to the "Ragged Robin," next door.

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jerijen
Original Author

last year

You would have loved her. EVERYONE loved her.

I'm privileged to have been able to call her a friend.

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Comments (12)

roseseek
last year
last modified: last year
Please add your telling of the story and Barbara's photo to the HMF rose page!
jerijen
Original Author
last year
Hadn't thought of that, Kim.
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Rosefolly (or others), I completely agree. Unfortunately, most of the methods I've tried so far don't work so well and I still have a few "mystery roses" that I can't move out of the pot ghetto until I know what they are. Do you have a reliable method? I've tried using wooden popsicle sticks, purchased tags, writing on the pot, writing on plastic eating utensils and maybe something else. The only thing I've found so far that seems to work is putting a felt letter on top of the dirt in the pot and keeping a list of what letter goes with which rose. I could use some help with trying to avoid all the mysteries in the future. Thanks.
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It smells divine. I found a hip on mine yesterday... In my neck of the woods, it does get the damask crud, and I have to strip off the senescent leaves; they won't fall off on their own. Love it anyway! Virginia
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Q
Comments (3)
mine balled this year with the prolonged wet weather but it’s a great rose.
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Comments (21)
@roseseek and @judijunebugarizonazn8 - The pepper tree that is most invasive for me is the "Brazilian Pepper". The nearest one to my yard is several houses up the street, yet I keep getting seedlings starting to grow in my wetter areas. If i find them soon enough they are easy to remove. Unfortunately, I have one that has made it's home in my "Sombreuil/ Colonial White" rose that is on my hill. I keep cutting it back even under the soil but it comes back as strong as ever. I'm afraid to be too ruthless with it as to damage the rose's roots - aaargh! I have two "California Peppers" planted on my hill and I much prefer their lax, weeping form to the Brazilian. Alas, they are not propagating themselves... And - yes- I blame the BIRDS - eating the peppers and pooping the seeds in my yard!
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roseseek
last year
They are both "part of its romance".
jerijen
Original Author
last year
Yes. And it's a worthy rose to remember Barb by.
fig_insanity Z7b E TN
last year
last modified: last year
Thanks for the photos of both Barb and her Pasture Rose. Both are lovely. I would have loved to meet her.
Anita Clevenger
last year
Barbara tells the story of this rose on the documentary, Cemetery Rose, free on Youtube. It would e nice to have the info that Jeri gave as well as a link on HMF. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNfgtKvdrsQ Barbara mentored me for years, and I am so grateful for that and her friendship. Barbara's Pasture Rose is in commerce and has been shared widely. I just gave a talk a few days ago and two more plants found new, excited owners. Where blackspot is not an issue, this is simply a terrific rose.
jerijen
Original Author
last year
Anita, anything I can give you, let me know.

"Barbara's Pasture Rose" still puzzles me. I've run across so many plants of 'La Reine,' and BPR just isn't a match in size of plant or bloom . . . I've often wondered . . . In the 19th Century, you find random mentions of 'Reine du Midi' which is consistently described as being just like 'La Reine', but markedly larger, of both plant and bloom.

NOW, the name Reine du Midi has been folded in as a synonym of 'La Reine,' but it never was, then. It was described as being a different rose. So I really wonder . . .

I was told years ago, in the RGR days, by a French rosarian (do you remember Daniel?) that French people, coming to the California gold rush, and knowing they would never go home, often brought a rose, to be planted on their grave.

What if some adventurous French immigrant brought 'Reine du Midi' with him?
E Leon
2 months ago
Jeri thank you for all the info! I just ordered BPR. I’m in the San Fernando Valley and it should do great here.
jerijen
Original Author
2 months ago
Leon, it should be great there.

And (Hint Hint) You couldn't go wrong with "Grandmother's Hat" either:
E Leon
2 months ago
Oh wow! What a beautiful rose. I might have to add that to the collection. It might be one of the last few I purchase this year, as my budget and space is limited ☺️
jerijen
Original Author
2 months ago

The nice thing abour "GramHat" is that she is disease free.

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