Time to cultivate appreciation

Rose Sources

The diversity of roses represents infinite possibilities.

By Carolyn Parker

Recent news that my favorite rose nursery, Vintage Gardens, might have to close threw me into reflection, and then gratitude. Not only for Vintage, but appreciation for many rose resources that I’ve taken for granted. Since our faltering economy puts rose organizations and small nurseries at risk, I thought now is a good time to highlight some of these valued assets.
First, let me tell you a little about Vintage Gardens. A consuming love of roses inspired founders, Gregg Lowery and Phillip Robinson, to amass a collection unparalleled in the world. They unearthed long forgotten roses from gardens and nurseries throughout Europe, the United States, and beyond.
Their catalog, The Vintage Gardens Book of Roses, is testament to their many contributors. To name a few: Malcolm Manners provided the China rose 'Emmie Gray', from Bermuda; Pam Puryear of Texas sent 'Pam’s Pink'; California’s Muriel Humenick gave the Hybrid Tea, 'Collete Clemente'. Roses came from Roseraie de l’Hay in France, Sangerhausen in Germany, the Huntington in San Marino, CA, and the San Jose Heritage Rose Garden, to name just four.
Intense curiosity, astute scholarship, and an uncanny talent for rose identification, by both Gregg and Phillip, resulted in, as Gregg writes on the Vintage Gardens website, “a collection of 3500, including every rose class from the newest to the most modern.” He goes on to say, “We value each variety and look on this as a preservation collection that provides a valuable resource to gardeners and helps to preserve our heritage of roses.”
Thanks to this remarkable nursery, I’ve had the opportunity to both experiment and specialize. At first, I wanted to try one rose from each class to gain a better understanding of rose style and bearing. Then I honed my interest into creating collections of Rugosas, Spinnosissimas, Tea roses, and Climbers. The Vintage catalog gave me historic and horticultural details on each rose class. The pages even provide illustrations of a shrub’s size and growth habit, in relation to human figures–an invaluable benefit to all rose gardeners.
The Vintage Gardens catalog is usually my first reference and my second is always helpmefind.com. Typing a rose name into their search box, instantly rewards you with information and, not one, but numerous photos of the rose you’re curious about.
Speaking of the internet, GardenWeb.com has scintillating rose forums discussing everything rosy you can think of, and more. The Antique Roses Forum is my favorite, especially when contributors send in garden photos.
As for rose organizations, three are especially worthy of note. The American Rose Society, based in Shreveport, Louisiana, has hundreds of local rose societies, across America, under its wing. The Bay Area has local ARS chapters that provide rose information and camaraderie.
The Heritage Rose Foundation is an international group that researches, preserves, and promotes the culture of heritage and antique roses. Yearly conferences highlight not only roses, but also people and places. Last April, there was a special tour of historic roses at Hearst Castle; and Fabien Ducher, nurseryman of Lyon, France spoke about his family of famed rose breeders.
The Heritage Roses Group is another fellowship of those who care about Old Roses, with small chapters across America. The Bay Area group meets bi-annually to plan the well-known Celebration of Old Roses, which takes place in El Cerrito each May.
All three organizations publish impressive monthly or quarterly journals.
After Gregg Lowery put out the announcement that Vintage Gardens might close due to faltering sales, there was an immediate response. Gregg emailed me that concerned rose lovers have “sent in a tidal wave of orders.” He feels much more hopeful about continuing more years of Vintage Gardens.
All the rose resources mentioned here, and a good number more, can be accessed from the links page on my website. When you can, enhance your rose world by supporting special rose vendors and organizations.   http://www.rosesfromatoz.com/rose-sources.html