Old Roses & the Stories They Tell.

One of the delights of growing heritage roses is the stories they tell. Yes, strange as it seems, old roses have their own unique stories from the past, with glimpses into historic events and eras. One of the keys to their stories for many of the old, heritage roses is their given name, or in some cases, a new name. This occurs if an old rose is discovered, perhaps in a neglected garden, and although identified as a heritage rose, their name may not be certain. The rose is given a new name which usually identifies where it was found, until their true name can be confirmed. These roses are referred to as Renamed old Roses, or ROR. And even the uncertainty of their identity, and the place in which they were found, provides a sense of mystery and intrigue.

For example, the lovely Tea rose, Carlsruhe Cemetery Maria Bruhne (ROR) was found on a gravesite at the Carlsruhe Cemetery in South Australia for Maria Bruhne, who died 25.6.1891. Whether this rose dates from that time, and if so, why this rose was placed in memory of Maria, is unknown. Perhaps it was a favourite rose from her own garden. The fascinating part of this story is that this rose is a very rare rose thought to be the true Madamoiselle de Sombreuil, and although generally classified as a Tea rose, has Bourbon characteristics.

The Tea rose sold in Australia as the climbing Tea rose, Sombreuil, is thought to be an imposter; so the plot thickens. Especially when you dig further (no pun intended) and find that Sombreuil has links to the French Revolution, where a French Royalist General, the Marquis de Sombreuil was on death row awaiting the guillotine. His daughter is said to have drunk the blood of victims in a grim exchange as a desperate attempt to save her father's life, but to no avail. The Marquis was ultimately guillotined along with his son. His daughter, Mlle de Sombreuil, later went onto marry and live out her life. So, you can see how the name of this rose provides us with insights into events during a particular era in history. And to think that this story is memorialised by a beautiful white rose with a lovely, haunting fragrance!

Another rose that offers entree to a certain period of time in history, is the Bourbon rose, Souvenir de la Malmaison. Well known and grown in many gardens in Australia as a climbing rose, Svnr de la Malmaison, was not found in Napolean's wife's garden, the Empress Josephine of La Malmaison, unlike various stories that pop up from time to time claiming this to be so.

Rather, Souvenir de la Malmaison was named in honour of the collection of roses Josephine amassed at her country home, La Malmaison, and was never in existence in her garden at the time she lived there. This rose was in fact named more than 30 years after Josephine's death in 1814 by the Grand Duke of Russia, who named it in memorium of Josephine's beautiful gardens at La Malmaison, which had fallen into disrepair after her death.

One of my favourite stories associated with Josephine's garden at Malmaison is the story of Josephine importing roses from English rose breeders at a time when France was in conflict with England. Indeed, there is a story told where the ship carrying this English cargo of roses for Empress Josephine was given safe passage through enemy waters so as to arrive safely at its destination in France.

In fact, during World War 11 there are similar stories of co-operation between rose breeders living in countries at war with each other, where budding material was exchanged between breeders despite their country of origin being at war with each other. It seems that the shared love of roses breaches the borders of war, epitomised to this day by the naming of the rose, Peace, to mark the end of such hostilities.

Perhaps the most evocative aspect of these rose stories is the unique scent each rose has, a continual link to others who have also shared the love of roses, with the scent as a reminder of their stories.

There are many other rose names that can give us insights into lives lived through the portals of history. From time to time I will continue this series so that more stories of rose names and their stories can be shared.

Perhaps you have a rose in your garden that has a special meaning for you and your family. I would love to hear your stories so they can be shared with others.