10 minute read
Nature
Act II. Scene II Juliet in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare Whether you’re a home gardener or simply a lover of roses, there is little to compare with the sights and perfumed scents of a traditional rose garden in full bloom.
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The rose has a long and colourful history – according to archaeological evidence its roots, so to speak, go back 35 million years. They are known to have been grown in ancient Babylon and paintings of roses have been discovered in Egyptian pyramid tombs from the 14th century BC. Records exist of them being grown in Chinese and Greek gardens from at least 500 BC. Today there are over 100 species of the genus Rosa and since cultivation began some 5,000 years ago, possibly in China, there are now thousands of varieties.
The rose was of great importance to the Romans and was grown extensively throughout the Roman Empire. The petals were used as confetti at celebrations, for medicinal purposes, and as a source of perfume. Although many varieties were brought to England by the Romans, the flower’s popularity waned after the fall of the empire until it was generally just utilised in monasteries.
By the early 15th century the English were known to be cultivating roses and its prominence grew during the ‘Wars of the Roses’ 1455–1485, when the rose emblem was chosen by both the houses of York and Lancaster within the design of their heraldic badges. The white and the red rose was used respectively.
At that time their colour choice was limited to the European Wild rose which came in white or shades of pink. The red rose used as the emblem of Lancashire is believed to be the Rosa gallica which has a pink colour – not the strong red as we know today. By the 1600s the growing of roses had become very fashionable in England. A hundred years later there was an explosion in its popularity for gardens and decoration.
There are three main groupings or classes of roses, which refer to the plants history, how they grow, and their breeding.
The Wild (or species) rose has been around for thousands of years and thrived well without any human interference. All but one of these original species has five petals, the exception being the Rosa Sericea. Native to the Himalayas, this rose has only four petals and is generally found growing at altitudes up to 2.5 miles.
Old roses, also known as antique or heritage roses are those cultivated before the late 1800s.
Modern or hybrid roses are created by taking the best attributes of old rose varieties in order to create new variations.
Today the rose is also defined by the number of petals. Those with up to eight petals are known as a single rose, a double is up to 25 and a full rose up to 40 petals. Classification is somewhat equivocal for roses with more than forty petals as some have far more than this, for example the Cabbage rose (Rosa centifolia) having 100 petals.
However, producing these hybrids doesn’t come cheap. An apricothued rose known as Juliet (Ausjameson) took 15 years to perfect costing £3 million and is the world’s most expensive rose variety.
Roses can also be an expensive gift. One of the World's Tallest Rose is grown in Machachi, Ecuador, 2,800 metres (3,062 yards) above sea level in the mountain ranges of the Andes. Each stem measures 1.5 metres (5 feet) and you can expect to pay £500 for just 24 red roses.
Like trees, the rose can have a long life. Growing up the side of a columnar portion of the Hildesheim Cathedral in northern Germany is a variety of rose called Rosa canina. Commonly known as the Dog-rose, it is recorded as the oldest living rose in the world and thought to have been planted in the early 9th century, when the Cathedral was founded. Amazingly, this strong and healthy plant still continues to bud and bloom annually producing pale pink flowers each a year (usually around May) and is around 10 metres (33 feet) high.
Rosa gallica Evêque, painted by Redouté
continued on page 32 The oldest living rose, Hildesheim Cathedral, Northern Germany
Melbourn Allotments community initiative
The St George’s Allotment Association, which provides support for allotment holders and leisure gardeners in the Melbourn area, has now been in existence since 2009 and has gradually expanded its membership.
You may have seen us at the Primary School and Village fetes where we sell plants and produce from plot holders on the sites. Our rhubarb has gained a special reputation so that some people have mentioned to us that they come to the fete just to buy our rhubarb!
The crop for 2016 is already developing well, following some generous manuring in the autumn and we are very grateful to all the plot holders who donate rhubarb and other items for our stall.
This year, as there are some spare plots on the site, a member has generously donated his plot to be used to produce items for the fetes, etc. In addition to the regular Melbourn fete will be able to provide tools, seeds, compost/manure and help, if needed. We will be aiming to provide a relaxing, but stimulating, (maybe even therapeutic if you are feeling particularly stressed) environment with a lot of laughs.
The project ties in with initiatives like Change4 Life and will be linked to a gardening club project at Melbourn primary school.
If you are interested in joining us please just turn up or contact Bruce Huett on 01763 232 855 or through allotments@melbourn.org.uk if you want more information.
we will also be selling produce at the Coffee Stop at All Saints Community Hall on Saturday 13th August (10.30 to 12 noon) to celebrate National Allotment Week.
The membership fee for the Association just covers membership of the National Association (which has a discounted seed scheme and provides advice on allotment issues) and insurance cover for plots. The income from attendance at fetes is therefore important for raising additional income for improvements to the site which can’t be funded by the Parish Council, for instance provision of compost for allotment holders.
Although the plot will be worked by Association members we are keen for it to become a wider initiative involving a broader range of people from the Melbourn community. We recognise that many people may not have the time or commitment to cultivate a full allotment plot, but maybe interested in some healthy exercise and some tasty vegetables to take home to supplement supermarket vegetables. It is intended that those who help to work the plot will be able to take produce home as there will be more than can be used at the fetes.
Initially we will be meeting at 10am each Friday (weather permitting) at the allotment gate on the Moor. The Association (depending on demand)
St George’s Allotment Association
Do you like?:
• Relaxing exercise • Fresh air • Fresh fruit and vegetables • Pleasant company Then
Come And Help With The Community Plot Meet by the main gate at the allotment site on the Moor 10 am Friday mornings (Weather permitting)
Lady Banks’ rose the world’s largest rosebush
In Arizona, USA, grows the world’s largest rosebush which was planted in 1885. The Lady Banks rose (Rosa banksiae) has a canopy measuring 790 square metres (8,500 sq. feet). The trunk has a circumference of approximately 3.6 metres (12 feet) and during the flowing season it can have over 200,000 blooms. The root of the Arizona Lady Banks’ Rosebush is alleged to originate from Scotland.
At the other end of the scale, the Si rose is known as a micro-miniature rose and is regarded as the world’s smallest rose. Although the plant itself can grow to 152–254mm (6 to 10 inches) tall, the flowers are no more than 9mm, but are perfect miniatures.
As far as colour is concerned, the results of hundreds of years of selective breeding has produced a spectrum ranging from the palest shades of pinks and yellows to reds and russet, buff, dark purple, blues, greens, greys and even black – to name but a few. Some have striped, freckled or splotched blooms, while others provide multiple colours of flowers on the same bush. One rose known as China butterfly (Rosa chinensis mutabilis) performs a kaleidoscopic change in colour as its aging petals range from yellow through pink to crimson red.
However, some colours are deceptive. The Black rose or Turkish Halfeti is found exclusively in the village of Halfeti in Turkey. The rose, also known as the Arab Bride or Arab Beauty blossoms first as dark red and changes to what appears to the naked eye as black, but in fact is a dark reddish-crimson. While the Turkish Halfeti can be grown anywhere, only in Halfeti does the rose bloom in its black hue. When planted elsewhere, the rose only produces deep red blooms. The soil in Halfeti has a unique pH level.
Like the Black rose the Blue rose is not actually blue. The rose plant lacks a specific gene that has the ability to produce a ‘true blue’ colour. Scientists have used genetics to implant a gene known as ‘Delphinidin’ from a pansy which produces the blue pigment. However, this genetically engineered ‘blue’ rose called ‘Applause’ has been described as a more lilac colour than blue. Artificial blue roses have been around for some time. During the 12th century in the Middle and Far East, the blue rose was produced by placing a blue dye into the bark of the roots.
Today a number multi-coloured roses known as rainbow or happy roses are available. These have been produced in much the same way as they did in 12th century, by inserting dye into the stem of the roses while they are growing, which results in the colour being absorbed by each of the petals of the flower.
Ninety percent of roses sold in this country are imported. So where do our roses actually come from? Ecuador is one of the world’s biggest flower exporters, with its nutrient rich volcanic soil, over fifty percent of cultivated land is used for rose production. In Zambia eighty percent of their cultivated land is set aside for producing flowers and is dominated by rose farms. Ninety-five percent of the country’s flower exports are roses. Almost thirty percent of roses imported into Britain are from Kenya with farms employing up to 5000 workers. Ed. PS
Applause, the first genetically engineered ‘blue’ rose A rainbow or happy rose
Something to try at home! A similar effect to the multi-coloured rose can be produced at home. Take a white rose (or any pale coloured variety) and divide the stem into 2 or more sections from the bottom along its length for about 1 to 2 inches. Fill tall, narrow containers with water and mix in a few drops of food colouring. Choose a different colour for each container.
The more food colouring you use, the deeper the colours will be in the resulting rainbow rose. You should notice some colour change within the first 30 minutes, but for a vibrant rainbow rose, you will need to let the rose sit in its dye bath for a few days and it may take a full week before the colours become notably vibrant.
A rose near its blooming or already in its blooming stage, will accept the colour more readily. A rose in its bud stage will take much longer.
