HOME & GARDEN
The rose -
The Generous Gardener
not just a pretty face
Philippa Evans-Bevan reflects on her favourite flower
T
he rose is undoubtedly the world’s best-loved flower and it is certainly my favourite. The depth of heartfelt joy many people feel when they see a vase or a sprawling mass of roses is indeed powerful and from the perspective of sight and smell, is wholly understandable. The intrinsic beauty of roses in their many different forms is breathtaking. So too are their fragrances, from delicate to exquisite powerful scents. The rose palette is a myriad of colours, from dreamy creams, through all the citrus colours of lemon, clementine and more, to robust rubies, crimson and garnet.
There are also the less visible dimensions to this favoured flower that captivate me. The rose is not just a pretty face. As the American therapist and writer, Andrew Pacholyk, says: ‘The gentle rose offers a powerful joy, known only to the heart.’ Roses have a long and colourful history and some believe, based on fossil evidence, that they existed 35 million years ago. Today there are over 30,000 varieties of roses and they have a quite complicated family tree. In ancient times, wild roses were used in the production of rosewater, scented oils and other fragrances. Many uses can be traced back to Iraq in 2000 BC, and deliberate cultivation was well underway in China by 500 BC. The Romans and other early European civilisations also grew large quantities for commercial use.
Desdemona
There are references to roses by the Persians in the 12th Century BC where they viewed it as a symbol of love and commitment. In Greek mythology, Aphrodite, the goddess of love, was regarded as the creator of the rose, which came about when her tears were mixed with the blood of her wounded lover, Adonis.
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The rose became entwined with the Christian faith, for example the rosary, and to a large degree it was the church that was responsible for carrying the rose across Europe to many lands. The fact that the rose could adapt and thrive in so many climatic and geological zones is a reflection on its resilience. It is always an inspiration to me how even in the harshest and challenging situations, a rose very often will bloom and grow.
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In Greek mythology, Aphrodite, the goddess of love, was regarded as the creator of the rose, which came about when her tears were mixed with the blood of her wounded lover, Adonis
