I am just back from my annual trek to the Biltmore Estate to participate in the Biltmore International Rose Trials. Once again I found myself steeped in the old world charm of a walled sunken garden to take an in-depth look at the most modern of roses. Hybridizers from around the world continue to work hard to bring us the best of the best for our home gardens..
WINE & ROSES
Our time in the garden begins on Friday evening with a wine and roses party. It is so wonderful to renew long time friendships and make new friends as we bond around our mutual love for the rose.
TIME FOR BUSINESS!
In the spirit of the Vanderbilt legacy we don our fancy clothes and hats and make our way to the task at hand.
It is my pleasure to share with you the 2019 Rose Trial Winners. These roses have been judged each season (even winter) for two years.
Moonlight Romantica (MEILkaquinz)
Meilland / Star Roses
Pauline Merrell Award – Best Hybrid Tea Rose
Sweet Hips (KAPswehp)
Weeks Roses
Lord Burleigh Award – Best Disease Resistant Rose
William Cecil Award – Best General Impression
Bliss Parfuma (KORmarzau)
Kordes
Edith Wharton Award – Best Floribunda Rose
Cupid’s Kisses (WEKtriscala)
Weeks – Bedard
Gilded Age Award – Best Climbing Rose
Coral Knock Out Rose (RADral)
Star Roses – Radler
Chauncey Beadle Award – Best Shrub Rose
George and Edith Vanderbilt Award – Most Outstanding Rose
SPECIAL THANKS TO…
…Our coordinator of the Biltmore Rose Trials, Paul Zimmerman, for his leadership and vision to work with amateur and professional hybridizers to provide the very best for our gardens.
…Parker Andes, Biltmore Director of Horticulture, and his teams for the care of the gardens and their commitment to the Biltmore vision.
George Vanderbilt was serious about hospitality and horticulture and his legacy continues. It is the perfect place for such an event!
Friday evening we have a chance to meet new friends and renew cherished friendships in the rose garden … sipping wine and enjoying yummy food.
THE BEAUTIFUL “WORK”
Saturday morning we begin our “work”… with a delicious cup of coffee as we watch the enchanting fog lift over the garden. Then with clip boards in hand, we are up closed and personal with the roses.
THE WINNERS
Biltmore Winners 2018 Awards Day Roses Entered in 2016
Oso Easy Urban Legend (R.’ChewPatout’) Chris Warner – Spring Meadow Nursery
Princesse Charlene De Monaco (Meidysouk) House of Meilland – Star Roses & Plants
Cornelia Vanderbilt Cecil Award for Most Fragrant Rose
George and Edith Vanderbilt Award for Most Outstanding Rose
Pauline Merrell Award for Best Hybrid Tea
Highwire Flyer (Radwire)
William Radler – Star Roses and Plants
Gilded Age Award for Climbing Rose
William Cecil Award for Best Growth Habit
Shining Moment (Radshining) William Radler – Star Roses and Plants
Edith Wharton Award for Best Floribunda
THANK YOU…
Paul Zimmerman:
Sending special thanks to Paul Zimmerman for his vision and his hard work as Coordinator of the Biltmore rose trials.
Because of his work, both professional and amateur hybridizers have a greater chance for their creations to be known.
Because of his work, the backyard gardener has more beautiful options for their gardens!
Because of his wonderful work, ARS President Pat Shanley awarded him a Presidential Citation for a job well done.
Congratulations Paul!
Paul, me and Parker
Parker Andes:
Pat gave another much deserved Presidential Citation to Parker Andes, Director of Horticulture , for his work and dedication to this project. Parker and his teams ensure the Biltmore gardens are at their best and stay true to the Vanderbilt vision.
And, special thanks to David Pike, CEO of Witherspoon Rose Culture and John Beaty of Beaty Fertilizers for sponsoring our cocktail party and awards luncheon. We sure appreciate you!
MORE FUN!!
Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to stop and smell the roses!
Someone had to be first and in the case of hybrid teas, it was La France. When you hear the terms Old Garden Roses and Modern Roses do you ever wonder how to know which is which? Old Garden Roses are roses bred before 1867 …. when the first Hybrid Tea was named and that first Hybrid Tea — La France. This pretty, fragrant rose was found in France by the Rosarian, Andre’ Guillot. Parents of this rose are said to be Hybrid Perpetual “Madame Victor Verdier” and tea rose “Madame Bravy” —giving us a new classification of roses—Hybrid Teas! (Note: Her parentage is sometimes debated!😉)
While most old garden roses are one time bloomers, this new hybrid gave us blooms throughout the growing season. Hybrid Teas are said to be the most popular class of roses, much of that popularity comes from their being commonly used as “florist” roses with their long stems and high centers.
La France is a large shrub that would NOT be considered disease resistant–black spot and other fungal disease find her very attractive! She grows best in warmer climates. As a hybrid tea she has been surpassed in beauty, form and is no longer welcome in many gardens, however, few can surpass her in fragrance! As the first, she has historical significance, making her a sentimental favorite with a warm place in my heart. Yes, she blazed the trail that led us to the amazing repeat bloomers we have now.
LA FRANCE AND THE BILTMORE
The most beautiful bed of La France roses I have ever seen is in the Biltmore garden and what a perfect place for her. She is in the company of many other historical giants in the rose world like Blush Noisette. You cannot walk by La France without stopping to take in the damask fragrance and delicate features of this rose. The pictures show that this first hybrid tea does not have the growth habit of the more modern hybrid teas but a growth habit more like that of her historical parents with delicate stems that bow in the breeze — just adding to her charm.
La France is the beauty on the right.
LA FRANCE AND FRIENDS
My time at the Biltmore is filled with beautiful roses of course, but also rose friend reunions. Friends like Jim Wilson. Jim is a wealth of rose knowledge and in particular La France. In fact, he says the rose world is sometimes confused on which rose is La France (that parentage debate I mentioned!). At the end of this post is a video interview I did with Jim last year where he talks about this debate.
Fast forward to this year when Jim presented me with my very own La France! He grew a lovely plant for me to take home! This rose is over-wintering in my potting shed and has already given me several blooms with that amazing damask fragrance it is known for.
La France blooming in the Potting Shed.
Fingers crossed that she can be happy all winter long in less than perfect conditions—dry, dim light. 😳 I am excited to see what she can do next year in a large pot in my garden. She’s a “diva” for sure and will require extra care but I’m up for it.
Last weekend on a perfect day in a enchanting garden we chose winners in the 2017 Biltmore International Rose trials!
Ping Lim for Bailey Nurseries, Inc. and Altman Plants, swept the show winning 5 awards. Ping
First up, winning 4 of the 7 awards for 2017 is Screaming Neon – including Most Outstanding rose of the trial. A rose you couldn’t miss. A beautiful, healthy rose just covered in bloom. It showed no sign of disease. This rose will be beautiful in your garden or landscape!
Awards for Screaming Neon were:
Lord Burleigh Award for Most Disease Resistant
Chauncey Beadle Award for Best Shrub
William Cecil Award for Best Growth Habit
And, the George & Edith Vanderbilt Award for Most Outstanding rose of the trial!
Ping’s roses have won in these trials before…
2015’s Gilded Age Award for Best Climber — ‘Flying Kiss.’ 2016’s Pauline Merrell Award for Best Hybrid Tea — ‘Double 10’
Screaming Neon BloomScreaming Neon with it’s neighbors in the Biltmore garden
Ping Lim also won the Edith Wharton Award for Best Floribunda with the lovely Lion King.
The gorgeous Anastasia, bred by Michel Adam, won the Pauline Merrell Award for Best Hybrid tea.
And, TADA, the coveted Cornelia Vanderbilt Cecil Award for theMost Fragrant rose goes to Dee-Lish. This rose is from the esteemed House of Meilland.
Dee Lish
Our time on the Biltmore Estate was lovely as always. It is a magical place especially when you have the opportunity to be in the garden when it is shrouded in fog. Enchanting. Magical.
If you have not visited the Biltmore, do put it on your list. You will love anytime of year, BUT ESPECIALLY when the roses are in bloom.
Come on in…
Ahhhh
These hats & ladies are winners!
Too much fun!
Jon Parker, Biltmore Rosarian
Serious Work!
Up Close and Personal
Enchanting
Paul Zimmerman gets the party started.
All rosey with our ARS President Pat Shanley.
Chris & Tina VanCleave looking so fine!
Beauty at every turn.
Fog and roses … a winner every time!
He’s the best!
It has been quite a week. Color me a happy gardener…
Hope you have a fabulous weekend and a Happy Bloom Thyme Friday!
We are on the road to see roses in a place where there is beauty at every turn.
The mountains. The Inn. The Food. The Friends. The Roses.
Isn’t Mr. G just the cutest thing!!!!
This weekend is the Biltmore International Rose Trials. The history of roses at the Biltmore dates back to the very beginning. You can read about their 120-year love affair with roses here.
Since 2011, hybridizers, both professional and amateur, send their best of the best to live for two years in one of the most beautiful rose gardens in the world. These roses are judged 4 times each year by a local permanent jury and judged annually by additional jurors from around the world. Roses in the Biltmore garden receive minimal care — little water and no chemicals. Good luck to all of the hard working hybridizers who are hoping for one or more of the 12 coveted awards.
There could not be a more perfect place for a rose trial.
This garden is not only steeped in history, but is so very vital to today’s rose world as the trial brings to the public’s attention so many amazing roses.
Just walking through the entrances is an experience and once inside … Stone Walls, Pergolas, May Poles, Arbors, the Conservatory—all work together to create an enchanting place where beautiful roses and their flower companions flourish. Add to that the opportunity for rose friends from all over the country to renew friendships, to share lovely food and wine and to don our hats, grab our clipboards and get to the serious business of finding the best of the best roses for your backyard.
I believe George and Edith Vanderbilt would be proud of the valuable work being done in this garden that meant so much to both of them. A huge thanks to Paul Zimmerman for his vision, commitment and leadership in bringing us the Biltmore International Rose Trials.
MORE TO COME…
Pictures, videos and mini interviews will be posted on Facebook and Instagram. The Rose Chat Crew interviews will be available at RoseChatPodcast.com a bit later. We are also going to interview Jeff Plack about the Biltmore Wines! Did you know they were also famous for their wines?? Well they are. 🍷🥂🍷
Duty calls and I must go… Wink. Wink. Seriously, somebody pinch me! 😉
The above picture is from two years ago. This year the hat will be different, but the happiness level is the same! 🙂
I don’t know what the weather is like where you are, but around here it is HOT. As you know, it has been RAINY and I mean RAINY. Now it is HOT and I mean HOT. Or at least around here the 90s are HOT. In the deep south my friends are hotter but 90 is hot enough for me … HOT.
I thought as the temps soared, I would have very few roses blooming but that has not been the case. Although I am wilting, the roses aren’t. There are certainly a few that are laying low or sending out small blooms, but today we are going to focus on the ones that don’t seem to be bothered by the heat…
Lady Salisbury (David Austin) Looks delicate but it one tough rose!Our Lady of Guadalupe (Jackson & Perkins)Coral Drift (Star Roses & Plants)Poseidon (Kordes/Certified Roses)Another shot of Poseidon with her neighborsRed Drift (Star Roses & Plants) Rarely without bloom!Beverly (Kordes/Certified Roses/Winner at Biltmore International Rose Trials)Petit Pink (Proven Winners OSO Happy Series)Charlotte (David Austin)Black Forrest (Kordes/Certified Roses)Falling in Love (A beautiful Tom Carruth HT)Smoothie (Proven Winners (OSO Happy Series)Quietness (Dr. Buck) (left) and Music Box (Ping Lim) (right)Music Box Up CloseCherry Pie (Proven Winners OSO Easy Series)Little Mischief (Ping Lim’s Easy Elegance Collection)
Some of these lovelies made their way to a vase…
I have a new shrub rose that I planted a few weeks ago, Sunshine Daydream.
I’m excited to see what it’s going to do. It’s another pretty, fragrant yellow! 🙂
If you are wondering what went on last week at the Biltmore International Rose Trials, below is a video just for you!
Say Cheese!
Chris (VanCleave) and I had so much fun (maybe tooooo much fun judging from the outtakes) seeing the roses, but also seeing our rose friends and having the opportunity to interview them! Look for additional videos on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and our Rose Chat Podcast.
Warning rose lovers, if we see you on the road, we just might ask you a question or two about your favorite rose(s) or your best tips for growing roses. Yes, we have iPhones with video cameras and Selfie Sticks and we aren’t afraid to use them!
Apricot Drift in my garden this week.
JUNE IS NATIONAL ROSE MONTH:
What a great time to plant a rose and join the American Rose Society where you’ll learn more about the world’s favorite flower and meet a ton of rose friends!
If you are local to me, join the Indianapolis Rose society–or come for a visit and check us out. Our meetings are open to the public! More info here.
Today was a very special day for rose lovers — the judging of the Biltmore International Rose Trials. Since 2011, The Biltmore historic rose garden has been home to these trials. It is my extreme pleasure to serve as a juror to the wonderful event that showcases the work of the amateur as well as the professional hybridizers. More about the rose trials here.
Under the supurb direction of Paul Zimmerman of Paul Zimmerman Roses, this event is a highlight in the rose world where after two years of observation in no spray and limited care conditions, the winners are announced. Dressed in our garden party best, the jurors come together to be about the serious work of finding the roses we can look forward to having in our own backyards and yours.
AND THE WINNERS ARE…
Award of Excellence for Best Established Rose
Queen Elizabeth
Honorable John Cecil Award for Open Group
Popcorn Drift / Nova Flora
Edith Wharton Award for Best Floribunda
Tequila Gold / Meilland
Gilded Age Award for Best Climber
FlyingKiss / Ping Lim
Chauncy Beadle Award for Best Shrub
Lord Burleigh Award for Most Disease Resistant
Peachy Keen / Bill Radler
William Cecil Award for Best Growth Habit
Phloxy Baby / Bill Radler
Pauline Merrill Award for Best Hybrid Tea
Cornelia Vanderbilt Cecil Award for Most Fragrant
George & Edith Vanderbilt Award for Most Outstanding Rose of the Trial (Best in Show)
Savannah / Kordes
JURORS HARD AT PLAY (I mean work!)
Yes, today was a very good day in a very beautiful place!
Things are never dull when Paul Zimmerman is in the Rose Chat house! And, this week was no exception. For tons of fun, rose garden advice, the latest in rose trends and rose trials AND for the roll out of something brand new in the world of roses — Easy-PZ — a new line of roses brought to us by Paul and Ben Hanna of Heirloom Roses.
If you know Paul, you know 2 things … these roses will be beautiful and these roses will be sustainable! You will see them first on the Heirloom Roses website.
Click on the Rose Chat icon below and let Paul tell you about Easy-PZ roses himself … and you don’t want to miss hearing what’s going on in his garden at the Funny Farm! 🙂
