The Roses, The Garden, The Hats!!
THE ROSE TRIALS. . .
There is so much for me to love about the rose world. Roses, rose friends and rose events add so much to my life. None more than the annual pilgrimage to judge roses at the Biltmore. What a pleasure to be in this beautiful place with so many beautiful friends. And, the roses, oh my, spending this last weekend in September in the Biltmore rose garden is truly ending my rose growing season on a high note.
ABOUT THE TRIALS:
The trial is dedicated to the backyard gardener and is open to professional as well as amateur rose hybridizers from around the world. Each trial lasts two years and a permanent jury judges the roses four times per year. Even in winter!
Roses are evaluated for their overall health and vigor, fragrance, disease resistance and their ability to rebloom. All things that we backyard gardeners are looking for. In my garden are several of the past winners and I am making plans to add a few of these as well! 🙂
And, the 2016 winner are…
POLAR EXPRESS (Kordes Sunbelt Collection) Link to New Flora http://newflora.com/product/polar-express-rose/
- Best Growth Habit
- Best Floribunda
- Most Outstanding Rose of the Trial
HONEYMOON (Kordes Arbors Collection) More info here.
- Lord Burleigh Award for Most Disease Resistance
- Gilded Age Award for Best Climber
DOUBLE 10 by Ping Lim
- Pauline Merrell Award for Best Hybrid Tea
THE LARK ASCENDING by David Austin
- Chauncey Beadle Award for Best Shrub
An amazing collection!
THE GARDEN…
Belinda’s Dream was so dreamy–I could hardly tear myself away! You can order this one here. Lucky for me, my Belinda’s Dream was blooming when I got home! (More about that here.)
Pink Pet (Sometimes thought to be Caldwell Pink … read more about that here. Also sold at Chamblees.)
Strike it Rich … Mercy! Tom Carruth has a winner with this one. Read more.
THE HATS. . .
Marci Martin always lovely and always inspiring. Check out her FB page here.
Tina VanCleave, Marci and I having just the best time!
Jim Wilson and Susan Foxx.
Debbie Clark taking note!
Award winning rose grower, Cindy Dale, hard at work!
George Ann Hamilton … so lovely in her pink!
THE BEST PART…
Mr. G and I were celebrating our 39th anniversary that day.
He is the VERY BEST!
