The Floral Review: Garden Roses

A rose by any other name is still a rose. What more can I say about the ubiquitous flora? Well, for one, gone are the days of a client's demand that rose buds be tight as bullets. We want our wedding bouquets to look as if they were plucked right out of the garden. We want a rose to smell like a rose. We want our money's worth that a big, full bloom provides.

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Garden roses are also referred to as 'english roses', 'cottage roses', 'cabbage roses' and 'heritage' or 'heirloom' roses. Their large, full heads with loads of petals are similar to peonies. Some varieties can be dated as far back as the 1500s, which may be why they have a vintage, antique look.

The use by florists is credited to David Austin, master cultivator and acknowledged authority of all things roses. Until 1999, his roses were not readily available in the United States, but because of the heartiness, unique colors, and beautiful varieties, the demand became such that stateside distribution was inevitable.



Most people will tell you the same thing when they hold a bouquet of garden roses; "they smell like my grandmother's garden". It is a fresh, peppery scent that tickles the nose and transports the bearer to sweet memories.

{image via Saipua}

{image via Flowerwild Designs}

Several of my favorite varieties are Cymbeline, Maria Theresia, Toulousse Lautrec, and Jeanne Moreau. The nature of the blooms make garden roses a perfect choice for diy wedding bouquets; they pretty much design themselves! And, garden roses look just as pretty in a mason jar as they do in a leaded crystal vase.

Stop by next week for a look at the dahlia, mad hatter of the garden.