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BELFAST 2009
It’s getting to be a pleasurable annual habit: visits to Northern Ireland as part of the International Judging Panel of the Belfast trials, with a few days holiday included.
In 2009 West Midlands members on the panel included John Baxter and President Chris Warner, as well as Lynn and myself. Ann Bird was present, fulfilling her first official engagement as Vice-President, (Northern Europe) of the World Federation of Rose Societies. She also acted as Chair of the International Judges, in the absence this year of John Mattock.
Lady Dixon Park was once again absolutely superb. A professional rose breeder commented that he had never seen so clean a collection of roses, despite the damp of the Belfast climate, and the monoculture of 40,000 roses without companion planting. Craig Wallace, the President of the Northern Ireland Rose Society is fully justified in his claims that Lady Dixon Park has a world class collection of roses. The World Federation of Rose Societies has recognised this by a major award to the park. Craig is of course vital to the rose society and the trials. In his successive roles as civil servant for the department of agriculture, Superintendent of Belfast’s many parks and now, in retirement, the very active President of the NI Rose society, he has worked hard for the rose trials. Lady Dixon Park is also fortunate in possessing a superb forewoman of the gardener team: I’m sure Ann Bird would love to have Lisa at St Albans.
Last year we predicted that the competition for the award for best floribunda would be stiff and so it proved. Colin Dickson’s Wild Rover won the award, but had severe competition from three roses which won Trial Ground certificates: Fryer’s Lucky, Poulsen’s Stockholm and Dickson’s Light Fantastic. Indeed lemony white floriferous Light Fantastic easily received the highest mark on the day from the International Panel, but it is a little later coming into flower than its rivals, as is Vanilla Twist which also looked good. George Best won the miniature award. C. & K. Jones’ introduction Pride of Cheshire won the HT section, Kordes’ Beverly the most fragrant class, a Dickson’s introduction Wild Thing the shrub rose prize and Poulsen’s Latino that for climbing roses.
The City of Belfast provided their normal excellent hospitality, a highlight being the formal Lord Mayor’s dinner, this year at the Belfast Harbour Master’s Office, a splendid Victorian location, with excellent food. Some of our number took the opportunity to take part in the Dublin trials, others to visit Colin Dickson’s nursery. Chris Warner tells me that we missed a promising display of new roses. Perhaps some will be judged at Dixon Park in years to come. Lynn and I went on the Rose Society outing to the DARD garden at Greenmount College, after being taken to see the gardens at Belfast Castle and the Palm House and the Tropical house at the Botanic Gardens, which had been closed on our previous visits. Once again the walled garden was displaying high quality and clean floribunda and climbing roses. Tony Bracegirdle and others including me had a long discussion about the merits of three pink floribundas, Tickled Pink, in my opinion better at Greenmount than anywhere else I’ve seen it, Poulsen’s Hafnia, a Belfast winner in 2004, and Sexy Rexy. Most people present felt Hafnia was the winner at Greenmount. Chris Warner’s Alfresco was looking excellent along a trellis.
We enjoyed two other outings: a visit to Castle Ward, a National Trust property on the southern shores of Strangford Lough (a lady we met last year in Dixon Park kindly giving us a lift) and, using Northern Ireland’s award-winning railway with its flower-bedecked stations, a visit to a splendid medieval castle at Carrickfergus. It was interesting to learn that Carrickfergus fortified town and port were in King John’s time much more important than Belfast.
We hope to return in 2010.
Ian Lancaster
VISIT TO CHRIS AND BARBARA WARNER’S GARDEN
On July 25, fifteen of our members visited Chris and Barbara to have a look round Chris’s Greenhouse and his rose beds. The greenhouse shelves were full of new seedlings which gave a very colourful display. We enjoyed looking at them all and picking out ones we would like to see in commerce in the future. Afterwards we looked round the rose beds and admired his very healthy two and three year old plants, again noting ones that caught our fancy. Everyone remarked what a lot of work was involved and we were told that apart from Chris and Barbara there was only a part time gardener to help with the upkeep.
After our tour Barbara very kindly gave us refreshments then Ann Bird presented her with a floral arrangement made by Sheila Evans and thanked her and Chris for a very enjoyable afternoon.
Jean
AN INVITATION FROM THE FRIENDS OF WINTERBOURNE
Lecture by Ann Bird at Winterbourne Botanic Gardens,
7.30 pm 11 February 2008
The Friends of Winterbourne Botanic Gardens, at the University of Birmingham, have invited members of the West Midlands Rose Society to a lecture by our good friend Ann Bird, President of the Royal National Rose Society.
The occasion is a joint meeting of the Friends and the West Midlands Branch of the NCPGG. The meeting takes place on Monday February 11th at 7.30pm. The friends meet at the annex to the main house at Winterbourne. Attendance is free to members of the West Midlands Rose Society, with refreshments at cost.
Ann is speaking about “Roses Old and New” and I’m sure there will be good examples of her many rose slides from all around the world. The West Midlands Committee hope that as many members as possible will take advantage of this kind invitation, support Ann and meet new friends amongst the supporters of the Botanic Gardens, and the NCPGG.
NB1) This meeting is instead of our normal February meeting.
NB2) Many of our members have attended sessions at Winterbourne, but for others please do not confuse this University Botanic gardens with the Edgbaston Botanical Gardens. These gardens are close to the University of Birmingham main campus. Going by car take the A38 from Birmingham, turn right into Edgbaston Park Road at the main University site, then right into Winterbourne where there is car parking.
SOCIETY VISIT TO COUNTRY GARDEN PLANT CENTRE.
20 June 2007
Fifteen members and guests attended for what has become an annual visit to Hadnall.
Mary and John Jinks gave us the usual warm welcome and provided an excellent buffet supper, complemented with their very “morish” home-made cream scones.
The warm weather during April and early May had ensured the roses were in full bloom and visitors had the difficult problem of which varieties to purchase. The quality and health of the plants as we knew from previous visits is first class. John and Mary really work hard and have a rigid spraying programme to keep this high standard of healthy roses. The roses are all grown in containers and can be planted immediately, but do remember container grown roses need lots of watering for at least four weeks after planting in open ground.
As some of you will know, I have developed a passion for climbing and rambler roses around my garden. The perimeters are mostly covered with roses, along with several trellis panels dividing areas of the garden. Prior to the visit I had recently erected a new obelisk, 7ft diameter by 8ft high. In order to clothe it quickly I decided to purchase four roses from their range of second year plants in fifteen litre containers. These roses would need to be of medium vigour, climbing to approximately 10 to 14ft with flowers borne in clusters, and fragrant. Repeat flowering would be a bonus but not a necessity for I will be growing clematis alongside the roses.
I chose ‘Rev d’or’, a beautiful soft apricot Noisette which I had seen growing on our visit to Moor Wood and for the opposite corner ‘Narrow Water’ another Noisette, lilac pink in colour which I had seen on the visit to Hunts Court, both of these Noisettes are
repeat flowering. On the other corner I chose ‘Bleu Magenta’, an old rambler with violet blue flowers. My final variety was ‘Clair Matin’, a modern repeat flowering climber with pink fragrant flowers borne in clusters.
I was able on the occasion of the visit, to find the first three varieties in superb condition, they did not however have any stock of ‘Clair Matin’, which I obtained from another source.
Whilst searching amongst the rows of roses for my choices, I came across a lovely plant of ‘Crème Brulee’. It is a copper peach coloured climber which will grow approximately 10 – 12 ft, raised by Grandy’s Roses. I thought, yes, I have to grow this one, and so yes, I have found a gap on my trellising!!
My car was well filled for the journey home and I saw other members loading their wares into their vehicles as we departed after a lovely evening.
Mary and John provide the plants for our joint WMRS – RNRS stand at the BBC Gardeners’ World Live show each year. This time they excelled with both superb roses and companion plants which filled our 9m x 3m area at the show to perfection
On the front of the stand we had six bushes of the new variety Hot Chocolate. It is of a warm chocolate orange colour, and really created much attention. So much so that Keith Jones of C & K Jones had to collect the remainder of his stock from his Nursery during the show.
I’m sure our Society benefits from our association with The Plant Centre and we thank Mary and John for their continued support.
John Anthony
A DAY IN THE COTSWOLDS
VISITS TO MOOR WOOD AND HUNTS COURT
This was a return visit to these two venues, those who joined us last year will remember that we chose the only wet day in June when during the morning the rain got heavier and heavier and we got wetter and wetter. This year we arrived at Moor Wood hoping for better conditions so that at least our photographs would do justice to this wonderful place.
Once again we were greeted by Henry Robinson at the front of his beautiful Georgian Manor House where we were served with tea, coffee and biscuits. Even on our arrival rain was in the air and Henry also informed us that the Roses had been at their best two weeks before we arrived. However, with some 135 varieties of ramblers in this the home of the National Collection, we were hopeful that some of the later varieties would still be in full flower.
We started our tour at the front of the house then went across the manicured lawns with Henry leading the way. Early in our tour we saw the rambler Apple Blossom with its huge trusses of blossom pink flowers and which inspite of the rain was a superb display, also Collestria with its large pink perfumed flowers. We stopped for a while to wonder at the ancient huge Cedar tree, truly a wonderful specimen.
We then started into the valley negotiating slippery stone steps with great care, the rain was now getting worse, but we “hardy souls” were not to be deterred and we were to be rewarded by the varieties.
Narrow Water with large trusses of pinkish lilac semi-double flowers, Paul Transon with its rich salmon double flowers and Lemon Eglesia all cascading over Cotswold stone walls. How magnificent these gardens must be on a fine sunny day and with the roses at their best.
Our tour took us through wild flower meadows seeded each year by our host and although Henry wasn’t happy with the result they were still quite impressive. We continued up the slope towards the picturesque “Gardener’s Cottage” passing on the way fine specimens of the climber Alchymist with yellow/orange flowers, Snowdrift with its
tiny white flowers and the creamy white Alberic Barbier. The Albertine on the front of the cottage which was in full flower on our visit last year was almost over with only the odd flower remaining.
On the slopes leaving the valley we saw Ghislaine de Feligonde, orange-yellow musk rambler, white climber Pleine de Grace, Dorothy Perkins and Pink Cloud with masses of pale pink flowers. Here also was the procumbent Macrantha Taubretter with trusses of clear pink semi-double cupped blooms, a lovely rose in any conditions. Picton Castle with its orange-coral flowers was rambling over the roof of a garden store and on the upper terrace we also saw American Pillar, Debutante and the unusual variety Wickwar with single white flowers set against a dense growth of grey foliage.
By now the rain had become unbearable and we all splashed back to our cars. Next year we have vowed to pick a sunny day and Henry Robinson has promised to let us know when the roses are at their best – third time lucky maybe! It was now lunchtime so we all retreated to the local Hostelry The Bathurst Arms at North Cerney before speeding across the Cotswolds for our afternoon visit to Hunts Court at North Nibley.
We were greeted there by Keith Marshall who together with his wife Margaret has planted some 450 varieties of Old Garden, Modern Shrubs, Ramblers and Climbers with companion planting. Thankfully by now the rain had eased and we were to have a very pleasant afternoon walking these beautiful gardens. Keith led us round imparting his wonderful knowledge of roses at every turn.
Along the main driveway we saw the lovely pink-crimson shrub Cerise Bouquet and the outstanding rambler Emily Grey with its golden yellow flowers. Here too, was the beautiful bright pink-mauve shrub Belle de Crecy and the deep pink and very fragrant moss rose Salet.
Around the gardens hybrid musk rose Danae looked good with its buff-yellow flowers, as did the rich crimson gallica Scharlachglut (Scarlet Fire). To add to the mix an Austin rose The Pilgrim looked very good indeed, as did a huge example of the climber Gardeners Pink. The gardens had everything, companion plants, shrubs including wonderful Philadelphus, one we noted was Belle Etoile with
its heady perfume. More and more roses, the lavender-pink rambler Laure Davoust and The Garland with its masses of small blush ;pink flowers, Mrs Honey Dyson growing through a hedge and here too the grey leafed Wickwar scrambling up a tree. I also recall a super Veilchenblau in full flower and on the north wall of the house the creamy white Alberic Barbier looking very healthy with its glossy dark green foliage.
I am sure there are many varieties which I haven’t mentioned, the whole area really is a delight and the nursery has most of the varieties for sale. Before leaving the gardens I must mention the splendid Wedding Cake Tree – most unusual. Keith then led us to a huge open barn (a history lesson in itself) where Margaret was waiting to serve us tea and her delicious cakes. The day had ended well and we had seen roses galore, many of them rare and unusual.
After paying our thanks to Keith and Margaret and with my thanks to Sheila for taking copious notes, we all headed home, weary I am sure, but with lasting memories of a most enjoyable day amongst our favourite flowers.
Roy Evans
Thanks to Roy and Sheila for such a detailed account of our day’s outing.
MIDDLETON HALL GARDENERS’ DAY
Again this year the West Midlands Rose Society supported Middleton Hall Trust’s Gardeners’ Day in August. Held in the grounds of Middleton Hall which is situated on the A4091 near Tamworth the Hall is one of the few remaining moated Manor Houses in the country.
The house itself was in a bad state of repair a few years ago but thanks to a dedicated band of volunteers it is gradually being restored to its original glory. Some of the Specialist Societies had their stands in the house and we were fortunate this year to be sited in the Main Hall along with the Sutton Coldfield Fuchsia Society who had put on a very good display of fuchsias and also had a large stand of plants for sale at reasonable prices.
In another room leading off the Hall there were several other specialist plant stalls, Birmingham Carnation Society, the Streptocarpus Society and also the Sweet Pea Stand that had a beautiful display of Sweet peas and were selling lots of Sweet pea Seeds.
John Windsor again put on a very good display of Roses – despite not many roses being around at this time, due to the awful weather we had been having for some weeks leading up to the Show. We were also joined by Lynn and Ian Lancaster and there was a steady troupe of visitors with questions to ask about roses to keep us all busy.
 At lunch time I went into the grounds and walked along the side of the walled garden. There were quite a few Trade Stands, with a good selection of plants for sale. It was lovely strolling in the warm sunshine under the many trees, looking around at all of the many different plants.
In all it was a very good day and I must say to anyone who is interested in plants and gardening this show is well worth a visit.
Don Whitehouse
Thanks Don for your report. Anyone who would like to help on the stand next year would be very welcome. There are home made cakes, sandwiches, salads, tea and coffee on sale during the day and most people there go round with a smile on their faces as it is such a happy atmosphere.
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