Buff Beauty perfectly describes the pale, apricot blooms of my favourite musk rose. I am sure that Pinta also lives up to its name but I wouldn't want to grow it, even by my doorstep.

Much of the romance of the rose lies in its name for who wouldn't want to possess Great Maiden's Blush? It is even more romantic in the French which translates as 'Aroused Nymph's Thigh'.

Rose growers like David Austin, understand this for his English roses are often quartered like the old roses and the names recall out heritage.

William Shakespeare is one such, a superb crimson rose born, not in the 16th century but in the year 2000.

Should you be attending a ruby wedding anniversary however, it's a safe bet that you would choose Ruby Wedding instead.

A fact that has set me thinking on roses named solely for specific occasions. Golden Celebration, Happy Anniversary, Congratulations and Blessings all fall into this category.

I mention this because I was doubly blessed when a very kind friend sent me a card telling me that two Blessings roses would arrive in December.

I dearly love my friend and I do love roses but I knew, without a shadow of a doubt that these little hybrid tea bedding roses would have as much chance of survival in the hugger mugger of my overcrowded borders as a snowdrop in a tropical rainforest.

What to do? I 'phoned immediately to thank my friend and tactfully inquire where the roses would come from. Unfortunately she was out of the country and her husband simply said. 'Oh, she got them off the internet.'

In December the roses duly arrived, not from any anonymous nursery but from Peter Beales, one of the country's great rose growers.

I have the Beales catalogue which is stuffed full of roses that I long for. The temptation was too great and so I phoned them up and although they do not usually do so, they agreed to take back my Blessings and replace them with a rose of my choice, provided I pay the postage.

In the event they did rather well out of it, for I ordered three times the value of the Blessings roses which have, I hope, found a more suitable home and are none the worse for their journey to Wales and back.

As for my friend I confessed what I had done and being a true friend she forgave me. Now Rosa Sancta, the Holy Rose of Abyssinia, will bloom in their stead. How did I choose it over so many rivals? By its name of course.

Order

Bare root roses can be ordered now and planted in mild spells through the winter. Browse these beautiful catalogues.

David Austin Roses Tel: 01902 376300 email retail@davidaustinroses.com
For Peter Beales Roses phone 01953 454707 or visit
info@peterbealesroses.com