Friday, May 21, 2010

A Favorite Rose ~ Rosa "Gertrude Jekyll"

Rosa "Gertrude Jekyll"

Hurray for Pink Saturday http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/

This is one of my very favorite Roses, I've planted her in the last two gardens I've had, and she NEVER fails to bring ooh's and ah's, especially as she's the first of my roses to bloom.  After a long dreary winter, a flowering Gertrude Jekyll is a wonderful sight, and her scent is divine (one of the rosiest smelling roses that I grow.)

Gertrude Jekyll was a gifted artist before she became a garden designer in the late 1800's and early 1900's, designing over 400 gardens, one of her most famous being her home at Munstead Wood. 

 I love what she shared about one of her favorite roses "Garland Rose" with another famous British garden dignitary Graham Thomas -

 "It is well worth getting up at 4.00 a.m. on a mid-june morning to see the tender loveliness of the newly opening buds." ( This because the faint blush of the buds turns white by mid morning.) 

I love her sentiments, it reminds me that there are true treasures right under our noses if we'll just take the time to look, even if it means rising a little earlier than usual now and again...

I'll close with this sweet poem about roses by George Eliot

You love the roses - so do I.  I wish
The sky would rain down roses, as they rain
From off the shaken bush.  Why will it not?
Then all the valley would be pink and white
And soft to tread on.  They would fall as light
As Feathers, smelling sweet; and it would be
Like sleeping and like waking, all at once!

11 comments:

Sherry from Alabama said...

What a lovely rose and lovely poem to go along with it. Hope you have a wonderful pink Saturday!

Sherry @ A Happy Valentine

My name is Riet said...

What a beautiful rose you post here. I can almost smell it.
Happy pink Saturday

CailinMarie said...

lovely! I particularly enjoyed the poem. Thanks! Happy Pink Saturday-
CailinMarie
http://cailinyates.blogspot.com

Gillena Cox said...

lovely posting;reminds me of a time, when a friend had to whisper to me
“Take time to smell the roses”

much love
gillena

Unknown said...

Love pink Roses. Happy Pink Saturday!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Lovely! Thank you for sharing Gertrude Jekyll with us today.

Happy Pink Saturday!

XO,

Sheila :-)

The Artful Diva said...

I can see why you favor this rose. It is beauteous!

Jacalyn @ rmebathproducts.com said...

Love it!

Happy PS,
Jacalyn

Unknown said...

Lovely post, thank you! I snuck a peak at the one below it too and got a little homesick :) We're from Baker City/Pendleton but moved up to Northern Washington at the first of the year. Thanks for featuring one of our favorite drives! :)

Have a great day!

Sarah

Unknown said...

So lovely rose.

Happy Pink Saturday!
Hugs
Charo

Septic Tank Cleaning Livermore said...

Thaanks great post