“The concept is a millefeuille, a multilayered decoration that refers back to the Queen’s reign. It has to reflect the event and be respectful, but have a joie de vivre, a wow factor.” Rachel de Tame
Seeing images of the Royal barge ‘Spirit of Chartwell’ voyaging along the Thames, I was especially interested in identifying the flowers that made up the magnificent decor. A floral “E” for Elizabeth had been created from St Paulias (African violets) and mingled with creamy white ‘Patience’ roses whilst red roses, shamrocks, thistles and daffodils were included to represent the four corners of the UK. Even the Commonwealth blooms were homegrown, raised at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Decked with flowers of golds, crimsons, purples and highlights of cream, I could identify sulphurous Achilleas, Veronicas, Lupins, Lavendars and pale yellow-eyed grass ‘Sisyrinchium striatum’.
With over a thousand flowering herbs and Sweet peas in the 10,000 cut flowers, 600 plants and 90 garlands, it was not hard to imagine trails of pollinators pursuing this floating delicacy, although the downpours would eventually have put paid to any flypasts.
Whence comes this mist of sweet perfume of fragrant
blooming roses
That fills the air at early dawn and after daylight closes,
When through the day the song bird sings and in the
night reposes?
Tis June, the fairest month of all, bright June, the
month of roses.
Fabulous golden Phab roses entrance to Queen Mary gardens, Regents Park
The sight of all those roses spurred me into making my usual June pilgrimage to the Queen Mary rose gardens in Regent’s park. The recent cold, wet spell was far from ideal for the blooms which tend to spoil in the rain but these were early days and many of the roses were still in bud. Still there were enough varieties making their summer debut to amount to a whole heap of images which I’ve collated in colours. For the sake of Rosarians, I’ve also included names where possible…click to enlarge
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The kaleidoscopic splendour of the rose garden would be overwhelming were it not offset by a wall of trees and shrubs and carpeted with lawn. The rope swags for ramblers and climber complete the circular layout and are underplanted with cooler blues and mauves in Nepeta, Salvia and Morning Glory.
From the vast array of Rosa’s coloured, shaped and fragranced hybrids, I have a preference for the more modest beauties, who hang their heads with looser petalled tresses. My bouquet of favourites encompasses the range of hue and saturation from the blushing ‘Scarborough Fair’ to the deep, white-eyed scarlet of ‘Dortmund’. Especially lovely are the pastel, frilly French style noisettes.
With the aid of Smart Photo Editor, Madame Alfred Carriere makes a classical vintage rose picture. Were I to have a rose garden or even a garden, this sweet-scented cupped and pink-tinted white rose would be given pride of place although in this year of the Diamond Jubilee there are a number of more apt varieties to mark the occasion.
Diamond Jubilee rose
Americans have had a Diamond Jubilee hybrid rose since 1947 and in Regent’s Park this floribunda with cream buds maturing to apricot yellow is in full, fragrant flush. Now with the advent of the royal jubilee, some of our renowned nurserymen have produced their own tributes:-
- Queen’s Jubilee rose has double blooms of scented, white flushed peach flowers (Peter Beales)
- Royal Jubilee, an English Alba hybrid of deep pink curved petals that form round cups of rich fragrance. (DavidAustin)
- the sweet pea Diamond Jubilee is a delicate white bloom with pink ‘picotee (Eagle sweet peas)
They may not be long, these days of wine and roses but they are certainly intoxicating. Cheers!
I loved the flowers on the barge. Well done Rachel! I’m sure it was a nerve-racking job and they seemed to hold up to the deluge of rain. My roses are in full bloom now. I only have 3, Gertrude Jekyll, A Shropshire Lad and Geoff Hamilton. They were looking great until the heavy downpours but they are such beautiful plants that even when they spike me I can’t imagine my garden without them.
wellywoman read my post..Plant of the Moment – Viola cornuta
Wind and rain and still the garlands stayed in place. A great trio choice of colours
between the distant shots on TV and the uncooperative weather – thanks for telling me about the flowers on the Queen’s ship.
Elephant’s Eye read my post..How I blog
had to collate a lot of scattered info and peer at the TV
I have a similar taste in roses, loving the looser petalled ones. I have mainly rugosa and species types as they withstand the rain but I have just started to indulge myself with some others. Souvenir de malmaison next I think.
I wasn’t quite sure about the floral barge. It certainly had wow factor but I think it might have needed to sun to really shine out (the flowers, not the sun). All those deep reds were a bit oppressive for my taste. They did however as you say stay in place which was quite a triumph!
agree the gold achilleas needed the sun to make them shine through the dark colours.
Googled your rose choice (hope it does not translate as bad house) and it looks like a bon bon bourbon. ‘Prince Charles’ is a good choice for a royal jubilee year too!
I have Madam Alfred Carriere and she is in flower now. I love her, but I love Fantin Latour even more….you may not know but I am hoping to be moving house and it is interesting thinking about the plants I must have in the next garden. There will be roses for sure.
I agree with Elizabeth about the barge. It didn’t really do it for me either, but then I am a pastel sort of girl. Lovely post as ever Laura.
Judith read my post..holidays and jubilees
Exciting to have change in the offing. Will you be purchasing a jubilee rose for your next garden?
I like how you identified the roses and displayed them on the blog. I made the image larger because they really are very nice and cannot be seen quite as good small on the blog post. I did get to see some of the Jubilee on TV, it was a beautiful affair.
Donna read my post..The Long and Pretty Views at The Morris Arboretum
smaller images load faster but glad you took time to appreciate the full size versions..and the Jubilee
I am intoxicated by all this beauty–the colors, the textures. There are so many hues.
The Sage Butterfly read my post..Breathing Lessons
I watched the royal barge make its way with all the boats and ships down the Thames…what a fabulous affair and wonderful tribute…it was hard to see what flowers were on board so I was thrilled you identified them…and I will have to make sure I visit the rose garden someday to see the amazing display of roses…June is a wonderful rose month and my roses are the hit of my garden right now.
Donna@Gardens Eye View read my post..Gardens Eye Journal-June 2012
It would take quite a lot to persuade me to replace my favourite (if common) blue moon rose, though I can see many contenders there.
b-a-g read my post..Harmony (03 JUN 2012)
I’m still waiting for a rose as blue as Himalayan poppies
Interesting to read just how many blooms were used in the floral decorations Laura! I hope the garland etc were as scented as they were colourful. Wonder what happened to them all after the event. Have an image of soggy petals floating down the Thames and out to sea. I think that my few roses are just opening now but have not been out for a close inspection – they are more waterproof than me. Madame Alfred Carriere is a beauty but for me ‘Blush Noisette’ is ‘the special one’
Anna read my post..Almost Wordless Wednesday ~ 06/06/12
many still in pots so could be rehomed but the gardlands should have been floated on an ebb tide. A clove fragrant noisette you have apparently
Congratulations on your queen’s jubilee. I was in Bermuda for the 25th and it was quite a celebration.
Carolyn @ Carolyn’s Shade Gardens read my post..You Asked for the Long View Part 1
Thanks for sharing the lovely Rose images. I agree–I’m a bit partial to the ‘Noisettes.’ There were several Noisettes on display at the Louis Armstrong park in New Orleans when we were there in March. But all Roses are so photogenic. Beautiful!
PlantPostings read my post..Seasonal celebrations: the plants of summer!
- a riot of colour PP though somehwat clashing when put all together
- contrasting and exotic location Carolyn
- hence so many snaps Beth
How incredibly informative, and your collages are so well done I think I am a convert.
Alistair read my post..Dicentra formosa Aurora
thank-you! Often so lost in the roses I’d forget to record the names
p.s. I use Picasa freeware for collages mostly
My goodness, but I think it’s Rose Overload! So many beauties, where did you look first?
RobinL read my post..The Man Made Garden
it requires some organization of thought otherwise I chase around like a butterfly.
lovely post Laura, I haven’t been to Regents park for more than a decade it has memories from childhood onwards, London does have a lot of lovely parks to soften your city life, beautiful roses and I liked the non rose collage of other flowers in the rose garden too, Frances
Island Threads read my post..garden update