Peace rose…and Sweet Peas…what more could you want?

I’ve been waiting patiently for this day…the blooming of ‘Peace’, which is my favourite rose of all time. Not only has it an interesting story but, for me, it is how a rose should be! A couple of days ago, my ‘Peace’ rose looked like this:

And then yesterday morning…

And lo and behold, we went out for a while…and  we arrived home, in the afternoon, to this…

Yet, this beautiful rose once had a different name : ‘Madame A. Meilland’. It was developed by a French horticulturalist, Francis Meilland, in honour of his mother.

It became ‘Peace’ when in 1945, Meilland wrote to Field Marshall Alan Brooke, to thank him for his part in the liberation of France..and to ask if Brooke would give his name to the rose. However, Brooke declined. He said that his name would soon be forgotten but that a much better name for the rose would be ‘Peace’. And I certainly agree with that!

‘Peace’ will no doubt change over the next few days! Its yellow buds open to reveal large blooms and as the blooms open and age, they become more pink around the edges of the petals. I think that ‘Peace’ is absolutely beautiful. 

Did you or your mum ever make roses from the pastry scraps? My mum did and they looked like the Peace rose, in the photo, just above. I would often do the same for the centre of a pie. And, that’s how I like a rose to be!

I am, indeed, a bit particular when it comes to choosing roses! And I had to do just that, when, yesterday, we went to Bernaville Nursery, near Exeter. This time I wanted a rose that was repeat flowering with a scent, to sit in a nice, deep container.

I’ve had my eye on this one for quite some time. It’s called, ‘The Lark Ascending’.  It has graceful blooms that are a pale apricot colour with an open- cup shape, arranged neatly around golden stamens. Apparently, it’s an extremely, healthy rose. And of course, it was named after that famous piece of music by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Finally, my Sweet Peas seem to be doing well after a really slow start! I wasn’t late in sowing them either and they get plenty to drink! But after a stiff talking to and kick up the proverbial ‘you know what’, they have decided to obey. In a way, I don’t really mind as it means that the flowers will last into July and August. I sowed a variety of colours and I have two, long raised planters … so watch this space! 

Has anyone else sowed Sweet Peas, this year? How are yours doing?