According to fossil evidence, roses have been around for 35 million years. They have been symbols of love, beauty and war but most of all they’re one of the most popular garden flowers of all time – and, thanks to Discover Scottish Gardens – a network of gardens and plant nurseries – Courier Country is blooming with beautiful rose gardens open to the public.
Gallery, a historic garden in Montrose, includes a fine collection of more than 100 species of old roses over one and half acres.
“Scottish weather is not the best for growing roses,” admits head gardener Ron Stephen, “but if you choose a site that gets at least five or six hours’ sunshine a day then you’re off to a good start.
“If another rose has grown in the same spot before, it’s really important to dig out an area at least 18 inches square, completely remove the soil and put in new soil so the new rose doesn’t pick up any kind of sickness,” he advises.
He loves all the roses but selects the Sally Holmes rose hedge as one of his firm favourites and the old David Austin roses for their fragrance.
“I hope visitors will be inspired and also see there are lots of shrubs that work well with roses, from philadelphus and mock orange to geraniums and berberis rose glow,” he says.
A few miles along the road at Pitmuies Gardens by Forfar, two semi-formal walled gardens adjoin the 18th Century house and shelter long borders of herbaceous perennials, delphiniums and old-fashioned roses.
Jeanette Ogilvie, the owner of Pitmuies, says: “I’m not a trained gardener and I’m learning every day,” she says. “We prune them once a year – you have to give them quite a vicious pruning although they will sulk for a couple of years!” she laughs.
“If you feed them, keep them clean to avoid black spot fungus, keep the weeds away and deadhead them, they’ll be reasonably happy.
“I hope visitors will come away with a sense of peace and take away ideas. Gardening is to be enjoyed and not something to be scared of.”
For opening hours for gardens across Fife, Angus and Perth & Kinross, visit www.discoverscottishgardens.org
Did you know…?
Historically the rose was of great importance to the Romans and Egyptians. For Romans anything that was said “under the rose” was deemed to be a secret.
George Washington, the first US president, was also the first US rose breeder.
The world’s oldest living rose is believed to be 1,000 years old. It grows on the wall of the Cathedral of Hildesheim in Germany and its presence is documented since 815 BC, despite being bombed in 1945.
Rose hips contain more Vitamin C than any other fruit or vegetable.
Columbus’ crew picked a rose branch out of the ocean on October 11, 1492. This signalled the presence of land. The very next day, Columbus discovered America.
The Netherlands is the world’s leading rose exporter.
The first rose to leave the earth was a miniature rose called “Overnight Scentsation” that had been cultivated for experiments in space.
A breed of multicoloured roses are said to be the most expensive roses in the world. A single Happy Rose rose costs around £25
