Shortly after being married, Luke and I purchased a farm in Marshfield, Massachusetts. The few acres surrounding the antique (1668) house, were a mangle of weeds, dead trees, uncared paddocks...a dream as I knew I would create my own little piece of paradise. It all started with a rose, the purest form and exquisite scent of the Isphahan rose.
Roses are said to be the most ancient flowers in existence. They were used for their medicinal value, their beauty and fragrance. Confucius (500BC) kept records of the roses in the imperial Garden of the chinese Emperor, Cleopatra was said to have her bed covered in rose petals, medieval monasteries were full of roses, especially red climbing roses as they represented the blood of Christ. Napoleon was so fond of roses that he allowed english rose seeds to be sent to his beloved Josephine, while at war with England.
As for me, I could not imagine my life without roses. By my bed, always a rose is present to bring calmness. Before sleeping, I apply a drop of rose oil behind my ears. I bathe in damask rose scented water which I bring back from Morocco.
In my garden, I have been collecting over the years, the most exquisite scented roses. Ancient roses have unfortunately a very short display, their blooms and fragrance are intoxicating. I treasure the month of June when all my antique roses display their soft colors and release their extraordinary fragrance.
In my garden one would find Damask roses ( Isphahan, Madame Hardy,Red Damask)...Alba roses (Alba maxima being my favorite, Amelia, Blanche de Belgique, Celeste, Crimson Blush, Parmentier, tender Blush)...Gallica roses (Adele Prevost, Aurelia, Poupre Violette, Camaieaux)...Moss rose ( Alfred de damas, Gloire d'Orient)...Centifolia roses (Cabbage rose, Fanfan Latour,Rubra)...Portland roses (Comte de Chambord, Jacques Cartier, Duchesse of Portland.
A Bientot,
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So beautiful Francine....I share your passion for roses.....xv
ReplyDeleteI love this post. Roses remind me of my sweet Nana, who had roses along the side of her house. She lovingly cared for them and there would always be a gorgeous vase full of roses on her dining room table.
ReplyDeleteMaybe because I was little then, but her roses seemed so big -- huge blooms I could put my whole face into. It was like heaven.
Ahhh, Francine, what a lovely post this is, and now I feel as if I know you a little better. Sleeping under rose petals...how beautiful. I have learned something here. Sending love, my friend...
ReplyDeleteDear Francine,
ReplyDeleteHow lucky you are that you can grow so many varieties of roses. Our back garden faces north and I only have a couple of ramblers as, most roses don't like my back garden !! I do have a few in pots though....but.....I have a beautiful David Austin climber in the front, climbing up our house called St Swithin's ( bought for my husband on his birthday which falls on St. Swithin's day ). It is an old fashioned variety and flowers all summer long, on and off.
I have always bought rose fragrances and have a lovely french one that I have just finished, so must get some more. XXXX
Francine, these roses are gorgeous! I have always loved rose too!
ReplyDeleteI can remember when I was just married, buying my rose bushes and planting them in clay pots and checking them each day.
I also love the scent.
Thank you for sharing.
Teresa
xoxo
Francine,
ReplyDeleteGorgeous pics of roses, thanks for sharing! We too are huge fans of roses, their scent, the variety in colors, the richness, everything about them! We have a lovely rose photo in our photography shop you might like! Love your blog and everything is stands for. (Link for the rose photo http://www.etsy.com/listing/76555880/marie-antoinette-roses-8x10-fine-art )
Best,
Jessica & Holly
Gorgeous... we had an arch at our old home w/ climbing roses... it was hard to leave behind! xo
ReplyDeleteWhat exquisite roses. I unfortunately have a brown thumb. Any beautiful blooms in our yard are despite not in thanks to me!!
ReplyDeleteFrancine your roses are divine, I love the colors and especially the variegated one!
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Absolutely lovely! I love old english varieties that have the heavy heavy flowers and smell so wonderful.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
Best,
Christina
Roses and peoies are my favorite. The fragrance of old English roses transports me to my childhood.
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful. I have learned something here.
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Just lovely... From one rose enthusist to another!
ReplyDeleteCaroline
Dear Francine; I understand your admiration for roses. Their scent and beauty are magnificent and so very calming. I use to shy away from rose scented perfumes thinking that only old women favored that scent. I couldn't of been more wrong. You always take the most gorgeous photos. I hope your 4th of July was a great one with your family?
ReplyDeleteCheers ~ Deb x
The fragrance of flowers create such a strong imprint in our memories! Roses are among some of my most favorite... along with gardenias and orange blossoms...
ReplyDeleteFrancine! We talked today on the phone - how did I not put the two together - that you were the same Francince who writes this delightful blog?!!! I have never had a green thumb but my love for roses has me thinking of starting this Autumn - I've discovered David Austin roses! :-)
ReplyDelete(Claudia Kalur)
Hello Francine,
ReplyDeleteThese are just beautiful images! Wow... I too am so fond of roses, especially soft pink ones... though we certainly do not have the variety as you do, there is a lovely area of the garden, running down the pathway, where blush roses grow. I so enjoy having them in my room when they are in bloom. There scent is so lovely, and their petals, so delicate... I need to learn more about these roses that you mention — the variety is incredible.
Hope you are having a wonderful week :)
xx, Sarah
p.s your first house sounds fascinating!
wow....utterly beautiful....I adore roses myself especially gorgeous ones from a garden, heady with scent........still, my supermarket bunch do fill me with joy on the kitchen windowsill even without any aroma....
ReplyDeleteThese are just beautiful images, as well as that much useful information which you have shown here. As I just want to say that I was totally unknown from this. But after reading this I came to know about that.
ReplyDeleteI am new to your site and still have to catch up on all of your blogs. Since I started reading the other week what you are doing is fantastic. Wishing the best for you and your family.
ReplyDeleteI can almost smell them. I bet your garden is intoxicating. I used to grow roses alos. At one time I had over 30 varieties on my roof deck garden in the city. Those summers were some of my happiest. I grew particularly fond of the David Austin roses as I was able to grow them in pots, and their colors and fragrance were the best taken from the ancient roses. Ahhhhh
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