Back in 2013, I went to the
Biltmore Estate in Asheville to work on an article about the first
International Rose Trials that had recently taken place there.
That year, an amateur
hybridizer, Mike Athy of Gisborne, New Zealand, walked away with top honors for
his ground cover/climbing rose Athyfalaa.
The article included an interview with Athy, and a history of the
Biltmore rose garden.
Since then, I have been
honored to become a member of the permanent judging panel for the trials, so I get
to visit the gardens four times a year and evaluate all the roses entered in
the competition. It’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it!
This year, the judging and
gala awards event will be held in September instead of May. (And The Dirt Diaries will dish dirt on all the winners!) So I went up last
week to complete my spring judging and see how the roses were coming along
after a tough winter and some late freezes.
To say everything looked
spectacular would be an understatement. Emily and her crew are doing a splendid
job and the roses have never looked prettier.
I had two cameras with me to
take advantage of any photo ops. I was not disappointed. After I got home, I
went back and revisited the pictures I’d taken each May since 2013. Boy, talk
about changes!
For example, look at the
Maypole in 2013 and 2016. Those little Rural England bushes have taken off in the past three years!
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The Maypole was pretty in 2013 |
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But baby, look at her now! |
The climbers were also
gorgeous. And so were the perennials accompanying the roses. So if you can’t visit
yourself just now, sit back and enjoy your private tour courtesy of The Dirt
Diaries.
Sadly, the photos aren’t
scratch and sniff. But take my word for
it, the fragrance was intoxicating.
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Climbers got extra TLC this spring and it shows! |
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American Beauty and her perennial partners |
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Climbing roses and the conservatory |
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The Maypole and Zepherine Drouhin in 2013 |
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Zepherine (background left) and the Maypole this year |
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Perennial companions add interest between flushes of bloom |
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Baronne Prevost |
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New Dawn |
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Roses and yarrow |
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Glad I don't have the deadheading chores! |
10 comments :
Lucky you! I can only imagine how wonderful that would be (deadheading aside). :)
You are so right, Beth. It is a joy to go there even in January (although there isn't much to judge except the health of the plant.)Looking at that pile of deadheads makes me feel tired!
Your pictures are so beautiful, it is ALMOST like being there! Lovely! See you in September! 😘
I can't wait to be with you! We will have some beauties competing for the prizes.
Hello Lynn, those are amazing pictures, it's lovely to see a mature "New Dawn" knowing that someday, hopefully ours will look almost as good, if I can just get round to planting it permanently. With the cold Spring we've had our numerous Old English roses are late, but they're just beginning to open now and I've honestly been waiting all year to watch them open, flower and smell their amazing fragrance. I shall have to write about it.
So glad you enjoyed the photos, Sunil. I will look forward to reading all about your roses when they bloom. A few of my new ones (Olivia Rose, The Poet's Wife and Harlow Carr) have buds and I am excited to see what the blooms will look like. Ah, anticipation! And by the way New Dawn gets quite big so pick a proper spot where it can show off!
I wish for the great of success in all of our destiny endeavors
asDzasdz
The most impressive info about them was their blend of creative and technical abilities.
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