RUN FOR THE ROSES - KENTUCKY DERBY FACTS

The roses were first established as part of the Derby celebration when they were presented to all the ladies attending a fashionable Louisville Derby party.  The roses were such a sensation, that the president of Churchill Downs, Col. Lewis Clark, adopted the rose as the race’s official flower.  The rose garland now synonymous with the Kentucky Derby first appeared in the 1896 when the winner, Ben Brush, received a floral arrangement of white and pink roses.

In 1904 the red rose became the official flower of the Kentucky Derby.  The tradition was strengthened when, in 1925, New York sports columnist Bill Corum, later the president of Churchill Downs, dubbed the Kentucky Derby the “Run for the Roses”.  The garland as it exists today was first introduced in 1932 for the 58^th running won by Burgoo King.

Each year, a garland of 554 red roses is sewn into a green satin backing with the seal of the Commonwealth on one end and the twin spires and number of the running on the other.  Each garland is also adorned with a “Crown” of roses, green fern and ribbon.  The “Crown”, a single rose pointing upward in the center of the garland, symbolizes the struggle and heart necessary to reach the winners’ circle.

Each year the Governor and other dignitaries present the winning jockey with a bouquet of 60 long stemmed roses wrapped in ten yards of ribbon.  For several years, owners of the Derby winner also received a silk replica of the garland, but since Grindstone’s 1996 victory, the actual garland has made the trip to Danville, Kentucky to be freeze-dried.  Some owners have even gone as far as to have a flower dipped in silver.  A silver dipped flower from the garland of Gato del Sol, the 1982 winner, is on display in the Kentucky Derby Museum.

The Kroger Company has been the official florist of the Kentucky Derby since 1987.  After taking over the duties from the Kingsley Walker florist, Kroger began constructing the prestigious garland in one of its local stores for the public to view on Derby Eve.

The preservation of the garland and crowds of spectators watching its construction are a testament to the prestige and mystique of the Garland of Roses.

Roses are easy plants to grow contrary to popular belief. Why do you think Roses have been around for millions of years?  All they need are food, water and sunlight.  Just like you and me. 

Here at Rose Gardening World, we’ll educate you about the Rose - our National Floral Emblem and the state flower of several states.  Welcome to the World of Rose Gardening or Rose Gardening World where Rose Gardening Tips, Rose Growing Advice, Planting a Rose Garden, Rose Descriptions, Where to Buy Roses, Where to see Rose Gardens, Rose Culture, Rose History, Rose Events, Rose Verses are all here in one place.  

We are constantly updating our contents so visit Rose Gardening World often.  We want to help you grow Beautiful Roses and we welcome comments.  Take time and smell the roses.  Happy Rose Gardening!

Check my other blogs:

• YES, YOU CAN GROW BEAUTIFUL ROSES 
• KNOCK OUT ROSES
• EARTHKIND ROSES
• OSO EASY ROSES
• OSO HAPPY ROSES
• ROSE SUPPLIERS
• WILL THERE BE A SHORTAGE OF ROSES IN 2012?
• PLANTING BARE-ROOT ROSES
• CLEANING ROSE PRUNERS BLADES
• PRUNING YOUR ROSES
• AARS WINNER FOR 2012
• DAVID AUSTIN ROSES
•  DAVID AUSTIN ROSES IN COMMERCE

Visit my website

Join a rose society

The McCartney Rose

(‘Nirvana’ x ‘Papa Meilland’) x ‘First Prize’

Hybridizer – Meilland, France, 1991 

This heavily scented rose was originally named for Paul McCartney of “The Beatles” but Paul wanted it to be named in honor of his entire family whose favourite flower is the Rose.

The bloom is a very deep pink, starts high centered and then cupped as they mature.  The blooms repeat very well all through the summer and into autumn. Its petal count is about 40.  It has very dark, large and glossy leaves.  It is a very vigorous plant and tall - reaching about 6- 7 ft.  If left untamed, it will encroach on the neighboring plant - the canes will grow sideways.  The best place to grow it is in the corner of a bed where it can have more elbow room.  I have two “The McCartney Rose” plants in my garden and they are very healthy.  

 “The McCartney Rose” has a strong fragrance and has garnered so many awards:

·         Bagatelle Fragrance Prize 1988

·         Geneva Gold Medal 1988

·         Le Roeuix Gold Medal and Fragrance Prize 1988

·         Madrid Fragrance Prize 1988

·         Monza Gold Medal and Fragrance Prize 1988

·         Paris Gold Medal 1988

·         Belfast Fragrance Prize 1993

·         Durbanville Fragrance Prize 1993

·         Paris Fragrance Prize 1993

Roses are easy plants to grow contrary to popular belief. Why do you think Roses have been around for millions of years?  All they need are food, water and sunlight.  Just like you and me.  

Here at Rose Gardening World, we’ll educate you about the Rose - our National Floral Emblem and the state flower of several states.  Welcome to the World of Rose Gardening or Rose Gardening World where Rose Gardening Tips, Rose Growing Advice, Planting a Rose Garden, Rose Descriptions, Where to Buy Roses, Where to see Rose Gardens, Rose Culture, Rose History, Rose Events, Rose Verses are all here in one place. 

We are constantly updating our contents so visit Rose Gardening World often.  We want to help you grow Beautiful Roses and we welcome comments.  Take time and smell the roses.  Happy Rose Gardening!

Check my other blogs:

• YES, YOU CAN GROW BEAUTIFUL ROSES 
• KNOCK OUT ROSES
• EARTHKIND ROSES
• OSO EASY ROSES
• OSO HAPPY ROSES
• ROSE SUPPLIERS
• WILL THERE BE A SHORTAGE OF ROSES IN 2012?
• PLANTING BARE-ROOT ROSES
• CLEANING ROSE PRUNERS BLADES
• PRUNING YOUR ROSES
• AARS WINNER FOR 2012
• DAVID AUSTIN ROSES
•  DAVID AUSTIN ROSES IN COMMERCE

Visit my website

Join a rose society

COLOR IN THE ROSE GARDEN

Color has a psychological effect on your well being. It brings a bright smile to your face and a positive attitude. When you don’t feel well, make sure you wear red or yellow or any bright color outfit. It brightens your face. 

Color in the garden makes the garden come alive with energy. You can say green is a color but why just have a green lawn?  Put some color in your flower beds.  Start with Helleborus orientalis (The Lenten Rose) in late winter, then early spring with winter aconite, crocus, muscari and scilla siberica heralding the season. Then while waiting for the roses to burst forth, daffodils, tulips, peonies, alliums, English irises, Dutch irises, German bearded irises, Siberian irises and early blooming annuals and shrubs put on their own shows. When choosing color, remember that bright color seems closer so place them in the back and the light color in the front.

Even the shady part of your yard can have color besides green.  You can have a whole bed of azaleas and rhododendron in a glorious cacophony of colors: violet, red, coral, pink, purple punctuated by white and the palest of pink. Variegated hostas are another combination that is very pleasing to the eye. 

Find the right combination. Basically if you follow the color spectrum on the color chart, you will get the right harmony of colors. Gertrude Jekyll was a big proponent of this idea.  White is great at night but add some blue plants like Allium ‘Gladiator’, Camassia leichtlinii and purple verbena to make it more interesting. You can try orchestrating the bloom time of the plant next to each other but try to find a right color combination.  Having fine tuned this process, buy plants that will look great in combination with other plants. When you see a garden or picture of any garden, make note of what color combination is most effective.

Color makes the garden more interesting.  So put some color to your life and your garden. Go out in the garden and rearrange things. Some gardeners load their yard with annuals for instant color. But too many annuals can get very boring. Be creative. Roses with other plants make good companions. Be bold and experiment and take pictures. If you don’t like the way they turn out this year, you can always rearrange them next year. You’ll have so much fun. We need it in this stressful world that we live in. It’s cheaper and better therapy than sitting in a psychiatrist sofa. 

Roses are easy plants to grow contrary to popular belief. Why do you think Roses have been around for millions of years?  All they need are food, water and sunlight.  Just like you and me. 

Here at Rose Gardening World, we’ll educate you about the Rose - our National Floral Emblem and the state flower of several states.  Welcome to the World of Rose Gardening or Rose Gardening World where Rose Gardening Tips, Rose Growing Advice, Planting a Rose Garden, Rose Descriptions, Where to Buy Roses, Where to see Rose Gardens, Rose Culture, Rose History, Rose Events, Rose Verses are all here in one place.  

We are constantly updating our contents so visit Rose Gardening World often.  We want to help you grow Beautiful Roses and we welcome comments.  Take time and smell the roses.  Happy Rose Gardening!

Check my other blogs:

• YES, YOU CAN GROW BEAUTIFUL ROSES 
• KNOCK OUT ROSES
• EARTHKIND ROSES
• OSO EASY ROSES
• OSO HAPPY ROSES
• ROSE SUPPLIERS
• WILL THERE BE A SHORTAGE OF ROSES IN 2012?
• PLANTING BARE-ROOT ROSES
• CLEANING ROSE PRUNERS BLADES
• PRUNING YOUR ROSES
• AARS WINNER FOR 2012
• DAVID AUSTIN ROSES
•  DAVID AUSTIN ROSES IN COMMERCE

Visit my website

Join a rose society