Madame A. Meilland a.k.a. Peace, Gloria Dei, and Gioia
was the first rose to bloom in my garden this year
Last spring, I lost one (either Heaven or Fragrant Cloud, I always confuse them) to ground compaction, and then I lost Queen Elizabeth this winter, likely for the same reason. You can see her brown carcass in the left background of the photo, I left her there in case she magically springs back to life. I was devastated. Roses were the first plants that brought me out to the garden and sparked something of an interest in grubbing in the dirt! So now I'm giving love to the four I have left.
My roses usually start budding in late January or early February, but with the freakishly cold storms this year, they held off until March or April. Finally, two weeks ago, Mme Meilland busted open a bud! I ran out to take a photo before the rains came again. I'm so glad I took that shot, because it rained that night, and while the bud still bloomed last week, it looked a little water logged.
Madame Meilland was developed in France by Francis Meilland between 1935 to 1939, not a good time to be a new cultivar in France! Meilland was able to send cuttings to friends in Germany, Turkey, the United States and Italy just before the Germans invaded. Mme Meilland was released in the U.S. at the Pacific Rose Society's spring show under the trade name Peace on 29 April 1945, the day Berlin fell, by Conard-Pyle Co. And on 8 May the same year, each of the 49 delegates at the inaugural meeting of the United Nations in San Francisco received a Peace rose with the note:
“We hope the ‘Peace’ rose will influence men’s thoughts for everlasting world peace.”
Obviously, it hasn't had much influence on that front, but Madame A. Meilland is one of the most popular cultivars in home gardens, and one of my favorites, along with Taboo, which is still alive and well in my garden (yay!) and Queen Elizabeth (heavy sigh). Given the record number of natural, and not-so-natural disasters recently, let's hope that this late spring brings us all a little Peace and respite.
I rarely take care of the rose bush that I have in my yard. Although, I really should. It is old. Real old. I think this fall I am going to cut it down and see if that does not make it better next spring.
ReplyDeleteI also am going to get some rose food for it.
It does seem to help. Love the photo. Hope that the one that seems to be dying off comes back.
The Peace rose is one of my favorites, and also one of the few names I can remember! I've had roses for decades at various houses, but usually just plant and immediately forget the name. It's really hard to grow nice ones here in Georgia because of the heat and humidity causing mildew and black spot, except for the knock-out roses which thrive. They have that systemic stuff now that feeds and does the fungus and black spot stuff, but it's very expensive...and you have to remember to put it on in a timely fashion!
ReplyDeleteWhat a poignant story behind Madame Meilland. Roses have the most spectacular names, perfume and appeal in the whole Blooming world!
ReplyDeletePower to the roses......
Hi Bones, it's good to see you here! Yeah, sometimes a good pruning does wonders for a tired rose bush. I don't think the Queen will be bouncing back, though. She looks pretty brown and crumbly.
ReplyDeleteI think that I confuse Heaven and Fragrant Cloud because I really wanted the other 4 and the last 2 were freebies, Linda, so I don't typically remember the names, either. I have to admit I'm not THAT much of a rose fanatic and have never used special rose products. I mix in some compost once in awhile and mulch with needles from my fir tree.
It does seem as though roses have a large following worldwide, Lena. More than other flowers, I think.
One can't help but think peaceful thoughts when looking at the photo you took of the rose. It's absolutely stunning. Here's hopeful thoughts for the Queen to rise again.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to see you here :-) Unfortunately, I may have to replace the Queen. She seems to have a big, fat crack at the graft. I noticed a big crack up one of the branches of the Taboo yesterday, too. Now I'm wondering if termites or other bugs got into them. Do termites eat roses?
ReplyDeleteI've never been able to grow roses. I get one bloom and then every disease known to them. How beautiful the first rose of summer is though. And the last.
ReplyDeleteI think it's just a given that roses are plagued with black spot and mildew. It doesn't seem to have negative effects on the blooms, though. And yes, the first bloom of the year is always exciting!
ReplyDelete