Depending on the day, and particularly when
Rosa ‘Baron Girod de l'Ain’ is in bloom I think it is the most beautiful flower
of our garden. The Baron Girod de l’Ain is a hybrid perpetual rose developed by
Reverchon in 1897. The fragrant blossoms are crimson edged in white. To this I
can add that the blooms smell strongly of raspberry.
I have done several scans of this rose
today. Most of the blooms were slightly closed because it was a cool afternoon.
But one was past its prime and in decline. I cut it as carefully as I could and
scanned it with the pristine ones. Then it began to collapse. I decided to scan
it exactly as it looked. Of late I have found that plants past their prime and especially
Gallica roses have an extraordinary beauty. Their decline in an age of no-pore-diffuse-glow
faces in women and men getting chin tucks is to me refreshing.
I used the opportunity to include myself,
also in rapid decline and certainly not giving The Baron any competition. He
wins hands down.