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Thursday, June 09, 2016

The Baron



Rosa 'Baron Girod de l'Ain' June 9 2016


One of the most beautiful roses in my garden (that all depends on the day!) is a rose that years ago disappeared from our Athlone Street garden. I was very sad as this rose, Rosa 'Baron Girod de l'Ain, a Hybrid Perpetual hybrized by Vercheron (I am unable to find his first name) in 1897is a hard to find rose in our parts. Unlike the Gallicas and other roses that were grown in the 19th century Hybrid Perpetuals were not once blooming. They were remontant although the term perpetual is most misleading. This rose and other Perpetuals bloom well for a few weeks (about now) and then have a few blooms in early fall.

It is a dark purple/red rose with most unusual white edges on the petals. To my nose it has the scent of fresh raspberries.

And then a couple of years later there was the Baron. I have no idea how he disappeared or how he came back. The Baron (only my 18 year-old granddaughter can pronounce the whole name beautifully) was on the top of the list to make it from the Athlone garden to the one here in Kitsilano. The bloom you see here appeared today.

My Wikipedia has this about the Baron:
Louis Gaspard Amédée baron Girod de l'Ain (18 October 1781 – 27 December 1847) was a French lawyer and politician who became Minister of Public Education and Religious Affairs in 1832.