Our yearly sojourns to the open gardens of the Vancouver Rose Society represent not only the enjoyment of seeing roses in varied gardens but also in interacting with their owners. In this year of a pandemic, the visits are controlled but the friendliness not only remains but becomes more so in importance.

Yesterday my Rosemary and I visited the Coquitlam garden of former President of the Vancouver Rose Society, Brenda Viney. Her garden is full of splendidly grown roses but it is not a monoculture. She has hostas (yes!) and all kinds of perennials that kept the interest of my Rosemary.

Had her roses been badly grown in a monoculture garden, (that would never happen) we would still have gone to Coquitlam. Brenda Viney exudes enthusiasm with a ready and almost constant smile.

It is a delight to have seen a huge Rosa ‘Ispahan’, and Rosa ‘Janet A. Wood’ named after our very own Janet Wood who was our former President and now smells roses all season, devoid of blackspot, in that place where she is now.

 

My Rosemary was thirsty and asked for a glass of water. As a joke, this non-drinker asked for a single malt whiskey. It was presented in a cup with one ice cube. I was told that the Scotch was a $100 Scotch purchased on sale and that the proper way of drinking it was neat or with one ice cube. Viney was right and I enjoyed my Scotch while admiring her Rosa ‘Golden Wings’.

I cannot think of a better reason for leaving the staid civilization of Vancouver to visit that exciting suburb of Coquitlam.